IREX is accepting applications for the 2027 Community Solutions Program (CSP), a fully funded leadership exchange of the U.S. Department of State. Experienced community leaders spend about three to four months in the United States, including a 12-week practicum with a U.S. organisation, then return home to run a nine-month project that boosts economic growth in their own community.
11 African countries are eligible: Botswana, Cameroon, Ethiopia, Ghana, Guinea, Kenya, Liberia, Mozambique, Namibia, Rwanda and Uganda. Citizens of Algeria, Egypt, Morocco and Tunisia can also apply under the Middle East and North Africa region. Nigeria and South Africa are not on the 2027 list.
The deadline is 24 November 2026 at 11:59pm U.S. Eastern Time.
At a Glance
| Organiser | IREX, funded by the U.S. Department of State |
| Programme | Community Solutions Program (CSP) 2027 |
| Funding | Fully funded: J-1 visa support, round-trip flights, monthly living allowance and health cover |
| U.S. exchange | About 3–4 months: orientation 2–5 August, practicum 9 August – 29 October, final workshop 1–4 November 2027 |
| Age | 27–39 at the time of application |
| Experience | At least 5 years working on community issues |
| Deadline | 24 November 2026, 11:59pm Eastern Time |
11:59pm Eastern Time on 24 November is 4:59am on 25 November in Ghana, Guinea and Liberia, 5:59am in Cameroon, 6:59am in Botswana, Mozambique, Namibia and Rwanda, and 7:59am in Kenya, Ethiopia and Uganda.
Eligible Countries
- Africa: Botswana, Cameroon, Ethiopia, Ghana, Guinea, Kenya, Liberia, Mozambique, Namibia, Rwanda, Uganda
- Middle East and North Africa: Algeria, Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon, Morocco, Oman, Tunisia
- East Asia and the Pacific: Cambodia, Federated States of Micronesia, Fiji, Indonesia, Malaysia, Mongolia, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, Solomon Islands, Thailand, Tonga, Vanuatu, Vietnam
- Europe: Albania, Belarus, Croatia, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Moldova, North Macedonia, Romania, Slovakia, Ukraine
- South and Central Asia: Bangladesh, Bhutan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan
- Western Hemisphere: Bolivia, Colombia, El Salvador, Guatemala, Guyana, Jamaica, Mexico, Panama, Peru, Suriname, Trinidad & Tobago, Venezuela
What the Programme Involves
- A three-month U.S. fellowship: a hands-on practicum with a U.S. host organisation in one of about six host regions, plus field visits to see how businesses, chambers of commerce, colleges, local government and community groups work together on economic development.
- Innovation and Applied Skills Labs: practical training in leadership and management tools, including how emerging technologies can help local industries and workers.
- A SCALE-Up Project: after the U.S. exchange, you go home and run a nine-month project that adapts at least one U.S. model, tool or partnership approach to your community.
Applicants choose a primary sector, such as business and entrepreneurship, hospitality and tourism, technology and innovation, or culinary and farm-to-table industries. They also choose training tracks, for example youth engagement, workforce development, e-commerce and digital tools, or public–private partnerships.
Benefits
IREX says the programme covers most costs, including:
- J-1 visa support
- Round-trip travel from your home city to the U.S.
- A monthly allowance for housing, meals and other living expenses in the U.S.
- Accident and sickness health cover
- Disability support, from a screen-reader-friendly application to sign language interpreting and accessible rooms
- Professional connections with U.S. organisations and a global network of community leaders
Eligibility
- Aged 27 to 39 when you apply.
- A citizen of an eligible country (see the list above).
- At least five years of experience working on community issues, with measurable benefits to local communities.
- Living and working in your home country when you apply, not abroad for study, training or work.
- Strong spoken and written English. Semi-finalists without a valid TOEFL score of 520 (or 213 computer-based) or higher will take an Institutional TOEFL or an approved equivalent.
- Able to travel to the U.S. for the full exchange in August–November 2027.
- Not a U.S. citizen or permanent resident, and not applied for U.S. permanent residency in the past three years.
- Eligible for a U.S. J-1 visa. Past U.S. government exchange participants must have completed their two-year home residency requirement.
- Committed to returning home for at least two years and carrying out a SCALE-Up Project.
IREX notes that the U.S. Department of State sets the eligibility rules and no exceptions are made.
Selection Timeline
| Date | Step |
|---|---|
| 24 November 2026 | Application deadline |
| 22 December 2026 | Semi-finalists invited to an English-language interview |
| 8 January 2027 | Semi-finalist interview deadline |
| 25 February 2027 | Finalists, alternates and unsuccessful applicants notified |
| June – July 2027 | Virtual pre-departure orientation |
| 2 August – 4 November 2027 | U.S. exchange |
How to Apply
- Read IREX’s official application page and the Application Instructions PDF (links below) to confirm you’re eligible.
- Prepare to describe a regional economic development challenge you’re working on, the results you’ve achieved, the people and institutions involved, and how CSP would strengthen your work.
- Optionally, prepare a creative supplement showing your commitment to community economic development.
- Apply online at csp.irex.org before 24 November 2026, 11:59pm Eastern Time. Mailed, faxed or emailed applications aren’t accepted.
Official IREX Community Solutions Program application page · Online application portal
Questions: [email protected]. IREX allows AI tools to help edit applications, but you must disclose their use and your answers must reflect your own experience.
Tips for African Applicants
- Lead with numbers. Selectors want “measurable benefits”, so name the jobs created, businesses supported, people trained or money raised.
- Frame your work as regional economic development. Link your community work to local jobs, small businesses, tourism, agriculture or youth employment.
- Check your timing. You must be 27–39 and living at home when you apply, so people currently studying abroad don’t qualify.
- Prepare for the TOEFL. If you don’t have a valid score, brush up before the semi-finalist stage in January.
