Cultural and Educational exchange programs are one of the essential components of American public diplomacy. The U.S. Embassy/Public Affairs Section (PAS) administers a variety of U.S.-government sponsored exchange programs which build cultural ties and bridges of understanding between Liberians and Americans. They are intended to introduce Liberians to the United States and provide them with a chance to exchange ideas and experience with Americans. Active exchange programs administered in Liberia through the Public Affairs Section include:
Edward R. Murrow Program
Each year, the U.S. Department of State’s Edward R. Murrow Program for Journalists brings more than 100 emerging international journalists from around the world to examine journalistic practices in the United States.
See more at: http://eca.state.gov/highlight/edward-r-murrow-program-journalists
Hubert H. Humphrey Fellowship Program
Overview:
U.S. Embassy Liberia is pleased to announce the annual competition for the 2027-2028 Hubert H. Humphrey Fellowship Program.
The Hubert H. Humphrey Fellowship Program, a Fulbright exchange, enhances leadership and ties with the United States among influential mid-career government officials and other emerging leaders from priority countries through academic study and professional experience in the U.S., advancing U.S. foreign policy interests to make the U.S. safer and more prosperous in a more stable and secure world.
The Humphrey Program was initiated in 1978 to honor the memory and accomplishments of the late Senator and Vice President, Hubert H. Humphrey.
Fellows are selected through a competitive process based on their potential for leadership and commitment to public service in the public or private sector.
Humphrey Fellows participate in non-degree study at approximately 11 host campuses across the United States and complete at least six weeks of a professional affiliation at a U.S.-based governmental, non-governmental, private sector, or international organization. Through their academic and professional experiences, they gain knowledge about the United States, deepen their professional expertise and experience in fields of strategic importance to the U.S., and expand their networks to include U.S. counterparts
Eligibility Criteria:
- Must have a first university degree and understand that the program is non-degree granting
- Must have at least five years of full-time professional experience beyond the attainment of a first university/undergraduate degree, and prior to August 2026
- Must be a Liberian citizen and resident of Liberia
- Must be able to show a strong commitment to return home after the fellowship
- Limited or no experience in the United States
- Must be working in either the public or private sector with demonstrated leadership ability and a demonstrated commitment to public service
- English language ability
- Have not participated in U.S. government-sponsored exchange programs within the last three years prior to the submission of application.
Nominees in the following fields will be the most competitive:
- Law and Governance
- Communications and Journalism
- Natural Resources Policy
- Public and Economic Policy
- Public Health Policy and Management
- Technology Policy and Management
Testing of English language:
Application finalists will be required to take the TOEFL exam (Test of English as a Foreign Language), or Duolingo English Test. Finalists must be prepared to take the TOEFL or Duolingo exam between August 18 -28 2026. The exam fees will be paid for by the program for finalists only.
How to apply:
Online applications must be submitted via the following: https://apply.iie.org/huberthhumphrey
Applicants are asked to respond to questions related to leadership, goals and program plan, public service, and a professional challenge they have overcome.
Responses should provide detailed information specific to each question.
No applications will be accepted after June 30, 2026.
All applications received will be screened, but only short-listed applicants will be contacted and invited for an interview.
Please direct questions to MonroviaPD@state.gov for more information.
Selection: Please note that selection for this program is competitive. The review panel is looking for candidates who meet all program requirements, including demonstrated leadership ability/ potential, a commitment to public service, and a well-developed program plan. Following a technical review, short-listed candidates will be advised and invited for an interview.
More information:
Learn more about the Humphrey Fellowship Program at: https://www.humphreyfellowship.org/
International Visitor Leadership Program (IVLP)
Through short-term visits to the United States, current and emerging foreign leaders in a variety of fields experience this country firsthand and cultivate lasting relationships with their American counterparts. Professional meetings reflect the participants’ professional interests and support the foreign policy goals of the United States.
See more at: http://exchanges.state.gov/non-us/program/international-visitor-leadership-program-ivlp
Kennedy-Lugar Youth Exchange & Study (YES)
The YES program allows students from countries with significant Muslim populations to spend up to one academic year in the United States.
See more at: http://exchanges.state.gov/non-us/program/kennedy-lugar-youth-exchange-study-yes
Mandela Washington Fellowship for Young African Leaders
The Mandela Washington Fellowship brings young leaders from sub-Saharan African countries to the United States each year for academic coursework and leadership training with the goal of creating unique opportunities in Africa for Fellows to put new skills to practical use in leading organizations, communities, and countries.
See more about the Mandela Washington Fellowship: http://exchanges.state.gov/non-us/program/mandela-washington-fellowship-young-african-leaders
Pan-Africa Youth Leadership Program
The Pan Africa Youth Leadership Program supports long-range U.S. foreign policy priorities by offering secondary school youth (ages 15-18) and adult educators the opportunity to explore themes through three-week, intensive exchanges in the United States. A key component of the program is to develop community-based projects in their home communities to affect change upon their return home.
See more at: http://exchanges.state.gov/non-us/program/youth-leadership-programs
Sports Visitor Program
Sports Visitors are young non-elite athletes and coaches chosen by U.S. missions overseas to visit the United States for a fast-paced two week exchange program.
