Carnegie Endowment for International Peace Global Innovation Fellowships 2026

Carnegie Endowment for International Peace 2026 offer an opportunity for UK based early career and mid career researchers in the humanities and social sciences to develop their professional networks, strengthen policy engagement skills, and explore innovative approaches to major international challenges.

The fellowship is offered by the British Academy in partnership with the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace. It is designed to create stronger connections between academic research, policy and professional practice, enabling researchers to take their expertise beyond conventional academic settings while gaining experience within an international foreign policy organisation.

Successful fellows will be embedded within Carnegie for a period of 12 months. Depending on the proposed area of work, placements may be based in Washington DC, Singapore or Beirut. The programme is offering up to two fellowships, with awards of up to £150,000 for 12 months on a Full Economic Costing basis at 80 percent.

About the Global Innovation Fellowship

The Global Innovation Fellowships are intended to support researchers who want to build new relationships beyond academia and apply their knowledge in creative, cultural, public, private and policy environments.

The programme recognises that many international challenges require perspectives from different disciplines and professional settings. Through the partnership with Carnegie, fellows can engage with experts working on international affairs, climate change, technology, global governance, regional politics and other complex policy issues.

The fellowship is designed as a mutually beneficial partnership. Fellows bring their research expertise, perspectives and ideas to Carnegie while gaining exposure to policy research, international networks and practical approaches to addressing global challenges.

The British Academy describes Carnegie as an international foreign policy institution whose experts work across borders and disciplines on major issues including democracy, technology and climate change, with regional expertise spanning Asia, Africa, Europe, India, the Middle East and Russia and Eurasia.

Fellowship Areas

Applicants can apply in one of four thematic areas:

• Sustainability, Climate and Geopolitics: Research on interconnected climate, sustainability and nature based challenges, with the fellowship based in Washington DC.

• Global Order and Institutions: Research examining global order and disorder, international institutions and the challenges affecting the international system, based in Washington DC.

• South and East Asia: Research focused on South Asia, East Asia or Southeast Asia, including issues connected to India or China and their regional or global roles. The fellowship may be based in Washington DC or Singapore.

• Middle East and North Africa: Research addressing political, social and economic change and long term geopolitical trends in the Middle East and North Africa, including the Gulf and Iran. The fellowship may be based in Washington DC or Beirut.

There is no prescribed disciplinary background within the humanities and social sciences. However, applicants must demonstrate a strong understanding of the relevant issues, policy landscape and systemic challenges associated with their proposed area.

Fellowship Benefits

• Fellowship duration of 12 months

• Award of up to £150,000

• Placement within the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace

• Potential fellowship locations in Washington DC, Singapore or Beirut

• Opportunities to build international professional networks

• Direct engagement with policy experts and practitioners

• Opportunity to translate academic research into practical policy applications

• Development of new approaches to complex policy challenges

• Exposure to international policy research and professional practice

• Opportunities to strengthen communication with non academic audiences

• Career development through engagement across academia, policy and practice

• Opportunities to develop future collaborations and professional relationships

Eligibility Criteria

Applicants must meet the following requirements:

• Be ordinarily resident in the United Kingdom.

• Be an early career or mid career researcher.

• Hold a current long term appointment at a UK based institution that will continue for at least the duration of the fellowship.

• Be based at an eligible Higher Education Institution or Independent Research Organisation.

• Work within an eligible humanities or social sciences discipline.

• Have relevant expertise from an appropriate disciplinary, conceptual, methodological, analytical, policy or practical perspective.

• Demonstrate an interest in working across academia, policy and professional practice.

• Show willingness to explore new perspectives and innovative approaches.

• Demonstrate the potential value of engagement with the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace.

• Meet the requirements associated with working at and with Carnegie.

• Not hold more than one British Academy award of a comparable nature at the same time.

• Not currently be working towards a PhD.

• Not be awaiting the outcome of a viva examination.

• Not be awaiting acceptance of corrections required by examiners.

Independent researchers without an eligible institutional appointment cannot apply under this call.

Required Application Materials

Applicants should prepare the required information through the British Academy Flexi Grant application system, including:

• Personal and contact information

• Nationality and current appointment details

• Information about the employing UK institution

• Details of academic and professional qualifications

• Details of the proposed fellowship and thematic area

• Research and professional expertise relevant to the chosen area

• Fellowship proposal and plan of activity

• Explanation of the anticipated policy relevance and impact

• Career development rationale

• Financial information and budget

• Relevant supporting information required by the British Academy

• Supporting statement from the Head of Department

Selection Criteria

Applications are assessed through eligibility checks, relevant peer review and consideration by a final selection panel. Shortlisted candidates are invited to an interview, which is a mandatory part of the assessment process.

The selection process considers:

• Research expertise in the chosen area

• Experience and interest in engaging closely with policy counterparts

• Expected benefit and impact on policymaking

• Contribution to the applicant's future policy engagement ambitions

• Ability to communicate research clearly and provide concise policy relevant oral briefings

• Value for money

The interview is scheduled for 8 February 2027.

How to Apply

1. Review the official British Academy Global Innovation Fellowships information and scheme guidance.
2. Confirm that you meet the UK residency, employment, career stage and disciplinary requirements.
3. Select the fellowship area that most closely matches your research expertise and professional interests.
4. Develop a clear proposal explaining the challenge you want to address and how your expertise could contribute to Carnegie's work.
5. Explain how the fellowship would strengthen your career and your future engagement with policy and professional practice.
6. Discuss the application with your employing institution and Head of Department.
7. Prepare the required personal, academic, professional, proposal and financial information.
8. Invite your Head of Department to provide the required supporting statement through the British Academy's Flexi Grant system.
9. Complete the application in English and ensure all required contributors have submitted their information.
10. Obtain the necessary institutional approval.
11. Submit the completed application through the British Academy application system before 18 November 2026 at 17:00 GMT.
12. If shortlisted, prepare to attend the mandatory interview scheduled for 8 February 2027.