TechWomen Emerging Leaders Program 2025 (Fully-Funded to the U.S.)

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About TechWomen Emerging Leaders Program

TechWomen supports the United States' global commitment toward advancing the rights and participation of women and girls around the world by enabling them to reach their full potential in the tech industry. Launched in 2011, TechWomen is an initiative of the U.S. Department of State's Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA) and is managed by the Institute of International Education (lE).

• Sponsor Organisation: U.S. Department of State

Benefits of TechWomen Emerging Leaders Program

The following costs are covered by the Tech Women program:

• Roundtrip international airfare from participant home country to the United States.
• Domestic airfare from San Francisco or Chicago to Washington, D.C.
• Housing in the San Francisco Bay Area, California or Chicago, Illinois during the mentorship period.
• Meals and incidentals.
• Hotel stay in Washington, D.C.
• Public transportation to the participant's host company.
• Local transportation to group program events in the San Francisco Bay Area, Chicago, Illinois, and Washington, D.C.

TechWomen Emerging Leaders Program Requirements

TechWomen participants are selected based on the eligibility requirements below. Applications are reviewed by independent selection committees composed of industry leaders and regional experts. Semifinalists may be interviewed by United States Embassy personnel in their country of permanent residence.

TechWomen Eligibility Requirements

Applicants must:

• Have at minimum, two years full-time professional experience in the STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) fields at the time of application.
• Have, at minimum, a bachelor’s degree/four-year university degree or equivalent.  Please note that internships and other unpaid work experience does not count toward the two-year professional experience requirement.
• Be proficient in written and spoken English.
• Be citizens and permanent residents of Albania, Algeria, Cameroon, Egypt, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kyrgyzstan, Lebanon, Libya, Morocco, Nigeria, Pakistan, the Palestinian Territories, Rwanda, Sierra Leone, South Africa, Tajikistan, Tunisia, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan or Zimbabwe.
• Be eligible to obtain a U.S. J-1 exchange visitor visa.
• Not have applied for an immigrant visa to the United States (other than the Diversity Immigrant Visa, also known as the “visa lottery”) in the past five years.
• Not hold U.S. citizenship or be a U.S. legal permanent resident.

Preference will be given to applicants who:

•  Are living and working in a TechWomen program country during the time of application and while participating in the program. Special consideration will be given to applicants experiencing displacement.
• Demonstrate themselves as emerging leaders in their chosen professional track through their work experience, volunteer experience, community activities and education.
• Are committed to return to their home countries to share what they have learned and mentor women and youth.
• Have limited or no prior experience in the United States.
• Have a proven record of voluntary or public service in their communities.
• Have a demonstrated track record of entrepreneurialism and commitment to innovation.
• Demonstrate a willingness to participate in exchange programs, welcome opportunities for mentoring and new partnership development, and exhibit confidence and maturity.

Application Date and Process

• Click on the link to the application website to apply.

Selection Timeline

Applicants will be notified of the status of their application (non-select or semi-finalist) no later than April 2025. Final decisions will be made no later than May 31, 2025. All applicants will be notified of the results of their application.

Application Deadline

07 January, 2025

Scholarship Application Portal

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