See more at: http://exchanges.state.gov/non-us/program/sports-visitor-program
Study of the United States Institutes
The Study of the U.S. Institutes are five-to-six week academic programs for small groups of foreign undergraduate students, scholars, and teachers which aim to promote a better understanding of American people and institutions; explore the diversity and culture of the United States; and develop or expand curricula on U.S. studies in colleges and universities overseas. Focusing on themes in U.S. studies, Institutes are hosted by universities and colleges throughout the United States and are designed to offer a balance between academic and experiential learning though an intensive academic program, site and cultural visits, an educational study tour, and opportunities to engage with American peers through homestays, community service, and research.
See more at: http://exchanges.state.gov/non-us/program/study-us-institutes
Online Professional English Network (OPEN) Program
The OPEN Program offers free 8-week graduate-level, professional development courses developed by U.S. universities on topics such as English as a Medium of Instruction (EMI), TESOL Methodology, Professional Development for Teacher Trainers, and Integrating Critical Thinking into the Classroom.
For more information about OPEN, please visit:
https://exchanges.state.gov/non-us/program/OPEN-Program
https://www.openenglishprograms.org/
Community Engagement Exchange Program
Applications are now being accepted till 14 January 2022 at bit.ly/CEE2021apply
The Community Engagement Exchange Program is a transformational year-long leadership development program designed to enable civil society leaders, ages 20-27 from communities in over 100 countries to harness the power of networks, relationships, and information for the public good, specifically on issues related to civic dialogue and peacebuilding, open and participatory government, women and gender, resilience and sustainable development, and youth engagement.
For more information, please visit: https://www.irex.org/project/community-engagement-exchange
African Women Entrepreneurship Program (AWEP)
AWEP is a State Department initiative to identify and build networks of women entrepreneurs across Sub-Saharan Africa who are poised to transform their communities by owning; running; and operating small and medium businesses, and to drive social and economic progress in their communities and countries.
See more at: http://exchanges.state.gov/non-us/program/african-womens-entrepreneurship-program-awep
Community Solutions Program
The Community Solutions Program is a professional development program for the best and brightest global community leaders working in the fields of transparency and accountability, tolerance and conflict resolution, environmental issues and women’s issues. Community Solutions provides four-month-long fellowships at U.S. community-based non-profit or other organizations, government offices or legislative bodies. Fellows will work with community leaders to enhance their practical expertise, leadership skills and professional contacts to address societal issues in their home communities.
See more at: http://exchanges.state.gov/non-us/program/community-solutions
FULLBRIGHT SPECIALIST PROGRAM
The Fulbright Specialist Program, a program of the U.S. Department of State offers opportunities for established U.S. professionals and academics to share expertise, gain international experience, develop institutional linkages and collaborative partnerships through short-term, project-based exchanges at institutions around the globe.
The program provides a unique opportunity for institutions across the globe to host a leading U.S. academic professional. The specialist and host institutions work together to implement a two-to-six-week project. The Host institution designs project goals and activities that will exchange knowledge and promote long-lasting collaboration between individuals and institutions in the United States and around the world.
Eligible Project Activities
The Fulbright Specialist Program encourages host institutions to tailor projects to their needs. However, all projects should have an education or training focus. Due to the short-term nature of the exchange, projects should have achievable, concrete objectives over the course of the Specialist’s visit.
Fulbright Specialists apply their expertise to a diverse array of activities including, but not limited to:
- Delivering seminars,
- Training or workshops
- Consulting on faculty or workforce development
- Developing academic or training curricula/materials
- Providing lectures at the graduate or undergraduate level
- Engaging in strategic or institutional planning
- Conducting needs assessments or evaluations
Eligible Host Institutions
Institutions eligible to request a Fulbright Specialist include, but are not limited to:
- Institutions of Higher Education
- Government Institutions (ministries or agencies, courts, parliamentary or congressional bodies)
- Cultural Institutions (conservatories, museums, etc.)
- Non-Governmental Organizations including non-partisan, issue-centered institutions, and think tanks
- Medical Institutions (public health organizations, teaching hospitals, etc.)
Eligible Disciplines
Agriculture, American (U.S.) Studies, Anthropology, Archaeology, Biology Education, Business Administration, Chemistry Education, Communications & Journalism, Computer Science & Information Technology, Economics, Education, Engineering Education, Environmental Science, Law, Library Science, Math Education, Peace & Conflict Resolution Studies, Physics Education, Political Science, Public Administration, Public/Global Health, Social Work, Sociology, Urban Planning.
ECA Priority Discipline
Cyber Security and IT; Disaster Response; Entrepreneurship; Environmental Sustainability; Media Literacy/Countering Disinformation; Public Administration; Public/Global Health; STEM (Science Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics), and supporting the strengthening of democratic processes and the rule of law.
HOW TO APPLY
Online applications must be submitted via Fulbright Specialist Program
Please contact the U.S. Embassy Public Diplomacy Section to obtain country-specific information on application requirements, deadlines, and to access the application at MonroviaPD@state.gov.
More Information
Learn more about the Fulbright Program at: https://fulbrightprogram.org