Legislative Fellows Program (LFP) Components and Timeline
U.S. Components
(Spring and Fall 2012):
Legislative Fellowships
Two delegations of fellows from Egypt, Morocco, Kuwait, Tunisia, LIbya and Oman will travel to the United States.
The first delegation will be in the United States from the second week of April through the first week of May, while the second will travel from mid-October through mid-November. Each program will last about 30 days.
The spring program will be based in Washington, DC, and will focus on citizen participation in government and the process of making laws. Fellows will learn how citizens and non-governmental organizations interact with the federal government. Fellows will be based in non-governmental organizations or in the office of a member of the United States Congress.
The fall program will focus on the electoral process, and will take place over the three weeks leading up to the United States presidential election and one week after. This program will focus on the electoral process and fellows will learn about how to run a successful campaign at the local level. Fellows will be based at several sites throughout the eastern United States in small groups.
Both the spring and fall programs will conclude with a three-day “Professional Fellows Congress” in Washington, DC. This event will bring approximately 200 fellows from around the world together at the end of their fellowship. Fellows will have the opportunity to build relationships with fellows from dozens of countries and learn the tools of effective leadership.
Follow-On Projects
During their visit to the United States, fellows will spend time developing an idea for a project to be implemented upon returning home. Fellows will participate in a number of training sessions to learn project design skills, while thinking through and developing ideas.
Outbound Components – U.S. delegates to Egypt, Morocco, Kuwait and Oman
(Summer 2012 and Winter 2012-2013):
Travelers from the United States with whom the fellows interact during the program will travel to Egypt, Morocco, Kuwait and Oman to learn first-hand about the situation there, provide assistance and participate in a mutual exchange of knowledge.
U.S. delegates will be selected from among the mentors and hosting organizations and Congressional offices. they will travel to the region for a about seven to 14 days. American travelers will attend orientation sessions prior to departing the United States during which they will learn about host country culture and review details of the itinerary.
Upon arrival, they will participate in a short intensive introduction to the local political situation. They will then spend several days participating in workshops and collaborating on projects with the fellows.
Alumni Components (Ongoing):
In addition to the outbound component of the Legislative Fellows Program, all LFP alumni will be invited to events and possibly to assist with future exchange programs involving their countries.
As a measure of success, this exchange program requires that U.S. and Gulf/North African Fellows makes presentations to 20 or more colleagues to share with them the lessons learned through the program and to share their experiences.
