TIMEP 2025–2026 Bassem Sabry Fellowship
- Omran Aburayya
- Aug 22
- 3 min read
If you are a young professional under 35 from the MENA region, passionate about advancing democratic and inclusive change, the TIMEP 2025–2026 Bassem Sabry Fellowship is now open for applications. Hosted by the Tahrir Institute for Middle East Policy (TIMEP) in Washington, DC and run in partnership with Atlas Corps at Cultural Vistas, this fully funded six-month, in-person fellowship runs from November 15, 2025 to May 15, 2026. The application deadline is August 28, 2025, by 11:59 PM EST .
🎓 Fellowship Summary
Location: In-person at TIMEP’s office in Washington, DC—full-time (40 hrs/week) for six months .
Sponsor: Tahrir Institute for Middle East Policy (TIMEP), in partnership with Atlas Corps Fellowship at Cultural Vistas .
Level: Designed for early- to mid-career professionals from MENA.
Target Group: International candidates based outside the U.S., age 35 or younger, with at least 3 years of relevant experience, connected to civil society or grassroots groups .
Fields/Focus: Mandate-based work covering areas such as governance, law and accountability, development, migration, security, or minorities in one of the following focus countries: Egypt, Tunisia, Syria, Lebanon, or Sudan .
Value & Coverage: Fully funded by Atlas Corps, covering travel, visa support, health insurance, mobile phone stipend, monthly living stipend (housing, meals, transportation), plus eligibility for a post-fellowship stipend .
Duration: 6 months, November 15, 2025 – May 15, 2026 .
Application Deadline: August 28, 2025, at 11:59 PM EST .
Eligible To: Professionals with a Bachelor’s degree, under 35, based outside U.S., proficient in English (Arabic preferred), 3+ years relevant experience, able to return home after fellowship, passport valid 6+ months past May 2026 .
📚 Fellowship Overview
Named in memory of the Egyptian political writer and commentator Bassem Sabry, this fellowship celebrates his legacy of balanced commentary and commitment to inclusion and democratic values. The fellowship empowers young MENA professionals to develop and advance a self-proposed policy-relevant mandate in Washington, DC, contributing to programming and analysis that strengthens democratic and inclusive societies .
Fellows will:
Design and lead a solutions-oriented mandate with a specific topic and geographic focus within TIMEP’s areas of expertise.
Engage directly in advocacy, policy analysis, programming, and public discourse.
Gain skills-building and leadership development opportunities tailored to their professional goals.
Become part of TIMEP’s networks among organizations, advocates, and policymakers globally .
🎁 Benefits
Policy Impact: Develop and execute a mandate that aligns with pressing MENA policy needs.
Advocacy & Visibility: Participate in briefings, media events, and policy dialogues in Washington.
Professional Growth: Access mentorship, leadership training, and orientations (pre-departure, mid-term, post-fellowship) through Atlas Corps .
Peer & Alumni Network: Join the Cultural Vistas and Atlas Corps communities through robust community-building initiatives .
Comprehensive Support: Full coverage for travel, visa, health insurance, phone, monthly living stipend, and a post-fellowship stipend upon successful completion .
✅ Eligibility Criteria
Bachelor’s degree in a relevant field.
Age 35 or younger.
Based outside the United States and planning to return post-fellowship.
Proficiency in English (Arabic proficiency strongly preferred).
Minimum 3 years of relevant work experience.
Passionate about democratic and inclusive values in line with Bassem Sabry’s legacy and TIMEP’s mission.
Established connections to civil society, grassroots groups, or regional experts.
A passport valid at least until November 15, 2026 (six months beyond program end).
Eligible for U.S. visa and having at least $1,000 in accessible personal savings during the fellowship .
📝 Application Procedure
Submit your application via the official Google Form by August 28, 2025 at 11:59 PM EST .
Required Documents:
Resume/CV.
One-Page Cover Letter: Introduce yourself, explain your interest, and connect your values to those of Bassem Sabry.
Two-Page Statement of Interest:
Propose your mandate (topic + country).
Explain its importance in the MENA region and to policy audiences.
Show how it aligns with TIMEP’s mission.
Identify TIMEP tools (analysis, advocacy, events, legal, media, network-building) you plan to use.
Three Professional References.
Bachelor’s Degree Diploma or Official Transcripts.
(Optional) Documentation of English language proficiency .
🔍 Selection Process: Shortlisted applicants will be invited to interviews in early to mid-September 2025 .
📨 For questions, contact: fellowships@timep.org
