AddressChatham House, the Royal Institute of International Affairs, is a world leading, independent policy institute and a trusted forum for debate and dialogue. Based in London, for more than 100 years our research and ideas have helped people to understand a rapidly changing world. As a global think tank, our mission is to help governments and societies build a sustainably secure, prosperous and just world. We pursue this mission through dialogue, analysis and delivering solutions-based ideas.
Now in our second century, Chatham House has an ambitious goal to prepare the next generation of thinkers to meet the challenges of tomorrow
Our Queen Elizabeth II Academy for Leadership and the Next Generation, established in 2014 and opened by Her Late Majesty, Queen Elizabeth II, develops future policy makers and drives positive change in world affairs by equipping future leaders with the knowledge, skills and networks to make a lasting, positive impact on international affairs.
Academy fellowships, embedded in our exclusive training programme and supported by our prestigious research teams, offer an exciting opportunity to:
- Build key leadership skills;
- Develop a research project at a world leading policy institute and;
- Connect with Chatham House’s unique expert network, engaging in dialogue and debate to expand understanding of critical international issues.
Academy Fellowships
The Schwarzman Academy Fellowship is a joint initiative between Chatham House and the Stephen A. Schwarzman Education Foundation. It offers candidates the opportunity to spend ten months at Chatham House working on a personal project of their choosing.
Academy Fellows are professionals from a wide range of backgrounds including government, research, academia, civil society, journalism, for example, who are at the early to mid-point of their career and who are passionate about identifying evidence-based solutions to some of the world’s most pressing international challenges. Often experts in their individual fields, they show exceptional promise as emerging leaders in their home countries, regions and even internationally.
Fellows are strongly encouraged to consider the overall Chatham House mission, values and goals, align their proposal with the work and focus of the research programmes listed, and develop research proposals that seek to directly contribute to the topics listed:
Asia-Pacific Programme
- What are China’s regional and global leadership ambitions and how are Beijing’s ambitions impacting its neighbourhood and global governance?
- How do other Asian nations perceive China and how are they managing their relationships with China?
- What international role are other rising powers such as India and Indonesia seeking and how can and will they change their regions and the wider world?
- How are the various Indo-Pacific strategies and approaches of the US and its allies perceived in the region and how are they faring?
- What has driven successful democratic consolidation in Asia and why is authoritarianism proving so enduring in some countries?
- What models and approaches should developing nations in Asia take to ensure rapid and more balanced economic growth in future?
Digital Society Initiative
- AI is rapidly developing as a technology shaping the world, but the vast majority of its development takes place in industry and not in the public sector or between nations. How might a public option for AI be conceived of, funded or coordinated, either at a national level or internationally; in a specific sector or as general purpose public compute?
Europe Programme
- Future of the EU: How will enlargement change the nature of the EU? What institutional reform is needed to enable enlargement to happen? How might a swing to the right across Europe challenge the enlargement agenda?
- Safeguarding European security: What vulnerabilities do European countries, and NATO, have when it comes to economic security and energy security? How can these vulnerabilities be addressed? How can Europe unlock sustained and long-term action on security, and how does this interact with European competitiveness?
- Europe's positioning in the world: how should Europe position itself between the US and China? What should its relations with Africa be? What does a geopolitical Europe look like in practice?
Global Health Programme
- Considerations for regional strategic stockpiling of medical countermeasures for health emergencies: strengthening supply chain resilience and self-sufficiency.
- Governance of pathogen research.
- Examination of the effectiveness of compulsory license flexibility in the Trips Agreement – is it fit for purpose?
- How effective are laboratory systems in Africa? What are the gaps, redundancies and vulnerabilities and how can a regional approach help?
- Were lockdowns really necessary and are they a good idea for next time?
International Security Programme
- How can the parallels between space and cyberspace on responsible state behaviour help address shared challenges in both domains and ensure their secure and peaceful utilization?
