Information and Application for Prospective Partner Organizations
Thank you for your interest in partnering with Princeton in Africa!
Overview of Princeton in Africa
Princeton in Africa (PiAf) was founded in 1999 by a group of Princeton alumni, faculty, and staff with the mission of
developing young leaders committed to Africa’s advancement. To do this, we offer yearlong fellowship opportunities
with a variety of organizations that work across the African continent. What began as two Princeton Fellows spending a
summer working in Rwanda has evolved into a network of over 300 alumni worldwide. Our program is now open to
recent college graduates from any accredited U.S. college or university. In our 2013-14 fellowship year, we have 46
Fellows (from 30 different colleges/universities) working in 15 African countries with 25 partner organizations. Fellows
are selected following a rigorous application and review process – this past year, we had a 10% placement rate. PiAf
creates an excellent opportunity for both partners and Fellows – organizations enjoy access to an exceptionally
motivated and talented group of young people and Fellows gain a unique experience in Africa that translates into a
lifelong commitment to African affairs and service. To learn more about PiAf, please visit www.princetoninafrica.org.
We are an independent (501)(c)(3) nonprofit organization. We are affiliated with Princeton University, but PiAf is not
funded directly by the University. We rely on the generosity of numerous individuals, corporations, and foundations to
fulfill our mission. We also rely on partner organizations to cover on-the-ground expenses for our Fellows and to assist
with Princeton in Africa’s own program support costs.
Partnerships
PiAf partnerships benefit both Fellows and partner organizations by creating opportunities for talented young people to
serve in Africa and by providing effective, low-cost employees to organizations working in Africa. Fellowships are 12
months long and begin between June and September each year following our mandatory pre-departure orientation in
Princeton in early June. Current partners include the International Rescue Committee, Baylor International Pediatric
AIDS Initiative, Mpala Research Center and Wildlife Foundation, Clinton Health Access Initiative, UN World Food
Programme, Maru-a-Pula, Save the Children, Imani Development and The BOMA Project. To apply to become a partner
organization, please complete the attached application.
Selection of Partner Organizations
Each partner organization application is vetted by the PiAf Programs Committee, which is made up of members of the
Princeton in Africa board of directors and PiAf staff members. Partner review is a somewhat lengthy process in which
committee members closely review each partner organization’s application. We also check references and, in most
cases, arrange for a PiAf staff member or other member of our network to conduct a partner site visit. In general,
potential partner organizations should apply in the summer or early fall if they are interested in having a Fellow the
following fellowship year (e.g. apply in August 2013 in order for a Fellow to start in summer 2014).
Selection and Placement of PiAf Fellows
Candidates are chosen by Princeton in Africa through a lengthy process to identify the applicants with the greatest
chance at success. Applicants must submit a written application, due in November each year, which includes essays,
professional or academic references, and an academic transcript. The process continues with in-person interviews for
selected candidates in January and then further review by a selection committee. PiAf then generally presents
organizations with several candidates for their own internal review. Once Fellows are chosen, PiAf helps prepare both
Fellows and field offices to utilize Fellows as effectively as possible.
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Fellows are matched with partner organizations based on their capabilities and, where appropriate, their technical
knowledge and language skills. Fellows are only presented to one partner organization at a time for review. Because
candidates are reserved for a particular partner, our partner organizations are given a two-week period for interviews
and to decide upon candidates before candidates are made available for other partners to review. A Fellow’s start date
is to be determined by the partner and the Fellow, but start dates must occur after the conclusion of the mandatory
orientation in Princeton and must occur between mid-June and early September.
Funding
PiAf seeks to ensure that the basic costs of each fellowship are covered (thereby keeping these fellowship experiences
open to all applicants). Fellows are not expected to profit and are expected to live frugally. Depending on the location
where a Fellow is based, the total cost of a fellowship is typically between $15,000 - $25,000 per year. This includes all of
a Fellow’s on-the-ground costs, including housing and basic living expenses, the Fellow’s flight, as well as Princeton in
Africa’s program support costs, which include medical insurance/medical and political evacuation insurance, orientation,
mid-year retreat, financial aid (if applicable), program staff travel to Africa to meet with partners, and program staff
support throughout the fellowship year. Placing Fellows in more rural locations or providing housing in-kind would
obviously decrease some of those costs. In general, Fellows are expected to pay for their flights to/from Africa and any
vaccinations or medications needed during their fellowship year.
