Frequently Asked Questions

The Centroamérica en Ascenso Fellowship does not adhere to a specific definition of corruption. However, you can consult the USAID Anti-Corruption Policy for guidance, particularly pages 9-10.

The deadline to apply for the Centroamérica en Ascenso Fellowship is:

• For non-degree seeking applicants, February 3, before 11:59 p.m. ET

For a timeline on the process, please see Program Information. Selection results will be announced in early April 2025 for both degree and non-degree track applications.

Yes, applicants may submit only up to two unique applications per cycle: one for the non-degree track and another for a degree-seeking track – you may not submit two degree-seeking applications or two nondegree track applications. It is essential that each application is unique and fully tailored to the specific track you choose. Applicants will be considered for either a degree track fellowship or nondegree track fellowship based on the merit of each respective application in the evaluation process. Applicants do not receive any special consideration by submitting two applications.

Additionally, if an applicant advances to the subsequent stages of the selection process, the program will cover the cost of one Duolingo proficiency test, regardless of whether you submit one or two applications.

Yes, the Centroamérica en Ascenso Fellowship encourages people with disabilities to apply. We have implemented several measures to support applicants who may need accommodations, including providing a designated space for someone to assist in filling out the application, allowing the use of speech-to-text functionality, and simplifying the application’s visual logic to accommodate those with reading difficulties. For additional disability-related accommodations during the application process, please contact HRD@iie.org. The program is committed to providing reasonable accommodation to ensure full participation in all activities. For specific accommodations available at each partner university, please refer to the university information in the Fellowship Tracks.

The Fellowship program is dedicated to ensuring diverse perspectives by encouraging applications from women, LGBTQIA+ individuals, indigenous communities, Afro-descendants, returned migrants, and other underrepresented groups. We commit to broad dissemination of application materials and will evaluate all applications fairly and equitably to support participation from marginalized communities.

All individuals who are 18 years old or older and meet the eligibility criteria for the Fellowship program and for their desired Fellowship track are encouraged to apply.

The Centroamérica en Ascenso Fellowship welcomes applications from Anti-corruption Actors (ACAs) across various fields and disciplines, including but not limited to lawyers, judges, journalists, university faculty/researchers, human rights defenders, activists, civil society members, and other relevant profiles, working in El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras or Nicaragua, who are seriously threatened or persecuted as a result of their work. Please review all the eligibility criteria here.

The application materials are available in English and Spanish. If selected, and depending on the chosen Fellowship track, you must submit English translations of any materials originally written in a language other than English. Translations need not be certified at this stage of the process.

English proficiency is strongly recommended for non-degree tracks and is required by some partner universities, as it is the primary language of instruction and communication. Proficiency in English is highly encouraged for full participation in program activities, access to resources, networking, and daily life in the United States. Master’s degree applicants must submit an English proficiency test with minimum scores. For specific English language requirements, carefully review the Fellowship Tracks.

Submit the documents you have, and the Fellowship team will follow up later in the selection process. Note that while non-originals (e.g., transcripts, diplomas) are acceptable for the application, original documents will be required for official university acceptance.

Eligible applicants must be citizens of El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, or Nicaragua. They may reside in their home countries or any Latin American country as of spring 2019. Applicants living permanently, temporarily, or holding dual citizenship outside Latin America are not eligible.

Your candidacy will be evaluated by a Selection Review Panel composed of experts in anti-corruption and risk analysis, as well as professionals from partner organizations, academic institutions, and the IIE Centroamérica en Ascenso Fellowship team.

Submitting publications is optional. Publications may include books, book chapters, journal articles, papers, reports, creative works, newspaper articles, case studies, legal briefs, training manuals, toolkits, advocacy initiatives, multimedia projects, or documentaries. These materials should showcase your contributions and expertise in fighting corruption and may help tailor your Fellowship experience.

Your résumé/CV should include:

• Academic degrees (institution, field, and date)
• Current position (employer, title, location, dates, and responsibilities)
• Previous positions in chronological order (organization, title, location, dates, and responsibilities)Publications with full citations (if applicable)
• Relevant professional accomplishments and awards (e.g., thesis supervision, conference presentations, grants, honors, and professional affiliations)

We recommend highlighting your past work in anticorruption in your home country.

In your statement of threat for the Centroamérica en Ascenso Fellowship, describe the specific threats, violence, or persecution you’ve encountered due to your anti-corruption work, and explain why you can no longer continue your efforts in your home country. Include any relevant details, such as refugee status, exile, criminal charges, or physical assaults related to your activism. The statement should be one page, double-spaced, in Calibri size 12, clearly articulating the risks you face and the importance of the fellowship for your safety and ability to continue your work.

