We support rising leaders across all sectors from the countries of Central Asia, the Caucasus, Afghanistan and Mongolia through our Central Asia-Caucasus Fellowship Program. The Program connects talented professionals from across the region, encouraging an intraregional network and exchange of ideas, as well as fosters better understanding and stronger relations between the United States and the region.
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Each spring and fall, 10-13 applicants are selected to participate in the 6-week Central Asia-Caucasus Fellowship Program. The Program consists of a series of high-level meetings during which Fellows have an opportunity to engage and interact with top policy-makers, business leaders, journalists, academics, military personnel, non-governmental organizations and regional experts, exposing them to inside perspectives on how the U.S. public and private sectors work. The Program also incorporates opportunities for professional development and networking. As part of the Fellowship, Fellows additionally spend the fourth week of the Program traveling to two major U.S. cities for meetings with local businesses and government representatives, providing them with insights into the United States beyond the nation's capital. In the final weeks of the Program, Fellows collaborate on and complete a group presentation on a topic of their choice at a Central Asia-Caucasus Institute public forum, which serves as a platform for the Fellows to present their thoughts and engage with representatives from local embassies, businesses, universities, media and others interested in the region.
The Central Asia-Caucasus Institute and Silk Road Studies Program is a Joint Transatlantic Research and Policy Center, affiliated with the American Foreign Policy Council in Washington D.C., and the Institute for Security and Development Policy in Stockholm.
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"When I think about my experience in the program, I realize how lucky I am to have come to know so many bright and talented people from around the world and my own region. This new network has enriched my knowledge, experience and friendships and I use the contacts I have made constantly. "
Fall 2012, Kyrgyzstan
Current Position: Executive Director of the American Chamber of Commerce in the Kyrgyz Republic
Spring 2017, Georgia
Current Position:
Commander of the Training and Military Education Command of the Armed Forces of Georgia
Fall 2015, Afghanistan
Current Position: Senior Advisor, State Ministry for Peace
"The Fellowship has been transformational in that I learned to think like a policymaker and execute like a businessperson."
Spring 2018, Armenia
Current Position:
Governing Board of the UNESCO Institute of Statistics
The alumni from each of the ten countries are led by a nominated representative called the National Coordinator who serves on the Fellowship Alumni Council. Each National Coordinator is responsible for organizing alumni meetings within their country as well as serving as a key representative and point of contact for the broader CAMCA network and its activities. Learn more about our National Coordinators.
After five years of successful Fellowship sessions, in 2012 the Foundation began hosting annual regional alumni gatherings. Since 2014, these annual meetings have taken place alongside the CAMCA Regional Forums.
The CAMCA (Central Asia-Mongolia-Caucasus-Afghanistan) Regional Forum was established in 2014 by the Fellowship alumni in collaboration with the Foundation and Central Asia-Caucasus Institute to create a platform for the alumni to engage with a broader international audience invested in the future of the region. Read more about the CAMCA Network.