Migration in Europe has preoccupied policymakers and administrations, and prompted enormous policy reform, yet refugees and migrants are themselves often excluded from this policy debate and formulation, particularly those in more recent refugee and migrant populations. The Open City Fellowship responds to this need by supporting the leadership of refugees and migrants in policy development that directly affect urban integration.
The Open City Fellowship in this first year, will offer five fellowships. Four fellowships will involve collaborations with partner cities: Amsterdam, Athens, Barcelona, and Berlin. The fifth fellowship will be based in Brussels with a partner that specializes in refugee and migration policy within the European Union.
The aim is to improve integration through stronger participation of and consultation with refugee and migrant communities. Over time, our ambition is that Open City Fellows will become a cohort of experienced and recognized leaders who represent refugee and migrant communities, benefitting the individual fellows and the community more broadly.
The Open Society Foundations will pay Open City Fellows a stipend, will provide some funding for fellowship-related travel, and may cover other fellowship-related expenses during the course of the fellowship. The Open Society Foundations will additionally provide training and leadership development opportunities for the fellows. Fellowships will be 12 months, with the possibility of extending for an additional six months.
Eligible applicants must meet the following criteria:
- have a background as a refugee or migrant
- demonstrate a commitment to improving the lives of the refugee or migrant community and their integration through, for example, work, volunteering, organizing, or other activities
- possess strong relationships with refugee or migrant communities in the city in which they are applying, as demonstrated through membership or other involvement in a group, organization, NGO, board of an NGO, council, association, initiative, or activities designed to serve refugee or migrant communities
- currently be based in one of the fellowship cities (and applying for a fellowship in that same city): Amsterdam, Athens, Barcelona, Berlin, or Brussels
- be legally entitled to accept a fellowship in current city of residence and be permitted to travel within the European Union
- demonstrate civil society leadership potential
- bachelor’s degree is strongly preferred (preferably with accreditation in the city where the fellow is applying)
- available to start the fellowship in January 2018
- meet additional eligibility criteria that may be stipulated by the Open Society Foundations
Applicants must meet the following language proficiency requirements:
- proficient in English at a minimum B2 level
- proficiency in the language of the city where they are applying (German C1; Greek, Dutch, Spanish, or Catalan B2)
- fluency in the language of a refugee or migrant community is strongly preferred
The Open City Fellowship does not fund enrollment in an academic institution for degree or non-degree study. Full-time students will not be eligible.
Applications will be accepted until September 15, 2017. Shortlisted candidates will be contacted by early October, and will be interviewed later that month.
Center for Intercultural Dialogue 