Open Call for TIMEP’s Bassem Sabry Fellowship 2025-2026

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About TIMEP's Bassem Sabry Fellowship

Established in memory of the late Egyptian political writer and commentator Bassem Sabry, the Bassem Sabry Fellowship is awarded to a young professional who is committed to the principles of democratic and inclusive change: values that Sabry promoted and espoused during his lifetime. The fellowship affords rising stars working on the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region the unique opportunity to immerse themselves in the world of policymaking in Washington, DC, while producing programming and analysis that furthers democratic and inclusive societies in the MENA region.

Bassem Sabry, a native of Cairo, was a writer and commentator on Egyptian and regional politics. Sabry’s balanced writing and commentary throughout the 2011 Egyptian revolution and following the overthrow of Hosni Mubarak earned wide praise and attracted a global audience. In addition to publishing articles on his blog, “An Arab Citizen,” Sabry’s work was also featured in local, regional, and international news outlets, including Al-Masry Al-Youm, Al-Monitor, The Atlantic, and Foreign Policy.

• Sponsor Organisation: Tahrir Institute for Middle East Policy (TIMEP)

Benefits of TIMEP's Bassem Sabry Fellowship

The 2025-2026 Bassem Sabry Fellow will:

• Have the opportunity to produce solutions-oriented and policy-relevant programming and analysis on a mandate of their choosing;
• Inform and participate in advocacy and policy opportunities including meetings and briefings with decision-makers in Washington, DC;
• Drive the discourse through media, policy, and event opportunities;
• Access targeted and personalized skills-building and leadership opportunities; and
• Be integrated into TIMEP’s global, regional, and Washington, DC-based network of organizations, advocates, and policymakers.

Additionally, as a result of the partnership with the Atlas Corps Fellowship, the Bassem Sabry Fellow will also receive the following support: (1) a virtual Pre-Fellowship Orientation to prepare for successful on-the-job training at TIMEP, and a virtual U.S. Pre-Arrival Orientation to prepare professionally and personally for arrival in the United States; (2) a virtual Mid-Term and End-of-Fellowship Orientation aimed at helping fellows make the most out of their international exchange experience; (3) support with visa documentation and travel and logistics coordination for arrival to the United States; (4) ongoing and continuous personalized support and check-ins through the length of the program; (5) access to networking and personal and professional development opportunities focused on enhancing fellows’ leadership and social impact skills; and (6) participation in community-building activities to strengthen networks within the Cultural Vistas and Atlas Corps alumni communities.

The Atlas Corps Fellowship covers the following costs for the Bassem Sabry Fellow: (1) travel from home city to Washington, DC; (2) visa fees costs and transportation stipend for appointments; (3) monthly mobile phone bill and health insurance during fellows’ stay in the United States; (4) monthly stipend to cover basic living expenses such as shared housing, meals, and local transportation; and (5) eligibility to access a one-time post fellowship stipend provided that the fellow completed all graduation requirements. 

NOTE: To be eligible for the program, fellows must be eligible to receive a visa to the United States (see current travel restrictions to the United States here). Fellows are expected to have at least $1,000 in savings accessible to them during the program. 

TIMEP's Bassem Sabry Fellowship Requirements

Applicants must have a Bachelor’s Degree in a relevant field and must be:

• Proficient in English reading, writing, and speaking;
• International candidates based outside of the United States;
• 35 years of age or younger; 
• Committed to returning to their base country after the six-month fellowship; and
• Have a passport valid for 6 months beyond the program end date.

Applicants should also be:

• Proficient in Arabic reading, writing, and speaking;
• Have at least 3 years of relevant work experience;
• Demonstrate a commitment to the values that the late Bassem Sabry espoused in his lifetime and to TIMEP’s mission and principles; and
• Show connectivity to civil society, grassroots groups, and/or experts and advocates in the MENA region.

Application Date and Process

To apply for the Bassem Sabry Fellowship, candidates must submit the following:

• Resume
• One-Page Cover Letter:
  • Introducing yourself and your background;
  • Explaining your interest in the fellowship; and 
  • Demonstrating how your application contributes to the continuation of the values that the late Bassem Sabry espoused during his lifetime.
• Two-Page Statement of Interest:
  • Proposing a specific mandate that you would like your six-month fellowship to focus on. Please note that this is not an academic or scholarly fellowship. All mandates should be policy-relevant, contemporary, and made up of both a topic and focus country.
  • Addressing the following questions: (1) Why is the topic of your mandate important in and for the MENA region? Why is this topic important for a policy audience? How does this topic fit into and further TIMEP’s mission? (2) Which of TIMEP’s programmatic tools would you use during your fellowship to work on the mandate you have proposed? (Competitive applications will leverage more than one tool. TIMEP’s programmatic tools are analysis, advocacy, events, legal interventions, network building, and media and social media).
• Three Professional References
• Bachelor’s Degree Diploma or Official Transcripts
• (Optional) English Proficiency Documentation (see form for details)

Applications must be submitted via this Google Form by 11:59 pm EST on August 28, 2025.

Short-listed candidates will be invited to interview in early and mid-September with the Bassem Sabry Fellowship Review Committee. 

Application Deadline

28 August, 2025

Scholarship Application Portal

View details of TIMEP's Bassem Sabry Fellowship

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