ISDM Fellowship

The ISDM Fellowship encourages innovation and impact by equipping Fellows to generate new insights, develop scalable solutions, and address real-world challenges in development management. Through rigorous research and hands-on practice, Fellows contribute to knowledge, influence capacity building, and empower policymakers and communities.

About the Fellowship

This Fellowship is a nine-month immersive program with a stipend, designed to nurture emerging leaders in research and practice in Development Management. Fellows can choose between two specialised tracks—Research Fellowship and Practice Fellowship—focusing on critical themes such as philanthropy, innovative finance, and data science. Through evidence-based research and open-source solutions, Fellows will generate actionable insights to tackle pressing social challenges.

Rooted in inclusivity, accessibility, and diversity, the Fellowship actively encourages underrepresented groups, including women, LGBTQIA+, Dalits, Adivasis, and persons with disabilities, to apply. Fellows will work on high-impact initiatives, driving systemic change through collaboration and knowledge-sharing. By encouraging thought leadership, ISDM aims to create freely accessible knowledge that strengthens the social sector.

Advancing Knowledge and Impact in
Development Management

Advancing Knowledge Through Research

Conducting rigorous research to generate new insights
Contributing to the existing body of knowledge in development management
Providing evidence-based inputs for informed practice and policy

Developing Scalable and Open-Access Solutions

Creating solutions or developing initiatives that address real-world challenges
Strengthening capacity building and decision-making across sectors
Empowering policymakers and communities with actionable strategies

Building Stronger Networks and Collaboration

Connecting Fellows with ISDM’s teams, projects, and external stakeholders
Facilitating knowledge exchange and innovation
Strengthening collective efforts for sustainable development

Key details

Duration: 9 months

Two Fellowship Tracks

Research Track: Conduct primary or secondary research, analyse data, and produce research reports. Engage in academic dissemination to inform decision-making and enrich development literature.
Practice Track: Work directly with stakeholders and communities to design and implement solutions. Develop products, initiatives, or tools that enhance efficiency, improve program quality, and drive real-world impact.

Filling the Gap in Leadership and Management

Thematic Focus

While our research thematic focus remains the same, the Fellowship problem statements change annually, aligning with global and local challenges and ISDM’s strategic priorities.

Financial Support

Fellows receive financial support based on their output. Fellows applying for the research fellowship shall receive Rs 6 lakh, and those applying for DOS-based outcomes shall receive Rs 12 lakh.

If you are interested in applying for this Fellowship as a team or individually.

apply here

Deliverables

Research Fellowship

Produce research reports, which may also result in white papers, policy briefs, or reports.
Participate in dissemination activities, including academic conferences, to ensure findings reach relevant stakeholders.

Practice Fellowship

Develop products, initiatives, frameworks, curriculums, short movies, case studies, program interventions, or tools.
Engage in hands-on fieldwork, collaborating with stakeholders and communities to design and implement practical solutions.

Digital Open Solutions (Exclusive to the Data Science theme)

Develop open-source software, open DS/AI models, and open datasets.
Release the product or data set under an open-source license (MIT, Apache, GPL, Creative Commons, or Public Domain), and ensure its availability through GitHub, ISDM platforms, Google Play, App Store, or other relevant distribution channels.

While Fellows retain their individual IP rights to the deliverable, they must acknowledge ISDM in all future uses and publications.