Through paid visits to other policy research institutions and think tanks in the European Union (EU) and WB countries the researchers have the opportunity to create links and networks across Europe.

Each Fellowship should last 6 months with residential stay up to 3 months in one of the think tanks in European Union member states or policy centers in the Western Balkans. The programme seeks up to 10 talented and dedicated young researchers which must be residents of one of the countries of Western Balkans.

The goals of the programme are the following:

* to equip junior researchers with tools necessary for effective influencing of the policy-making processes and developing innovative and quality policy products;
* to contribute to institutional development of think tanks by broadening their professional networks, improving the junior employee skills and increasing their motivation for better participation and generation of new ideas;
* to enrich portfolios and networks of think tanks by bringing in researchers with different backgrounds.

At the host organisation, fellows are expected to engage in ongoing policy research projects and develop a concrete policy product. The final product is to be delivered at the end of Fellowship programme. While at the host institutions fellows' work is to be guided by senior policy analysts.

The programme is a joint undertaking of the European Fund for the Balkans (EFB) and the Think Tank Fund (TTF) of the Open Society Institute in Budapest. The administration of the programme is carried out by the European Fund for the Balkans.

Applicants’ Profile

* Applicants are required to be permanent residents in one of the countries of Western Balkans.
* Applicants must be full-time employees at a think tank, policy center or NGO with strong research component in one of the Western Balkans countries for at least one year at the time of application and plan to stay for at least one more year. This requirement will depend on the the sending organisation's Human Resource policy.
* Applicants should be between 24 and 35 years of age at the time of application.
* Applicants must be fluent in written and spoken English.

As part of the call for applications, fellows will be offered a non-exhaustive list of think tanks from which they can choose a host organisation in the EU member state and Western Balkans. Fellows are solely responsible for choosing and contacting the organisation of their desired placement. For advice or reccomendation concerning/refering to host organisation applicants can consult the European Fund for the Balkans at the contacts given in the guidlines. Prior to submitting their fellowship application, applicants should directly contact an organisation(s) of interest from the list to develop ideas for the Fellowship that would be mutually beneficial to them.

For more detailed information about the call for application and the application guidelines please visit
www.balkanfund.org.