How to Apply

The ISDM Fellowship offers you the unique opportunity to develop knowledge artefacts or open-source solutions that address the needs of the social sector. Your outputs will be freely available to the general public, individuals, organisations, and other development sector stakeholders.

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Application Process

Apply

Submit your proposal for the Research or Practice Fellowship when applications open.

Shortlisting & Interview

Selection is based on professional qualifications, proposal strength, relevant past experience, and alignment with ISDM’s values.

Final Selection & Onboarding

Selected Fellows complete documentation and receive onboarding details.

Orientation

Fellows kick off their Fellowship journey by presenting their projects, aligning on expectations, and engaging with the broader ISDM community.

The ISDM Fellowship lasts for 9 months and offers two tracks - Research and Practice. The thematic areas include philanthropy, innovative finance, and data science.

Once the applications open, you can apply for the Fellowship. There are clear instructions on how to submit proposals aligned with your chosen theme.

Application Requirements

The applications should include the following:

Resume

Applicants must submit a professional resume detailing their academic background, technical skills, and relevant work experience.
Those intending to work in teams should submit separate resumes for each team member.
They must highlight contributions to projects relevant to the Fellowship and provide details of any work experience in the social impact domain (social, public, or private sector).

Project Proposal

Applicants must submit a detailed project proposal based on their track and theme.
The proposal should outline key aspects such as the problem statement aligned with the theme, literature review, benefits for stakeholders, approach, methodology, and phase-wise project plan.
Here is a detailed template that applicants must follow: Detailed Project Proposal Template

Mentors

Applicants must provide a professional resume and bio of their intended mentor.
Mentors should be experienced individuals, including senior professionals from the social/public/ private sector, and academics.
Fellows must ensure that their mentors are willing to devote time for periodic check-ins and monitoring project progress.

Additional Information

Applicants must attach a clear, high-resolution headshot (for each team member).
They must respond to two qualitative questions, one for the mentor and one for the main applicant, to assess their motivation and alignment with the Fellowship.
For applicants working in teams, the application should also highlight each member’s role in the project.
The application should also include two professional references.

Document Checklist

Before starting your application, ensure you have the following documents ready:

Professional resumes of all team members
Photographs of all team members
Detailed project proposal
Resume and bio of your intended mentor
Contact details of two professional references

Engagement and Expectations

Selected Fellows are expected to engage with ISDM during and after the Fellowship:

Regular Check-ins & Reviews

Monthly Mentor check-ins, structured milestone reviews with the project team, and informal update check-ins with ISDM project leads.

Workshops & Learning

Attending two workshops mandatorily.

Community & Networking

Participating in peer learning sessions, networking events, and catch-up calls with ISDM.

Showcasing & Visibility

Presenting final outputs at events, getting featured on ISDM’s website, and being part of social media campaigns.

The ISDM Fellowship is your chance to contribute to the social sector through research and innovation.

Ready to take on this challenge?

Apply Now