Start a Fellowship

Turn an important challenge or opportunity into a structured fellowship where participants learn by working on real problems.

Your Pathway

1. Shape → 2. Validate → 3. Partner → 4. Design → 5. Resource → 6. Recruit → 7. Launch

1. Shape

Clarify the problem, opportunity, intended fellows, geography, and change you hope the fellowship will produce.

Do this

• Define the problem or opportunity.

• Identify who the fellows should be.

• Define the geographic or institutional scope.

• Describe what should be different at the end of the fellowship.

• Draft a one-page concept.

Help me do it
[Ask ChatGPT] [Work with Claude] [Open Template] [See Example]

You're done when: Someone unfamiliar with the idea can understand the fellowship from a one-page concept.

2. Validate

Find out whether the fellowship addresses a real need.

Talk with potential fellows, partners, practitioners, and intended beneficiaries. Test your assumptions before investing heavily in program design.

You're done when: There is credible evidence of demand and you understand the major assumptions that still need testing.

3. Partner

Identify the institutions and people needed to make the fellowship work.

Consider universities, government agencies, practitioners, funders, technical organizations, and ASG affiliates.

You're done when: Potential anchor partners and their likely roles are clear.

4. Design

Turn the concept into a participant journey.

Define duration, cohort size, learning activities, action-research or project work, mentoring, check-ins, outputs, and completion requirements.

You're done when: You can explain what a fellow will experience from application to completion.

5. Resource

Determine what is required to operate the fellowship.

Develop the budget, staffing model, funding strategy, platforms, administrative arrangements, and partner contributions.

You're done when: The fellowship has a credible operating and resourcing model.

6. Recruit

Find and select the right fellows.

Develop recruitment materials, selection criteria, application processes, partner outreach, and onboarding.

You're done when: A qualified cohort has been selected and is ready to participate.

7. Launch

Move from design to operation.

Orient fellows and partners, activate communication channels and trackers, confirm the calendar, and begin the first learning and action cycle.

You're done when: Everyone knows what happens next and the fellowship is operating.

Country Context

[Global] [Pakistan] [Nepal] [Senegal] [Philippines]

Select a country to see relevant partners, examples, resources, and local adaptations.

Start with Step 1: Shape →