AIF’s William J. Clinton Fellowship for Service in India is committed to developing the next generation of leaders committed to impactful change. Through AIF’s 10-month fellowship in India, Clinton Fellows are equipped with a practical, field-based knowledge of development in the fields of education, livelihoods, public health, and social enterprise. The Fellowship pairs a select number of highly skilled young professionals, who hail from India and the U.S., with credible NGOs and social enterprises in India in order to accelerate impact and create effective projects that are replicable, scalable, and sustainable.
In the continuing globalization of our world, there is a compelling need for emerging leaders to engage in social development and innovation. The AIF Clinton Fellowship Program is an opportunity to help shape the future of global social development by empowering emerging leaders to be both conscious as well as skillfully trained in the social development field.
Since 2001, 392 young professionals have worked with over 174 Indian NGOs and social enterprises through the Fellowship. Program alumni are leaders in technology, international development, academia, journalism, business, entrepreneurship, public health, and other fields.
In 2016, we were fortunate to gain two strategic partners – the Narotam Sekhsaria Foundation and the Infosys Foundation USA – to support our cause.
A Partnership for Cross-Sectoral Interventions
The Narotam Sekhsaria Foundation (NSF) enables non-profit organizations and social enterprises to make a positive, lasting and sustainable impact on society. Inspired by the vision of a socially, culturally and economically vibrant India, NSF supports civil society initiatives in sectors such as health, education, and livelihoods. It was established in 2002 with an endowment from philanthropist Narotam Sekhsaria. Similar to AIF, NSF supports individuals and organizations striving towards actions which accelerate change.
To support the AIF Clinton Fellowship, NSF is funding eighteen Indian nationals as Clinton Fellows over the next three years (six Fellows per year). These Fellows are placed at organizations throughout India that focus on cross-sectoral social development projects.
Driving Technology and Innovation Forward
The Infosys Foundation USA strives to inspire children, young adults, and educators to become creators of technology. Committed to bridging the digital divide in the U.S., the Infosys Foundation USA partners with like-minded advocates to increase awareness, foster thought leadership, boost hands-on learning in computer science for historically under-represented schools and communities, and expand professional development for educators. The Infosys Foundation USA is the sister branch of the Infosys Foundation based in India, committed to science and community building initiatives.
Every year, working with technology is becoming more central to the AIF Clinton Fellowship experience. From developing mobile apps, to building e-learning modules and websites, to being a data analyst with a social conviction, more and more NGOs in India are looking for
Fellows who can offer technological support for their cause. The Digital Divide in the U.S. has resulted in women and minorities being underrepresented in the field of technology. The lack of
representation is even more profound in entrepreneurship and leadership roles.
To bridge this gap, the Infosys Foundation USA has partnered with AIF to support young professionals from underrepresented communities to work and develop leadership skills in the area of technology and innovation through the Clinton Fellowship. From 2016-17, nine U.S. Technology & Innovation Fellows are matched with NGOs in the field of technology, as well as in projects focusing on technology, such as e-learning modules. The partnership aims to empower emerging leaders in applying their technological skills in a challenging new environment and returning to the U.S. as socially engaged changemakers working to bridge the digital divide.