While funding arrangements vary between posts, partner organizations are asked to contribute significantly to the costs
of each fellowship. In some cases, partner organizations are able to cover the full cost. In others, PiAf may assist by
covering a portion of our program support costs; partner organizations might then cover on-the-ground costs via stipend
and/or in-kind contributions such as housing. Given PiAf’s budget constraints, potential partners who are able to cover
all on-the-ground costs (and particularly those who are able to contribute to our programmatic support costs) are more
likely to be approved by the Princeton in Africa Programs Committee.
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Background on PiAf Fellows
Overview
Princeton in Africa Fellows are recent university graduates from any accredited college or university in the United States;
some are enrolled in or have completed graduate-level studies. Most have prior internship experience and some have a
year or more of professional work experience. They have specialized in a variety of fields—from politics and public policy
to biology and engineering. Many hold African Studies certificates or have previously spent time in Africa or abroad.
Some bring strong language skills, such as French or Swahili, or other specialized skills, such as experience with statistics,
teaching, monitoring and evaluation, or grant writing.
Possible Roles for Fellows
Because PiAf Fellows come from diverse backgrounds and bring with them a range of skill sets, they serve our partner
organizations in a variety of capacities. For example, Fellows fit in well in a general information/reporting officer role as
well as a role focusing on communications. Their English writing skills are strong and they are able to synthesize
significant quantities of information quickly. Fellows also make strong assistant program officers/program officers,
overseeing, for instance, a specific project and focusing on monitoring and evaluation. They are also well-prepared to
play a coordination role amongst partners, and many of our Fellows assist with proposal writing.
While not yet specialists at this stage in their careers, many applicants have the ability to work more broadly on issues
such as health, education, and sustainable development. Applicants include pre-medical candidates who have worked in
health clinics; biology and engineering majors who have worked to improve solar panels and designed sustainable water
filters; and individuals with teaching experience or experience working directly with children and youth.
Recent PiAf Fellows Have…
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Organized activities for a club that educates and empowers HIV-positive adolescents in Botswana
Designed micro-enterprise trainings for women in poverty in Kenya
Reported on food emergencies in West Africa
Created a system to better track tuberculosis patients in Tanzania
Helped secure micro-loans for toilet operator entrepreneurs in Kenya
Helped install wind turbines to give communities on a crowded island in Lake Victoria access to sustainable
power
Visited refugee camps in Ethiopia to interview mothers and teenage girls in order to strengthen the
humanitarian assistance provided to women in the local community
Taught primary and secondary school students in English, Chemistry, History and Geography in Ethiopia and
Botswana
Conceived and implemented a community outreach program for health clinics in Lesotho
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Princeton in Africa Partner Organization Application
Please complete this application to the best of your ability so that we can learn more about your organization and how a
PiAf Fellow could support your work. We recognize that many of your responses below may be projected/proposed and
not yet “set in stone,” so we will use the information you provide as a basis for continued conversations.
Date Application Submitted:
Organization’s Contact Information
1. Name of Organization:
2. Name of Contact Person(s):
3. Title of Contact Person(s):
4. Email Address of Contact Person(s):
5. Telephone number of Contact Person(s):
6. Address of Organization’s Headquarters (including city/country):
7. City and Country of Proposed Fellowship Post (if different than above):
8. Department/Unit of Proposed Fellowship Post:
9. Website:
Organization’s Background
1. Year organization was established:
2. Overview of organization (mission, vision, values, brief description of focus of work and target population):
3. In which country is the organization registered?
4. Is the organization a non-profit/non-governmental organization?
If yes, identification #:
Yes
No
5. Annual operating budget for organization (please note if USD or other currency): $
6. Annual operating budget for country office where Fellow will be based (if applicable) (please note if USD or
other currency): $
7. What are the primary sources of funding for the office and for the fellowship position in particular?
8. **Please also submit with this application: (a) your most recent IRS 990 Form if the organization is registered in
the U.S. or (b) your organization’s annual operational budget if registered outside the U.S.
9. Doers your organization currently have Princeton in Africa Fellows?
If yes, in which location(s)/office(s)?
Yes
No
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10. Has your organization had Princeton in Africa Fellows in the past?
If yes, when and in which location(s)/office(s)?
