The U.S. Embassy in Belarus is proud to announce that the application window for the next generation of Young Transatlantic Innovation Leaders Initiative (#YTILI) Fellows is now open!
Launched in 2016, the Young Transatlantic Innovation Leaders Initiative Fellowship is the flagship program of the Young Transatlantic Innovation Leaders Initiative (YTILI) of the U.S. Department of State, and is supported in its implementation by The German Marshall Fund of the United States (GMF).
YTILI empowers young European and Eurasian entrepreneurs and innovators with the tools, networks, and resources they need to grow their enterprises and contribute more fully to economic development and job creation, security, and good governance in the region. YTILI is also a vehicle for building a transatlantic network of innovators that can contribute to an ongoing policy dialogue that strengthens the transatlantic relationship.
In 2018, the YTILI Fellowship will engage up to 70 young European and Eurasian leaders in a series of professional development and leadership activities that are designed to support the growth and development of commercial and social business ventures in their home communities. The following document provides detailed information on the fellowship program elements, fellowship expectations, selection process, and timeline.
Financial Provisions of the Fellowship
There is no fee to apply to the YTILI Fellowship. The Fellowship does not cover salary while fellows are participating in the program. If selected as an YTILI fellow, the U.S. government will cover the following costs:
- J-1 visa support.
- Round-trip air travel from participant’s current city of residence to the United States and all required program travel.*
- All activities related to the fellowship program for the European opening summit, one-week immersive experience in a U.S. city, and Washington, DC closing convening.
- Online platform and related trainings.
- Housing throughout the program (opening summit, one-week U.S. city experience, closing convening). *
- Meals and local transportation throughout European opening summit and Washington, DC program; meals and transportation stipend during U.S. immersive experience. *
- Accident and sickness benefit plan.
*Finalists will be provided more information prior to the start of the program.
Eligibility Requirements
Applicants will not be discriminated against on the basis of race, color, gender, religion, socioeconomic status, disability, sexual orientation, or gender identity or any other protected characteristic as established by U.S. Law. Please review the following eligibility requirements for the YTILI fellowship:
- Are between the ages of 24 and 35 by January 29, 2018.
- Are citizens of Belarus.
- Currently reside in Belarus.
- Are eligible to receive a U.S. J-1 Visa.
- Have at least two (2) years of entrepreneurial/leadership experience with a startup business or social venture.
- Are not U.S. citizens or permanent residents of the United States.
- Are not U.S. government employees.
- Are proficient in reading, writing and speaking English.
Please note: Fellows are not allowed to have dependents (including spouses and children) accompany them during the fellowship, including the U.S. experience and the European Summit.
Application and Selection Process
Interested candidates should apply online on the YTILI website (https://share.america.gov/ytili/). Deadline for applications is Friday, March 2, 2018.
The YTILI Fellowship selection process is a merit-based open competition. After the deadline, all eligible applications will be reviewed and scored against the evaluation criteria outlined below. Following the initial review, U.S. Department of State and GMF will select a group of semi-finalists. All semi-finalists will be interviewed by the U.S. embassy either in-person or by video conference from March 19-30, 2018. Please note that semi-finalists must be available for either an in-person or video interview for US Embassy staff during the outlined two-week window.
Following the semi-finalist interview, U.S. Department of State and GMF will make the final selection of the fellows. Notification of status will be sent to all applicants following the initial evaluation and to semi-finalists at the conclusion of the selection process.
A detailed overview of the program elements, participation requirements, and expectations is available on the YTILI website: https://share.america.gov/ytili/#fellowship
If you have any questions about on the YTILI Fellowship recruitment, please contact Public Affairs Section of the U.S. Embassy Minsk at belarusprogram@state.gov.