Along with following the application instructions, highlight any changes in your country resulting from your work or successes in anti-corruption efforts. The statement should be two pages, double-spaced, in Calibri font size 12.

Two letters of recommendation are required for the Centroamérica en Ascenso Fellowship. They should be specific, from professional or academic contacts familiar with your anti-corruption work, and on official letterhead. Letters must be signed and sent directly by the referee to HRD@iie.org. English is preferred, but Spanish is accepted. Recommenders must also complete a recommendation form available here.

Please refer to the eligibility requirements in the application form and note that while efforts will be made to assign the same location to spouses, should both be selected Fellows, it is not guaranteed.

ELIGIBLE

• You are eligible to apply to this Fellowship if you have participated in and successfully concluded any U. S. Government funded fellowship or scholarship program physically OUTSIDE the United States.

INELIGIBLE

• You are ineligible if you have participated in and successfully concluded any U. S. Government funded fellowship, scholarship, or other program during which you were physically present inside the United States on a U.S. government-sponsored visa for more than six months within the past five years.

If you have specific questions about your eligibility, please reach out to the Fellowship team at HRD@iie.org.

The Fellowship offers Anticorruption Actors from El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, and Nicaragua unique experiences at one of three U.S. universities with strong regional connections.  The program provides tailored training to enhance contributions, improve skills, share best practices, and expand networks. For details on what the Fellowship covers financially, see Fellowship Financial Support.

The Fellowship program lasts between one to two years, depending on the chosen track. For example, the Master of Laws (LLM) program at American University spans approximately two semesters plus a summer session, totaling one year. Other tracks at the University of Florida and the University of Notre Dame may last only up to two years, depending on the academic program and the customized Fellowship experience. For more details, see Fellowship Tracks.

• See the Fellowship Financial Support section.
• Please note that the monthly stipend is based on U.S. guidelines and is intended for individuals sharing living arrangements. The monthly stipend rates are designed to cover the cost of shared housing. This means that the stipend is designed to pay for a rental cost that is shared with roommates in a shared living arrangement such as an apartment, house, or on-campus housing.The rates are not designed to support a person living alone.

The expected arrival date in the United States is approximately July 30, 2025, though visa processing times may cause delays. Detailed timelines will be provided after selection. It is crucial for applicants to promptly provide requested information throughout the process. For more details, please refer to the Fellowship tracks  for each university’s requirements.

Fellows are responsible for securing their own housing during their stay in the United States, with close support from their Centroamérica en Ascenso Fellowship Coordinator at the host university. The university will guide them in finding on-campus or off-campus shared housing options to ensure a smooth transition and comfortable living arrangements. However, Fellows must fully understand the terms of any lease or housing agreement they enter into, as the Host University, USAID, the Institute of International Education, and the Fellowship program cannot act as guarantors for any housing agreements.

Upon completion of the Fellowship, Fellows are required to adhere to the requirements of their USAID-sponsored J1 visa, which include, among others:

• For more complete information on J1 visa requirements, reference this USAID resource. 

No, intellectual work produced by Fellows during their Fellowships does not become part of the program. Fellows retain ownership of their intellectual property and have the freedom to determine the use and distribution of their work.

All Fellows are expected to complete their Fellowship Track on the timeline determined during the Fellowship award process. Extensions are not possible. Fellows are encouraged to maintain open communication with the Fellowship Program Director and their university advisors to help identify any potential challenges and provide any needed support, so that they can complete their Fellowships within the allotted time.

Yes, Fellows can create or contribute to the alumni network after completing the Fellowship. This network allows Fellows to stay connected, share experiences, collaborate on anticorruption initiatives, and access ongoing peer support and professional development opportunities. It provides a community of like-minded individuals dedicated to promoting positive change in their home countries and beyond.

Fellowships are hosted by American University, University of Florida, and University of Notre Dame. Fellows should review the available Fellowship tracks in the Centroamérica en Ascenso Fellowship Tracks section and specify their preferred track in both the application form and their Statement of Social Impact. Each university collaborates closely with applicants to tailor the Fellowship experience based on their backgrounds and needs, ensuring a robust experience that includes opportunities for networking, presentations, and teaching.

The three host universities are partners in the Fellowship based on their strong regional ties to Central America, their capacity and experience providing wrap-around support to international scholars and fellows, and their variety of nondegree and master’s degree options that can be tailored to connect to the anticorruption work of Fellows.

Yes, language support is available for Fellows who may not speak English fluently, including options like selecting a degree program partially in Spanish, intensive English classes, bilingual advisors, and involvement in Spanish-language grassroots work. However, intermediate-level English is strongly recommended for daily communication (e.g., asking for directions, speaking with landlords, shopping, or explaining an illness to doctors). All Fellows are expected to improve their English skills during the Fellowship, and certain opportunities require specific English proficiency levels. For more details on requirements and track-specific support, please refer to the Fellowship Tracks.