Yes
No
11. Does your organization have organizational safety & security policies in place?
Yes
No
12. Does your organization have a comprehensive sexual harassment policy?
Yes
No
13. Does your organization have a comprehensive non-discrimination policy?
Yes
No
14. Which of the following sectors best describes the focus of your organization's work:
Advocacy and Civil Society
Conflict Resolution and Peace Building
Humanitarian Aid/Relief
Environment and Conservation
Engineering
Education/Teaching/Youth Capacity Building
Social Entrepreneurship
Income Generation/Microfinance
Public Health
Agriculture/Nutrition
Private Sector/Business
Voluntourism
Other
(Please indicate “other” field here _______________________________________)
15. Please feel free to provide any additional information about your organization’s policies, procedures and
practices:
Description of Proposed PiAf Fellowship Opportunity
1. Proposed dates of assignment for PiAf Fellow (Please note that Fellows can leave for their posts anytime between
June and September--after PiAf’s mandatory orientation--and fellowships are expected to be 12 months in length):
2. Proposed purpose, job description, and work plan for PiAf Fellow (Please list job title and provide a brief description
of possible responsibilities and focus areas):
3. Please describe the skills, experiences and personal characteristics you believe a Fellow will need to be successful
in this post.
Description of Partner Work Environment
1. Proposed location of this position. If the proposed location of this position is not a major urban area, approximately
how big is the town/city where the PiAf Fellow would be based?
2. Office environment:
a. Please describe the office environment where the Fellow would work.
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b. Approximately how many staff members does the organization have (in the office of the proposed post and
overall)?
c. What is the approximate expat to local staff member ratio in the office of the proposed fellowship post?
3. Supervision and Guidance:
a. To whom would the Fellow report (name, title and email address)?
b. What kind of onboarding/training/orientation will the Fellow receive at the start of his/her fellowship?
c. What kind of ongoing mentorship and guidance will the Fellow receive from the supervisor and other staff
members?
d. PiAf finds it beneficial for supervisors to have weekly check-ins with the Fellow to identify projects for the
Fellow to work on, set goals for the year, and to ensure the Fellow has feedback on his/her work. What kind
of regular check-ins would the supervisor at this post be able to do?
e. What experience does this office have managing Fellows, interns and/or volunteers?
4. Safety and security:
a. Please describe the security situation in the area of the proposed fellowship. In particular, please note any
ongoing security issues or upcoming events (e.g. elections) that we may need to monitor during the
fellowship year.
b. Would the Fellow travel for work in this fellowship post? If so, where would the Fellow travel and what is
the security situation in areas the Fellow would travel to? What would be the security protocol for a Fellow
who travels to the field?
c. What precautions or procedures does your organization have in place to ensure the Fellow’s safety? Does
your organization have a security plan and evacuation plan in place for staff (especially expat staff)?
Fellowship Funding and Logistics
1. Living stipend:
a. What is the estimated amount needed per month to cover a Fellow’s basic living expenses (housing, utilities,
food, local transportation, telephone, and other incidentals--please refer to the budget below when
calculating total expenses)? Please specify if calculated in USD or another currency.
b. What monthly living stipend can the organization provide for the Fellow (please refer to the budget below
when calculating the stipend)?
c. How will this stipend be paid (USD or other currency, frequency of payments, to US bank account or in
cash)?
2. Proposed housing situation:
a. If housing is provided by your organization, please describe the proposed housing arrangements for the
Fellow in as much detail as possible. Include location, costs (to be covered by the organization or by the
Fellow), distance from work place, available amenities, security features, roommates. Is transportation
required? How will this be arranged?
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b. If housing is not provided by your organization, what support will you provide the Fellow in locating safe and
secure accommodation in a safe neighborhood that is affordable and a reasonable distance from the office?
3. Travel:
a. Will your organization provide transportation for the Fellow on the ground (e.g., to and from work)? If not,
how do you propose the Fellow safely get back and forth from work to the office and around town?
b. Will logistical and/or financial assistance be provided for the Fellow to obtain a visa to enter the host
country? How will this be arranged? Will the Fellow need to secure a visa before arriving in country or will
the Fellow do a visa-on-arrival and then finalize visa paperwork?
c. Will your organization arrange a pick up for the Fellow at the airport upon arrival to his/her post?
4. Fellows’ Community-building:
Princeton in Africa organizes a multiday mid-year retreat in Africa in February/March of each year. The retreat costs
are covered by PiAf and the Fellows. During the retreat, Fellows discuss the lessons they’ve learned from working
with our partners, the challenges they've faced through their work on the continent, and the opportunities they've
encountered through their fellowship experiences. They talk about how they can increase their productivity at work,
trade M&E tips, discuss the importance of keeping notes on office basics and handover documents for the next
Fellow at their post, and generally provide support and encouragement for one another as they head into the
second half of their fellowships. Will your organization allow a Fellow time off from their post to attend the PiAf
retreat?
