Embassy of the United States Georgia

The Legislative Fellows Program (LFP) is sponsored by the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs of the US Department of State. In Georgia, Russia and Ukraine it is administered by American Councils for International Education: ACTR/ACCELS. 

LFP Program Goals are: to strengthen understanding of U.S. legislative process; to enhance appreciation of the role of civil society and its engagement in the political process; to create partnerships between U.S. and foreign institutions; to establish a common language for developing practical solutions for shared problems and concerns.

Important Facts: 20 Georgian fellows of the 2011 program year will be selected through a competitive application process. All interested candidates should apply online at: https://ais.americancouncils.org. Semifinalists will be selected based on their applications and then interviews will be conducted at the American Councils office in Tbilisi. Final decision upon finalists will be made by the independent committee members at American Councils DC office.  

Upon arrival in the United States fellows will participate in  a three-day intensive introduction to the U.S. political process in Denver, CO. Fellows will then begin their 4 week long fellowships across the United States  in state legislatures and city halls, immersing themselves in the daily operations of state governance, government oversight, and citizen participation.  At the end of the program, Fellows will be given a unique opportunity to meet LFP fellows from Bahrain, Bhutan, Brazil, Colombia, India, Indonesia, Kuwait, Malaysia, Nepal, Oman, Pakistan, Philippines, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, South Africa, Singapore, Taiwan and learn about their legislative systems during two day wrap-up conference organized in Washington, DC. 

Anyone who meets below listed eligibility requirements can participate in the program:

• Be 25 to 35 years of age Georgian citizen at the time of application;
• Be a college graduate (equivalent of a Bachelor's degree or higher);
• Be proficient in English, as demonstrated by paper based TOEFL scores over 500, CBT scores over 173, IBT scores over 61 or its equivalent (for example, university-level study in an English-speaking program or IELTS band 6 or higher). If you have none of these and are selected as a semi-finalist, we will give you an institutional TOEFL exam;
• Have legislative experience and knowledge as it relates to your home country;
• Have relevant experience in and commitment to a career in the public sector; and
• Have demonstrated leadership and collaborative skills. 

Important Dates

Deadline for Legislative Fellows Program fall season: March 25, 2011
Fall program dates: from September 12th to December 21st, 2011 
For more information please contact us:

American Councils for International Education in Georgia, Chavchavadze Avenue 27/29, 0179, Tbilisi, Tel: (995 32) 2292106, 2913272, 2913252
E-mail: lfp.georgia@gmail.com, 
Web page: http://apps.americancouncils.org/lfp/