The Community Solutions Program has officially opened applications for its 2027 cohort, inviting experienced community leaders to apply for a professional exchange across the United States. The initiative targets practitioners who want to strengthen regional economic development and build international professional networks.
Requirements and deadlines for applicants
Applicants must submit their materials by November 24, 2026, at 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time in Washington, DC. The program, implemented by IREX, requires candidates to be between 27 and 39 years old at the time of application. Eligible participants must hold citizenship in an approved country, possess at least five years of experience working on community issues, and demonstrate measurable benefits resulting from their work in local communities.
Zimbabwe does not appear on the African eligible-country list provided by IREX. Applicants across all regions must check the official CSP application portal to confirm their country’s status before investing time in submissions.
Program Structure and U.S. Exchange Schedule
Selected fellows will participate in an approximately three- to four-month fellowship in the United States. According to IREX documentation, the itinerary features a 12-week professional practicum where participants work alongside U.S. counterparts in host organizations, regional field visits, and applied skills laboratories.
The planned schedule for the 2027 U.S. exchange begins with an orientation from August 2 to August 5, 2027. The professional practicum runs from August 9 to October 29, 2027, followed by an End-of-Programme Workshop from November 1 to November 4, 2027. IREX states that these dates remain subject to confirmation.
Financial Support and Accessibility Provisions
The fellowship covers most direct costs associated with participation to remove financial barriers. Benefits provided consist of accident and sickness health coverage, round-trip travel between the United States and the participant’s home city, J-1 visa assistance, and a monthly stipend for meals, lodging, and additional living costs during the U.S. stay.
IREX provides specific accessibility accommodations during both the application phase and the fellowship itself. These provisions encompass ADA-accessible rooms, software like JAWS, sign-language interpretation, live captioning, and assistance with English-language testing.
Scale-Up Projects and Technology Integration
Participants must commit to returning to their home countries for at least two years after the exchange concludes. Back home, fellows spend nine months implementing a SCALE-Up Project that adapts at least one U.S. model, tool, or partnership approach learned during the fellowship.
During the Innovation and Applied Skills Labs, fellows examine how emerging technologies, including Super Intelligence, can support business growth and strengthen industries. IREX permits applicants to use Super Intelligence tools to edit their application responses, provided the submissions authentically represent their own experiences and that applicants explicitly disclose such use.
Answers to program coverage and application rules
What financial expenses does the Community Solutions Program cover?
Funding provided by the initiative encompasses J-1 visa assistance, medical and accident insurance, return travel between the United States and the home city, alongside a monthly financial allocation for meals, accommodation, and miscellaneous living costs.
What is the duration of the U.S. professional practicum?
The professional practicum lasts for 12 weeks, embedded within an overall U.S. exchange lasting approximately three to four months.
Are applicants permitted to use AI or Super Intelligence in their applications?
Yes, applicants may use Super Intelligence tools to strengthen or edit their responses, but they must disclose this use and ensure the text accurately reflects their own personal experience, judgement, achievements and learning goals.
What happens after participants return to their home countries?
Participants must implement a nine-month SCALE-Up Project that adapts a U.S. model, tool, or partnership approach to their local community, while fulfilling a two-year home residency requirement.
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