2025 ASAP Fellowship Program
Change-Makers in Global Justice
The ASAP Fellowship Program is thrilled to announce its second cohort for 2025, offering a unique opportunity for emerging scholars and activists to collaborate with leading experts in the fight against global poverty and the strengthening of democracy. This program equips fellows with the knowledge, skills, and network to effect tangible positive change worldwide.
2025 ASAP Fellowship
What You Will Gain as a Fellow
- Personalized Mentorship: One-on-one guidance from renowned scholars and practitioners in global justice, poverty alleviation, and democratic resilience
- Collaborative Research: Engage in research civic and development projects addressing urgent poverty and democracy issues
- Networking Opportunities: Participate in the annual Yale Global Justice Conference, connecting with eminent thinkers and policymakers
- Publication Prospects: Potential to publish in Journal ASAP, a leading academic journal focused on poverty studies
- Extensive Network: Join the ASAP community of alumni and partners
Eligibility Criteria
APPLICATION CRITERIA
Program Details
- Emerging scholars or activists committed to social justice and effective democracy
- Master’s degree or equivalent required (exceptions considered for outstanding projects from low-income countries)
- English proficiency essential
- Submit your CV and a two-page concept paper outlining your research or project idea to mihai@academicsstand.org
- Deadline: February 21, 2025
- Shortlisted candidates will be invited to submit a 2-minute video pitch
- Final selection will be made by the ASAP Board
- One-year duration with occasional online engagement
- No stipend provided; physical presence not required
- Active participation is expected in mentorship meetings, research collaborations, and ASAP events
" Congratulations to ASAP on reaching out to budding and mature scholars and building a community. Exceptionally well done. Hope future fellowship programs go as well and indeed build on this initial success."
Raymond Baker
Testimonials from 2024 ASAP Fellows
"Mentorship from Professors Pogge and Aggarwal has been invaluable, guiding my research on floods and poverty."
Dr. Anna Nath Ganguly
"The ASAP Fellowship has been instrumental in strengthening the philosophical underpinnings of my work on global injustice."
Ahmet Gönüllü
"Under the guidance of Dr. Pogge and Dr. Chandhoke, I've examined issues from human trafficking to financial crime. This experience has equipped me with the tools to drive meaningful change."
Soumyadeep Chowdhury
"Connecting with fellow researchers passionate about global poverty has ignited my work on human trafficking. The program's mentorship and events have expanded my knowledge and inspired me to make a greater impact."
Dr. Matthew Davis
"It was a great learning experience. The seminars were all very informative, engaging and well managed."
Shagufta Shabbar
"Thank you so much for the ASAP fellowship experience. It was a year with many insights in events and meetings. I hope we can continue to work together on other fronts and shared goals."
Gabriel Outeiro
Swapnil Kesarwani
- Position: Post Graduate Program in Public Policy (ongoing)
- Institution: The Takshahila Institution-Policy School
- Title of Proposal: Assessing Local Government Institutions for Socio-Economic Impact in India
- Country: India
Thant Thura Zan
- Position: PhD candidate
- Institution: Global Ecological Economics, Kyoto University, Japan
- Title of Proposal: Climate Finance Policies for Just Energy Transitions in Southeast Asia
- Country: Myanmar
Carol Cravero
- Position: Attorney-at-Law and International Consultant for the OECD MAPS-based Assessment of Chad’s Public Procurement System.
- Institution: Italian Bar
- Title of Proposal: Traditional Knowledge and Indigenous Rights in Sustainable Public Procurement Law: From Theories to Case Studies
- Country: Italy
Kaushiki Ishwar
- Position: B.A. Programme (History & Philosophy), candidate
- Institution: Miranda House (University of Delhi)
- Title of Proposal: “Investigating the Economic Vulnerabilities of Queer Women in India”
- Country: India
Alexander Waller
- Position: Visiting professor / Fellow of the UK Royal Society of Biology
- Institution: American University of Sovereign Nations
- Title of Proposal:
- Country: UK? Thailand?
