The Application Process »

Please note that the application process for hosting a Leland Fellow is competitive.

Organizations that would like to host a fellow must submit an application that outlines a proposed scope of work for the fellowship’s two years. This includes:

• objectives of the program on which the fellow will be working
• objectives of the fellow’s work within that program
• duties/responsibilities and products/deliverables expected of the fellow
• skills and experience required
• resources that will be made available to the fellow to undertake his/her work
• the name and/or position title of the fellow’s supervisor and mentor

“[The Leland Fellow's] performance has certainly put Land O’Lakes on the map as a quality designer and implementer of programs that make use of and focus on livestock.  We wanted someone to do some work for us, and what we actually got was a highly skilled livestock expert who changed the way we thought about our programs.”

– Mara Russell: Program Manager, Food Security and Livelihoods, Land O’Lakes, Inc. and three-time Leland Fellow supervisor

Because the fellowship consists of both a field and policy component, you will also be asked to indicate how the field and policy placements will build upon each other. CHC seeks field and policy assignments that are closely coordinated so that timely information from the field translates into appropriate policies that address the root causes of hunger.

Leland staff review the application and select the placements that offer the most valuable fellowship experience. For examples, please review the list of potential placements that were open to applicants for the current 6th class.  Unlike many fellowship programs, Leland Fellows apply to a specific placement, rather than to the fellowship itself.

Host Organization Requirements

Host organizations are responsible for providing substantive and meaningful work, supervision and mentoring to their Leland Fellow.

Specifically, we ask host organizations to provide the following:

• Substantive work plan
• Supervision and mentoring
• Appropriate office space/equipment and travel
• A modest annual cost-share
• Round-trip airfare for the fellow

Work plan:

Host organizations must submit a detailed work plan (including project objectives, fellow responsibilities, products/deliverables, and timeline) for the Fellow approximately two months before the start of each year. The work plan should provide the fellow with substantive work and the opportunity to fully integrate him/herself into the work of the organization.

Supervision and Mentoring:

The Leland Program looks for organizations that can further a Fellow’s knowledge of food security and international development. We also actively seek those committed to building the Fellow’s professional skills through deliberate supervision and mentoring.

The supervisor provides day-to-day oversight of the Fellow and his/her work and is the main point of contact with Leland staff. The role of the mentor is to help augment the Fellow’s experience by broadening his/her professional networks, exposing him/her to new initiatives and ideas, and encouraging his/her leadership development. We ask host organizations to identify the person within the organization who is willing to provide mentorship to the Fellow.

Office Space/Equipment:

Host organizations must provide an appropriate workspace (desk, computer, telephone) and all supplies and equipment necessary for the fellow to carry out the work plan.

Visas:

Each host organization is required to provide the documentation and support needed to ensure that fellows are authorized to work in the country where s/he is placed.

Cost Share:

Host organizations are responsible for a cost share fee of $10,000 per fellow over two years to help cover program costs.

Round-trip Airfare:

We also ask host organizations to provide the fellow’s plane tickets to and from the U.S. to the field placement. The same is asked if the policy placement is also overseas.

Working in Partnership

Partnerships with committed host organizations are critical to the success of the Leland Program. It is the fellow’s experience at the host organization that will ultimately determine whether the Program meets its stated objectives.

The Leland staff welcomes the opportunity to discuss the feasibility of a particular project for a fellow, or to assist in structuring a successful work plan. In addition, we do all we can during the interview and selection process to ensure that the selected fellow has the skills and qualifications necessary to meet the host organization’s needs. Once a fellow has been placed, we depend on open and meaningful communication with field and policy supervisors to help ensure a positive fellowship experience for both the fellow and the organization.

Quiver Tree, Namibia

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