The Fellowship program covers the cost of enrollment in university-provided health insurance as well as university-provided or program-identified dental insurance for each Fellow. Dental care in the United States is notoriously expensive, with routine procedures like fillings costing between $100 and $300, and more complex treatments, such as root canals or crowns, ranging from $500 to $3,000 per tooth. Even with dental insurance, out-of-pocket expenses can still be significant. Therefore, we strongly advise Fellows to complete any necessary dental work in their home countries before arriving in the United States to avoid these high costs.

During the Fellowship program, each university will assign a Fellowship Coordinator as your primary point of contact for navigating campus resources, including academic support, disability-related accommodations, and mental health services. Additionally, you will have access to a designated contact on the Fellowship program team for assistance with visa regulations, finances, allowances, and other resources to enhance your Fellowship experience.

The Social Impact Action Plan is a strategic framework designed to leverage your expertise in driving positive change and addressing anti-corruption issues in your home country during the Fellowship. It provides a clear roadmap with specific goals, objectives, and strategies tailored to your field, enabling effective action, progress monitoring, and outcome measurement. The plan also fosters collaboration and stakeholder engagement, helping you forge partnerships and leverage resources to amplify your impact, ultimately optimizing the effectiveness and sustainability of your initiatives.

Yes, partner universities, deeply connected to local communities and target countries, facilitate essential connections for Fellows. They provide recommendations and opportunities to engage with local organizations, leaders, and initiatives through volunteering, events, or project collaborations, enabling Fellows to address anti-corruption challenges at the grassroots level, gain insights, build relationships, and make tangible impacts beyond academia.

Yes, professional development is a core component of the Fellowship program, offering workshops, seminars, and training sessions. Fellows can also lead sessions, fostering peer-to-peer learning. Additionally, a one-time Professional Development Allowance is available to cover expenses like registration fees and travel to conferences or other professional activities. For more details, see the Fellowship Tracks and the Fellowship Financial Support sections.

Yes, the Fellowship offers opportunities to network and collaborate with other Fellows and organizations. Fellows are encouraged to engage, share experiences, and collaborate on anticorruption projects. The program also facilitates connections with relevant organizations and stakeholders to enhance networking and collaboration within the broader anti-corruption community.

A dependent is defined as a fellow’s legal spouse, regardless of gender, or a child under the age of 21.

• USAID will consider sponsoring dependents on J2 visas, which are subject to the same Conditions of Sponsorship as J1 visas for Centroamérica en Ascenso Fellows.
• Approval of J2 visas is solely at the discretion of the U.S. consulate, and neither the Fellowship, USAID, nor the Institute of International Education can influence the outcome.
• While there is no limit to the number of dependents you may request sponsorship for, you must demonstrate to the U.S. consulate that you have the financial means to fully support them during your stay. Please note that there is no additional funding available for dependents.

IIE will assist all Fellows with the J1 visa application process and can also facilitate the J-2 visa process for dependents. However, please note that no financial support is available for dependents. Both Fellows and their dependents must have passports valid for at least six months beyond their intended arrival in the United States, as required by the U.S. government.

No, Fellows are required to maintain their J-1 visa status for the duration of their Fellowship program.

Per J1 visa regulations, Fellows are required to depart the U.S. and return to their country of nationality or last legal permanent residence within 30 days after the end of their Fellowship. If you have concerns about returning, notify the Fellowship team as soon as possible. While the Fellowship can provide guidance on J1 visa requirements and any exceptions determined by USAID, it cannot offer immigration advice beyond these terms. Fellows are encouraged to stay in close communication with both the Fellowship team and their university to receive support and accurate information regarding their safety, well-being, requirements, and options.

Yes, the Fellowship covers your travel expenses by purchasing plane tickets for your travel to and from the United States.  Upon arrival, you will receive non-financial assistance from the universities in finding housing and a one-time settling-in allowance to help with initial expenses. For more details on funding, refer to the Financial Support section.

If you encounter challenges during your Fellowship, you will receive personalized advising, comprehensive health insurance, and access to resources to help you navigate housing, healthcare, and other needs, ensuring you have the support required to succeed.

If you must return home for safety reasons to support your dependents before the Fellowship program ends, please notify the Centroamérica en Ascenso Fellowship team immediately. They will work with you to determine the best course of action. However, any expenses incurred will be your responsibility.

• Yes, mental health support is available as part of the comprehensive support Fellows will receive. Fellows will have university health insurance and access to the campus student health center. Mental health services are a priority at U.S. universities, and there is no stigma associated with seeking help.