Opportunity for young Jordanian professionals: Apply for Cohort Two of the U.S.-Jordan Leadership Exchange Program (UJLEP)
Applications for Cohort Two of the U.S.-Jordan Leadership Exchange Program (UJLEP) will be accepted between December 1, 2023, and December 31, 2023.
Applications must be submitted online before the deadline to be eligible for the program. Applications that are mailed, faxed or emailed to IREX will not be accepted. Please direct any questions after reading this document to Contact.UJLEP@irex.org .
Selected fellows with demonstrated high potential in eight key economic and social development disciplines will participate in leadership training in Jordan, travel to the U.S. for a tailored practicum and cultural experience with a U.S. host organization, and engage in projects in their home communities in Jordan.
Eligibility requirements
Competition for UJLEP is merit-based and open to emerging civil society and community leaders who meet all of the following criteria:
- Age 21-35;
- Citizen of Jordan;
- Completed their bachelor’s degree by January 2024;
- Currently living and studying/working in Jordan at the time of application;
- Has a minimum of one-year of professional experience including internships, volunteer work, or initiatives in one of the eight UJLEP disciplines: Business and entrepreneurship; civil society; community engagement; women’s empowerment; diversity, equity, inclusion, accessibility (DEIA); civic participation; public health; and environment and climate change) at the time of application;
- Able to begin the program in January 2024, and travel to the United States May/June 2024;
- Eligible to receive a U.S. J-1 Visa;
- Commitment to returning to Jordan after completion of the program and implementing a community-based project;
- Proficient in spoken and written English. Finalists should be able to fulfill most communication goals, even on unfamiliar topics. They should understand the main ideas of both concrete and abstract writing and should be able to interact with proficient speakers fairly easily.
Individuals in the following circumstances are NOT eligible for UJLEP:
- U.S. citizens and/or permanent residents of the United States;
- Individuals who have participated in an exchange visitor program sponsored or funded by the U.S. government (e.g., U.S. Department of State Public Affairs Section of U.S. embassies, or other U.S. government agencies);
- Individuals who are locally employed by the U.S. Government and their immediate family members at the time of application;
- Individuals residing or working outside Jordan at the time of application;
- Individuals who have applied for U.S. permanent residency in the past three years; and
- Other criteria to be determined in consultation with ECA, including public-health related status based on guidance from federal agencies at the time of application.
General Application Instructions and Tips
- UJLEP uses an online application system. You will need access to a computer, tablet, or mobile device, and an internet browser to apply. The online application system works with low bandwidth and can be used on all devices. It is also accessible and compatible with screen readers.
- You do not have to finish your application in one session. You may save your work and return to complete your application as many times as necessary. Once you have submitted your application, however, you can no longer add any additional information or make any changes. All information and documents must be uploaded prior to your final submission. Be sure to carefully check your entire application and confirm that any supplemental documents are uploaded correctly. You must submit your completed application through the online application system by the deadline.
- All application questions must be answered in English. If you have a supplemental document in another language, you must also include a full English translation.
- All fields marked with a red asterisk (*) must be completed.
- All answers in the application, including written responses to essays, must be your own original work. Using language copied from other sources (including other applicants, your own submissions from previous years) or from websites, articles, or publications is considered plagiarism and will result in your application being disqualified. Please note the application will be run through plagiarism detection software.
- You may wish to review the application fully before completing any responses. Some applicants find it helpful to draft their responses offline (for example, in a separate Word document) and then paste their responses into the appropriate sections of the application.
- Individuals may only submit one application per cohort. If an applicant submits two applications using different email addresses, then the individual will be disqualified.
How to apply
General Application Instructions (PDF, 670 KB)
IREX Universal Privacy Consent (PDF, 779 KB)
Information for Fellows with Disabilities (PDF, 158 KB)
Frequently Asked Questions (PDF, 526 KB)
Recruitment Flyer (PDF, 1759 KB)