About this opportunity
This fellowship is a writer’s opportunity more than a funding one. You submit a policy paper, and if it is selected it is edited and published in the Bucharest Forum paper series, and you join the two day Forum in Bucharest with full access to all plenary sessions, invitations to networking events with policymakers, experts and industry leaders, and lasting membership of a dynamic Aspen network of professionals contributing to strategic reflection at national and regional levels. Your work reaches the Forum audience of decision makers, and you engage with peers and senior participants throughout the event.
Papers must address one of five themes for the 2026 edition, with a minimum length of 1,500 words and a maximum of 2,000 words. The themes are Romania and Poland as the key relationship on the Eastern Flank, securing critical materials, Moldova and the race for security and stability, the South Caucasus between Russia, Iran and China and where the European Union stands, and maritime security in a so called Russian Lake. Each theme concerns a strategic issue with implications for regional security, international relations or economic and political stability, and the strongest submissions take an original position rather than summarising the debate.
Aspen Institute Romania welcomes applicants with a professional or academic background in security and defence policy, foreign policy, energy and critical materials, technology, public policy or a related field, and the call explicitly says both emerging and established voices are welcome. There is no stated minimum degree, years of experience or age limit, and the announcement states no nationality restriction or list of eligible countries, so applicants from Africa should not assume they are excluded, though anyone wanting certainty about their situation can consult the application form or contact the organisers. English fluency is essential because English is the working language of the Forum and of the papers. Selection is based on your capacity to express original points of view and contribute meaningfully to strategic dialogue among peers.
Two practical notes before you invest the writing time. The announcement describes publication, Forum access and networking as the benefits and does not state a grant, stipend, or travel and accommodation funding, so applicants should not assume expenses are covered unless the organisers confirm separately, and the publication benefit applies to selected fellows rather than to every submission. And the application itself runs through a Google form, so you will need to sign in with a Google account to submit. Applications are open now and close on 31 October 2026, with no closing time stated on the call page.
What you receive
- Your policy paper edited by Aspen Institute Romania and published in the Bucharest Forum paper series on the Institute’s website
- Distribution of your published paper among the Forum audience
- The opportunity to present your work before decision makers, experts and practitioners from across the region
- Full access to all plenary sessions of the Bucharest Forum on 19 and 20 November 2026 in Bucharest
- Invitations to networking events with policymakers, experts and industry leaders
- Membership of a dynamic network of young professionals contributing to strategic reflection at national and regional levels
- Lasting access to the Aspen Institute Romania network
Who can apply
- A professional or academic background in security and defence policy, foreign policy, energy and critical materials, technology, public policy or a related field
- Fluency in English, the working language of the Forum and of the papers
- Both emerging and established voices are welcome, with no stated minimum degree level, years of experience or age limit
- A policy paper of 1,500 to 2,000 words addressing one of the five prescribed 2026 themes
- The announcement states no nationality restriction and no list of eligible countries, so international applicants, including from Africa, may apply
- The capacity to express original points of view and contribute meaningfully to strategic dialogue among peers
Who should not apply
- No monetary grant, stipend, or travel and accommodation funding is stated, so applicants should not assume expenses are covered unless the organisers confirm separately
- Only selected fellows receive the publication benefit, and there is no guarantee that every submitted paper is published
- The Forum takes place in person in Bucharest on 19 and 20 November 2026, so participation requires travel to Romania
- Papers that fall outside the five prescribed themes or the 1,500 to 2,000 word range do not meet the call
Documents to prepare
- An original policy paper of 1,500 to 2,000 words in English on one of the five prescribed themes
- A completed application submitted through the official application form, which requires signing in with a Google account
How to apply
- Read the official call at https://aspeninstitute.ro/call-for-applications-bucharest-forum-fellowship-program-2026/ to understand the purpose, selection emphasis, benefits and deadline.
- Choose the one of the five themes that best matches your expertise, and make sure your argument addresses that theme directly rather than a related general topic.
- Write an original policy paper of 1,500 to 2,000 words in English that presents a clear position and adds value to the strategic discussion, not a summary of existing debates.
- Open the official application form at https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSeHxtBJ_pzLJwQvBRvKisxSw6Ejs54lo66xKhq41eD-IYtK8Q/viewform and sign in with a Google account to complete it.
- Submit before the end of 31 October 2026, the date the call gives with no closing time stated, and plan to be in Bucharest for the Forum on 19 and 20 November 2026 if you are selected.
Selection process
- Aspen Institute Romania selects a group of fellows on the strength of their original policy papers
- Participants are chosen based on their capacity to express original points of view and contribute meaningfully to academic strategic dialogue among peers
- Selected papers are edited by Aspen Institute Romania and published in the Bucharest Forum paper series
- Selected fellows join the Forum in Bucharest on 19 and 20 November 2026 with full plenary access and networking events
Sources and verification
Related opportunities
- Echidna Global Scholars Program 2027 at the Brookings Institution: A Fully Funded Six Month Research Fellowship for Mid-Career Leaders from the Global South, Applications Close 1 December 2026
The Echidna Global Scholars Program is a six month visiting fellowship run by the Center for Universal Education at the Brookings Institution in Washington, D.C. It places mid-career leaders from the Global South in a structured research cycle so they can build the evidence behind gender-transformative education, that is, work that improves learning opportunities and life outcomes for girls, young women and gender non-conforming people. Scholars receive a total stipend of US$26,500, and the programme covers round-trip travel, single-occupancy housing during the four month residency, the costs of the visa process, the opening research design retreat and a limited health insurance plan. Because it is open to experienced professionals with substantial ties to any country in the Global South, a Nigerian or other African education, research, civil society or government leader competes on the same terms as applicants from elsewhere. Applications for the 2027 cohort close on 1 December 2026 at 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time.
Questions applicants ask
Who can apply?
Anyone with a professional or academic background in security and defence policy, foreign policy, energy and critical materials, technology, public policy or a related field, who writes fluently in English and can offer an original policy perspective. Both emerging and established voices are welcome.
Is the fellowship open to international applicants, including Africans?
The announcement states no nationality restriction and no list of eligible countries, so applicants from Nigeria or elsewhere in Africa are not excluded on paper. If you want certainty about your particular situation, consult the application form or contact Aspen Institute Romania directly.
Is there a stipend or travel funding?
The call describes publication, Forum access, networking and Aspen network membership as the benefits. It does not state a monetary grant, stipend, or travel and accommodation funding, so do not assume expenses are covered unless the organisers confirm separately.
What do I submit?
An original policy paper in English of 1,500 to 2,000 words on one of the five prescribed themes for the 2026 edition, sent through the official application form.
Will every paper be published?
No. The publication benefit applies to selected fellows, whose papers are edited by Aspen Institute Romania and published in the Bucharest Forum paper series.
When is the Forum and when do applications close?
The Bucharest Forum takes place on 19 and 20 November 2026 in Bucharest. Applications close on 31 October 2026, with no specific closing time stated on the call page.
Why does the application form ask me to sign in?
The official form is a Google form, and signing in with a Google account is how the form verifies and records your submission. It is a free account type step, not a fee.
Important disclaimer
Nextali researches and curates useful opportunities to make discovery easier. Before applying, verify every timeline, requirement, fee and application link on the official provider website. Do your own research into the organisation, its background and the authenticity of the offer. Nextali does not guarantee selection, funding or the conduct of third party providers.
