Echidna Global Scholars Program (2026)

The Echidna Global Scholars Program at the Center for Universal Education (CUE) at Brookings seeks to catalyze and amplify the impact of local leaders working to advance gender-transformative education across the Global South. During a six-month fellowship, Echidna Global Scholars conduct individual research focused on improving learning opportunities and life outcomes for girls, young women, and gender-nonconforming people, develop their leadership and evidence-based policy skills, build substantive knowledge on gender and global education issues, and expand their pathways for impact.

• Duration: Six months
• Location: Brookings Institution, Washington, D.C.
• Focus areas: • Girls’ education and life outcomes • Gender equity in learning systems • Policy innovation and leadership development
• Support includes: • Research mentorship • Leadership and policy training • Integration into the Echidna Alumni Network • Travel, lodging, and stipend coverage
• Outcomes: • Publish research • Influence policy • Scale impact locally and globally

• Must be a local leader from the Global South
• Commitment to gender-transformative education
• Strong research and policy engagement
• Leadership in community or national education systems
• Must be available for full six-month residency
• Research proposal
• CV and references
• Essays and supporting documents