IAF Fellowships support dissertation research in Latin America and the Caribbean undertaken by students who have advanced to Ph.D. candidacy in a university in the United States. Fellows must be U.S. citizens or citizens of the independent Latin American or Caribbean countries. Proficiency in the language(s) appropriate to the research proposal is required.

Awards are based on development and scholarly criteria. Proposals should offer a practical orientation to field-based information. Among topics currently of interest to the IAF are the following:

• Organizations promoting grassroots development among poor and disadvantaged people;
• the financial sustainability and independence of development organizations;
• trends affecting historically excluded groups;
• transnational development;
• the role of corporate responsibility in grassroots development;
• the impact of globalization on grassroots development;
• the impact of grassroots development activities on the quality of life of the poor.

The Fellowship includes

• round-trip international travel to the research site,
• a research allowance of $3,000,
• a monthly stipend of $1,500 for up to 12 months,
• health insurance, and
• expenses related to required attendance at a mid-year conference.