- In light of the evolving geopolitical challenges and emerging security threats, in what ways should NATO adapt to ensure its continued relevance and effectiveness in maintaining regional and global security in the future?
- How can international legal frameworks and collaborative efforts be strengthened to ensure greater accountability for cybercriminal activities targeting Critical National Infrastructure, and what role do emerging technologies play in enhancing attribution and prosecution?
- How can European states adjust their deterrence messaging for future threats without falling victim to a security dilemma?
Middle East and North Africa Programme
- Palestine – domestic and foreign policy
- Climate change in MENA – implications, policy, scope for regional cooperation
- Political economy and accountability, preferably in Libya and/or Maghreb
- Artificial intelligence in MENA – governance and accountability, regional leadership
- China-MENA – nature of the relationship, implications for regional security and geopolitical competition
US and the Americas Programme
- Research projects that speak to the broader international implications of America's changing global role.
UK in the World Programme
- The UK’s science and technology capabilities, ambitions and its potential role in global governance (particularly around developments concerning AI)
- The UK’s strategic relations with the ‘global south’, including the UK’s role in the Indo-Pacific; UK-India; UK-China; UK-Commonwealth
- UK foreign policy and prosperity/resilience at home – the ‘securenomics’ idea that Labour is putting forward (drawing heavily on Biden’s FP for the middle-class policy from when he took office)
- How UK foreign policy impacts different regions/devolved nations, and whether/how do different regions/nations within the UK perceive/shape/influence UK foreign policy made in Westminster.
Selection criteria
The successful applicant will:
- Hold an undergraduate/postgraduate level qualification (or have equivalent professional training or experience in a relevant area)
- Have the relevant background experience, including experience in the field of the proposed research, as demonstrated through a CV
- Demonstrate proficiency in speaking English
- Have experience conducting independent research
- Have proven leadership experience or potential
- Show commitment to Chatham House mission, goals and values
- Communicate how the fellowship will enable them to create positive impact, in line with the Chatham House mission
- Express motivation to undertake the fellowship, meet all fellowship deliverables, and take full advantage of the networks, events and opportunities offered at Chatham House
Benefits
Academy Fellows receive a monthly stipend of £2,365 for London living costs, including accommodation, utilities, food, transport, and other basic expenses.
In addition, the Academy will cover reasonable costs related to:
- Relocation (Flights, train, etc. to/from the UK, three nights of accommodation, visas, extra cases/boxes, etc.)
- Payment of the UK’s Immigration Healthcare Surcharge which allows access to the UK National Health Service (Note: you may be required to pay for dental and optical treatments and medicines prescribed by a doctor)
- Research, outreach, and dissemination costs (fieldwork, travel, conferences, publication, roundtables, events, etc.)
Additionally, Fellows attend the Academy Leadership Programme through which they access:
- Workshops, seminars, and events
- Media training
- Career coaching
- Writing support
- Networking opportunities, including with Chatham House staff, the Academy’s faculty and alumni
- Chatham House membership upon completion of the fellowship
Contract: 10 months.
Location: Hybrid (Office/Home), minimum 2 days in the office per week, plus expected attendance at leadership programme sessions.
Closing Date: Monday 8 April 2024. You will be notified of the status of your application within 4 weeks of the role closing.
Please note: We screen candidates anonymously. We will not see your personal information before your application has been moved forward in the process. Please exclude any personal or identifiable information in your application answers including your personal statement.
The Job Description as outlined above will not be available once the closing date has passed. Please ensure you keep a copy for your own record.
We are an equal opportunity employer. We value diversity and do not discriminate on the basis of protected characteristics. We encourage applications from all backgrounds. If there is anything we can do to improve your experience or support you, please get in touch at Academy@chathamhouse.org
Please note: We screen candidates anonymously. We will not see your personal information before your application has been moved forward in the process. Please exclude any personal or identifiable information in your application answers including your personal statement.
The Job Description as outlined above will not be available once the closing date has passed. Please ensure you keep a copy for your own record.
