About this opportunity
IREX is looking for community problem-solvers aged 27 to 39 and flying them to the United States for a fully funded exchange built around a 12-week practicum with a host organisation in their field. Eleven African countries are on the list, Botswana, Cameroon, Ethiopia, Ghana, Guinea, Kenya, Liberia, Mozambique, Namibia, Rwanda and Uganda, and you must be living and working in your own eligible country when you apply.
Everything is paid for. That covers J-1 visa support, round-trip travel from your home city, a monthly allowance for housing, meals and living costs, accident and sickness health coverage, and accessibility accommodations such as accessible rooms and assistive software like JAWS. The schedule runs from orientation in Washington DC on 2 to 5 August 2027, through the practicum from 9 August to 29 October, to the end-of-program workshop on 1 to 4 November 2027. There is also a SCALE-Up Project route to keep the work going afterwards.
Two requirements do the real filtering. You need at least five years of community experience, volunteer or paid, and you need strong English. Semi-finalists without a valid TOEFL score of 520, or 213 computer-based, take an Institutional TOEFL at IREX’s cost stage of the process. You must also not be a U.S. citizen or permanent resident, and if you previously held a U.S. Government exchange visa with a two-year home residency requirement, you must have fulfilled it.
The read on the competition is worth knowing before you invest the weekend. Staff screen for completeness and
Eligibility
first, a Selection Committee then scores with a matrix, and roughly three candidates per placement are invited to interview. Embassy review and final approval follow.
Applications close on 24 November 2026 at 11:59 PM Eastern time, which is 05:59 Lagos on 25 November, so plan on submitting by 24 November Nigerian time. Read the application instructions first, at https://www.
irex. org/program/community-solutions-program-application-information, then apply at https://csp.
irex. org.
What you receive
- A 12-week practicum with a U.S. host organisation matched to your field, from 9 August to 29 October 2027
- Program orientation in Washington DC from 2 to 5 August 2027 and an end-of-program workshop from 1 to 4 November 2027
- Full coverage of J-1 visa support, round-trip travel and a monthly living allowance in the United States
- Accident and sickness health coverage for the duration of the exchange
- Accessibility accommodations, including accessible rooms, assistive software such as JAWS, and community assistance and training
- A SCALE-Up Project opportunity to extend impact after the exchange
- A lifelong alumni network of Community Solutions Program participants
Who can apply
- You are between the ages of 27 and 39 at the time of application
- You are a citizen of one of the eligible countries and you are living and working in that country at the time of application, not residing or working elsewhere
- You have at least five years of community experience, demonstrated through volunteer or paid work
- You have a high level of English proficiency, and semi-finalists without a valid TOEFL score of 520, or 213 computer-based, or higher must take an Institutional TOEFL or an approved comparable assessment
- You are eligible to receive a U.S. J-1 visa
- If you previously held a U.S. Government-funded exchange visitor visa subject to the two-year home residency requirement, you have fulfilled it
Who should not apply
- You are a U.S. citizen or permanent resident, or have applied for U.S. permanent residence
- You are not living and working in your country of citizenship at the time of application
- Applications that do not meet the eligibility requirements are disqualified and are not reviewed by the selection committee
Documents to prepare
- A completed online application at https://csp.irex.org/
- Proof of citizenship and residence in an eligible country
- Evidence of at least five years of community experience
- A valid Institutional TOEFL score of 520 or higher, or 213 computer-based, if you already hold one
- References as requested in the application instructions
How to apply
- Read the full application instructions at https://www.irex.org/sites/default/files/2026-10/FY26_%20CSP%20Application%20Instructions.pdf before you start.
- Submit your application online at https://csp.irex.org by 24 November 2026 at 11:59 PM Eastern time, which is 05:59 Lagos time on 25 November.
- Monitor the email address you register carefully, since IREX sends all programme messages there.
- If shortlisted as a semi-finalist, complete an English-language interview virtually or in person and take the Institutional TOEFL if you do not already hold a qualifying score.
- Finalists complete an English-language assessment and a visa process before travel, with the exchange running from 2 August to 4 November 2027.
Selection process
- After the deadline, CSP staff screen applications for completeness and eligibility
- Eligible applications are scored by a Selection Committee using a scoring matrix
- Around three candidates per placement are invited for an interview, and semi-finalists without a qualifying TOEFL score complete the Institutional TOEFL
- Based on written applications, interviews, English results and embassy comments, a final list is recommended
- The U.S. Embassy reviews and the Exchange Affairs Coordinator approves finalists
- Reading Committee review closes on 16 December 2026, semi-finalist interviews are due by 8 January 2027, and Interview Committee review closes on 29 January 2027
- Finalists and alternates accept their status between March and May 2027
Sources and verification
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Questions applicants ask
Is there an application fee?
No. Applications are submitted online at https://csp.irex.org.
Can I apply if I live outside my country of citizenship?
No. You must be living and working in your eligible country of citizenship at the time of application, and not residing or working in another country.
Do I need a TOEFL score before I apply?
Not necessarily. Semi-finalists who do not already hold a valid TOEFL score of 520, or 213 computer-based, or higher are required to take an Institutional TOEFL or a comparable English assessment approved for CSP.
What happens after the 12-week practicum?
The programme ends with an End-of-Program Workshop from 1 to 4 November 2027, and participants can pursue a SCALE-Up Project to extend the impact of their exchange.
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.