Prabhat Kumar
Position: PhD candidate
- Institution: Indian Institute of Technology, Kanpur, India
- Title of Proposal: The Tyranny of Caste-Based Discrimination in Tourism: Analysing Dalit-owned Homestays in India
- Country: India
Rakhmat Hidayat
- Position: Lecturer
- Institution: Department of Sociology at Jakarta State University, Indonesia
- Title of Proposal: Addressing Poverty in Indigenous Communities: Empowering the Sunda Wiwitan People in West Java
- Country: Indonesia
Mohammed Omer
- Position: PhD candidate
- Institution: Helmut Schmidt University UniBwH / Laboratory of Production Engineering; External PhD scholar at Cambridge University’s Judge Business School,
- Title of Proposal: Empowering Migrant Microentrepreneurs Through Technology Justice: A Pathway to Poverty Alleviation
- Country: Oman
Somnath Pati
- Position: M.A. in Modern History
- Institution: Centre for Historical Studies, Jawaharlal Nehru University
- Title of Proposal: Caste Hierarchies in India’s Political Consultancies: The ‘Invisible’ Dynamics of Recruitment, Leadership, and Representation
- Country: India
Aanchal Seth
- Position: PhD candidate
- Institution: Panjab University
- Title of Proposal: Exploring Governance, Rights, and Sustainability: A Research Outline on Tribal Forests in Himachal Pradesh
- Country: India
Adam Ploszka
- Position: Assistant Professor
- Institution: Centre for Human Rights, Faculty of Law and Administration, University of Warsaw
- Title of Proposal: Social Rights in the Central and Eastern European Constitutionalism
- Country: Poland
Ritika
- Position: PhD candidate
- Institution: Department of English, Jamia Millia Islamia, New Delhi, India
- Title of Proposal: While You’re Here Collective: Documenting Sexual Violence Digitally
- Country: India
Randy A. Tudy
- Position: Associate Professor II
- Institution: University of Southeastern Philippines, Philippines
- Title of Proposal: Unraveling the Enormous Power of Artificial Intelligence: Its Potential for Poverty Alleviation
- Country: The Philippines
Skylab Sahu
- Position: Assistant Professor
- Institution: Department of Political Science / University of Delhi
- Title of Proposal: Crossing Borders, Seeking Livelihoods: The Socio-Economic Development and Integration of Bangladeshi Migrants in India
- Country: India
Ghulam Abbas Alamdar
- Position: PhD candidate
- Institution: Yazd University – Iran
- Title of Proposal: Underdevelopment of Afghanistan within the Framework of Paul Collier’s Development Theory
- Country: Afghanistan
Tanita Cotarcea
- Position: National Protection Officer / Research Assistant
- Institution: UNHCR / University of Malta
- Title of Proposal: Exploring the Intersection of Justice, Peace, and Morals in Global Governance – A Critical Examination of the United Nations’ Role
- Country: Romania
Kenneth Mahuni
- Position: PhD candidate
- Institution: University of Mauritius
- Title of Proposal: China-nisation of Africa
- Country: Zimbabwe
Matthew Paneitz
- Position: Executive Director
- Institution: Long Way Home (LWH), San Juan Comalapa, Guatemala
- Title of Proposal: Building strong educational ecosystem for tackling poverty issues in Indigenous rural town of Comalapa, Guatemala
- Country: USA
William Tolbert
- Position: Founder
- Institution: Promoters of Social Inclusion
- Title of Proposal: Driving inclusive digital democracy for youths: Embracing e-democracy to strengthen democratic participation youths in Kenya
- Country: Kenya
Evaida Chimedza
- Position: Student
- Institution: Copperbelt University (CBU), Kitwe
- Title of Proposal: Mandela Essay Winner 2025 – Empower communities through financial literacy and economic transformation.
- Country: Zambia
Grace Gondwe
- Position: Global Operations Manager
- Institution: Duke of Edinburgh’s International Award Foundation
- Title of Proposal: Mandela Essay Winner 2025 – Grace was instrumental in “Operation Chapamo,” a project designed to empower young Zambians as active participants and leaders in the 2021 general election. Her team engaged 1,000 youth through research, training, and direct interactions with influential bodies such as the Electoral Commission of Zambia and COMESA. Grace holds a Bachelor of Science in Marketing from the Copperbelt University and is passionate about fostering democratic resilience and youth empowerment on global platforms.
- Country: Zambia
Clautrida Mutabaruka
- Position: Second-year Actuarial Science student
- Institution: University of Lusaka in Zambia
- Title of Proposal: Mandela Essay Winner 2025 – With a solid foundation in mathematics and critical thinking, she is committed to applying her analytical skills to address complex challenges in finance and risk management. Clautrida is passionate about using her education to contribute to the economic empowerment of communities, particularly in emerging markets.
- Country: Zambia
Nater Akpen
- Position: Physician-in-training
- Institution: Benue State University Teaching Hospital, Nigeria
- Title of Proposal: Mandela Essay Winner 2025 – His writing on digital taxation received the WATAF West African Prize, and his research on the illicit organ trade received an honourable mention for the 2024 Amartya Sen Essay Prize – for which he had the opportunity to present at the Yale Global Justice Conference and was given a publication opportunity in the ASAP Journal. His writing has appeared in Hoekten International Journal, and has won research awards on subjects related to healthcare systems and medicine, and their interconnectedness with other disciplines.
- Country: Nigeria