Yes
No
5. Partner survey:
Towards the end of each fellowship year, PiAf staff ask that each Fellow’s supervisor complete a survey providing
feedback to PiAf on the Fellow’s performance and other aspects of the fellowship year. Will the Fellow’s supervisor be
available to complete this survey?
Yes
No
6. References: Please provide the name and contact information for 2 to 3 people who have worked as a volunteer,
intern or in another role with your organization or participated in its projects in a similar capacity to that of a
Princeton in Africa Fellow.
7. How did you hear about Princeton in Africa?
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Princeton in Africa Partner Organization Application
INSTRUCTIONS: Please use the below chart to estimate fellowship expenses for a 12-month fellowship period. Calculations
should be made for safe, comfortable living conditions at reasonable local costs. Expenses should be as accurate as
possible to allow for sound planning on behalf of Princeton in Africa, our partner organizations, and our Fellows. Please use
the Budget Notes section to add any additional details, such as whether housing or other budget items will be covered in
cash or in-kind, and (if in cash) whether paid in US dollars or local currency. Please note that Fellows generally pay for their
own flights to/from Africa and for vaccinations/medications for their fellowship year, but these expenses are included in
the budget below to give us the total cost for each fellowship.
In general, we expect partner organizations to cover all on-the-ground costs associated with each fellowship. We also ask
partners to contribute as much as possible towards our programmatic support costs as well, which are $6,500 per Fellow
and include:
 Recruiting, screening, interviewing and placing Fellows;
 Providing and administering health & medical/political evacuation insurance;
 Financial aid for flights/vaccines/medications (as eligible/applicable);
 Mandatory pre-departure orientation in Princeton;
 Mid-year fellowship retreat in Africa;
 International and local travel costs for PiAf program staff to meet with new and existing partner organizations; and
 Ongoing personal and professional support for Fellows throughout the year.
Princeton in Africa has a limited budget for assisting partner organizations that request support for on-the-ground
expenses, and these are generally reserved for existing partner organizations who need assistance in the short-term or
partners who are sponsored by a particular donor. Given PiAf’s budget constraints, potential partners who are able to
cover all on-the-ground costs (and particularly those who are able to contribute to our programmatic support costs) are
more likely to be approved by the Princeton in Africa Programs Committee.
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Please estimate the value of all expenses in US dollars – even those provided as in-kind (e.g. guest house for lodging) to
give us a sense of the total costs for this fellowship post. More detailed budget notes can be made in the section below.
ANNUAL FELLOWSHIP EXPENSES
TOTAL ANNUAL PROJECTED
COST (12 MONTHS) IN USD
Airfare to/from Africa
Vaccinations / Medications
Visa / Work Permit
Rent & Utilities (e.g. water, electricity, Internet) for secure housing
Food
Local Transportation
Telephone
Additional Living Expenses
Other (please specify below)
PiAf Program Support Costs (please see notes above)
$6,500
TOTAL FELLOWSHIP COSTS IN USD:
Please add all expenses listed above
PROPOSED ANNUAL PARTNER CONTRIBUTIONS
TOTAL ANNUAL
CONTRIBUTIONS
(12 MONTHS) IN USD
Amount provided by partner to Fellow (in cash):
Please add any budget notes below
Amount provided by partner to Fellow (in-kind):
Please add any budget notes below
Amount provided by partner to PiAf for program support:
Please add any budget notes below
TOTAL PARTNER CONTRIBUTIONS IN USD:
Please add all contributions above
AMOUNT OF FELLOWSHIP UNCOVERED IN USD:
Total costs minus total contributions
BUDGET NOTES:
I acknowledge that the information provided herein is true and accurate to the best of my knowledge/ability.
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___________________________________________
(Full Name of Contact Person)
______________________________
Title of Contact Person
___________________________________________
(Signature of Contact Person)
______________________________
Date
___________________________________________
(Email of Contact Person)
Please submit your completed application to*:
piaf@princetoninafrica.org
**Please remember to submit with this application: (a) your most recent IRS 990 Form if the organization is registered
in the U.S. or (b) your organization’s annual operational budget if registered outside the U.S.
Princeton in Africa
194 Nassau Street, Suite 219
Princeton, NJ 08542
Phone: 609.258.7215
For PiAf Use Only: This application last updated by PiAf 10.4.2013
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