Basic Function
About the Brookings Doha Center:
Established in 2007, the Brookings Doha Center (BDC) is a Project of the Saban Center for Middle East Policy at the Brookings Institution and an integral part of the Brookings Institution's Foreign Policy program. The BDC is also affiliated with the Brookings Project on U.S. Relations with the Islamic World, with which it co-organizes the annual U.S.-Islamic World Forum in Qatar. The BDC is a leading venue for policy analysis relevant to policy makers from both the U.S. and Muslim states and communities, particularly in the Middle East. The BDC undertakes research on the socio-economic and geo-political issues facing Muslim majority states and communities. Based in Doha, Qatar, much work of the BDC research focuses on the Arab world in general and the Gulf states in particular. The BDC research program features three program areas: (i) Governance Issues, (ii) Human Development; and (iii) International Affairs/Security Studies.
BDC Management:
Mr. Hady Amr, Director of the Brookings Doha Center is also a Fellow at the Brookings Institution's Saban Center for Middle East Policy which is directed by Ambassador Martin Indyk. Ambassador Indyk previously served as U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for Near East Affairs. Mr. Amr has two decades of experience working on Human Development—economic, social and political—with governments and NGOs across the Muslim world and has also written extensively on U.S. relations with the Muslim world, and served as a presidential appointee at the U.S. Near East South Asia Center for Strategic Studies.
An International Advisory Council of American and Muslim world advisors, chaired by H.E. Sheikh Hammad bin Jassim bin Jabr al-Thani, Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of the State of Qatar, and Strobe Talbott, President of the Brookings Institution, provides the Center with guidance and advice on policy and programmatic issues.
BDC Visiting Fellow Program:
The Brookings Doha Center hosts two to three Visiting Fellows each year from the United States or the Muslim world. Visiting Fellows conduct individual research and collaborative activities, interacting policymaking communities, and presenting at two policy seminars at the BDC. The BDC’s convening power gives Visiting Fellows the opportunity to share views with policy scholars and opinion leaders, university professors, diplomats, government officials, journalists, the oil and financial communities, and others among the diplomatic community, including staff at the University of Qatar and the Qatar Foundation’s Education City. Visiting Fellows can expect to share views with the Doha-based international media which frequently contacts Brookings scholars for its broadcasts
Following a competitive selection process, a Visiting Fellow will be expected to take up residence at the BDC for a three to four month period (minimum of two months during the summer). Visiting Fellows are drawn from mid- to senior ranks of governments, think tanks, universities, and media from across the Arab world and Muslim majority countries, and from the U.S.
Each Visiting Fellow is brought to the BDC with the express purpose of completing an analysis paper of 10,000-15,000 words that falls within one of the three areas of the Center’s work: (i) Governance Issues (e.g., analysis of media laws, constitutions, religion and society), (ii) Human Development (e.g., analysis of government and non-governmental policy in the areas of education, health, environment, business and economics); and (iii) International Affairs / Security Studies (e.g., analysis of security frameworks in the Gulf, the war in Iraq, Israeli-Palestinian affairs, etc). All scholarship recipients will have to meet Brookings’ high standards for quality. In addition, BDC Visiting Fellows will write a short, 2000-4000 word policy paper on a separate topic. Applicants must propose topics that fit into the BDC’s area of research that would be of great interest to both U.S. and Muslim world policy makers.
It is anticipated that the primary language of drafts will be English. Final reports will be published in both English and Arabic. Successful applicants will have a Ph.D, an M.A. with at least a decade of post M.A. experience or broad-based governmental or professional experience and the ability to write the highest quality analysis in English.
Fellowships are based at the BDC in Doha, Qatar. Visiting Fellows will receive a living stipend; coverage of travel to and from Doha; and two additional payments, one for successful completion of a satisfactory draft analysis paper and another for a final version of the paper that is accepted by Brookings for publication. Because of the location of the BDC within Doha, a valid driver’s license is needed, as all BDC staff and fellows drive themselves to and from the BDC; a stipend is also provided for local car rental.
Timeline and Deadlines:
*The BDC Visiting Fellows program has 3 cycles per year. The residency period is at least three months in the Spring and Fall sessions and at least two months in the summer session.
Winter Session:
Apply by: November 15
Decision by: December 15
Start date: Between January 15 and March 15 for at least three months
Summer Session:
Apply by: March 1
Decision by: May 1
Start date: Between June 1 and July 1 for at least two months
Fall Session:
Apply by: June 1
Decision by: August 1
Start date: Between September 1 and October 1 for at least three months
How to Apply:
Please submit the following three items to DohaCenter@brookings.edu :
1. Resume (CV), including professional and educational experience, citizenship, and full contact information;
2. A writing sample (5-20 pages), in English, on a relevant topic;
3. A prospectus (2 pages) of the proposed research topic that:
- would be of great interest to policy makers from both the U.S. and a number of countries from the Muslim world,
- would result in specific policy recommendations
- would be based on specific analytical research
Reference Number: Brookings Doha Center Visiting Fellowship
Salary: Commensurate with experience and productivity.
To Apply: Send resume, writing sample and prospectus to dohacenter@brookings.edu. Fax +974 422 7801
Mail: Email recommended, however mail possible to: The Brookings Doha Center, PO Box 22694, Doha, Qatar.