Overview

The Middle East and North Africa Regional Travel Program for U.S. Fulbright Scholars:

• Provides travel grants to individual U.S. Fulbright Scholars to spend a period of five to fourteen days including travel days in another eligible Middle Eastern and North African country during their grant period to participate in professional activities and;
• Offers local academic institutions, U.S. embassies and consulates, and Fulbright Commissions in Middle East and North Africa, the opportunity to benefit from the academic and professional expertise of U.S. Fulbright Scholars currently in the region.

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Eligibility

Only those on a Fulbright US Post-Doctoral grant in the MENA region are eligible to apply.

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How to apply

If the Public Affairs Section in a Commission country wishes to host a U.S. scholar, the Commission in that country should submit the request. The application form is attached. The application should be submitted at least two months prior to the proposed visit. It is the sole responsibility of the U.S. Scholar to secure a letter of invitation from the institution he or she plans to visit, in which the institution indicates the dates of the visit and the lecture(s) topic plus any cost sharing such as providing the scholar’s in-country accommodation, meals, and local travel. The letter of invitation from the host receiving institution should clearly state the level of cost-sharing – this is a mandatory requirement. U.S. Scholars may not use any of his/her Fulbright grant funds or personal funds to cover the in-country costs of the U.S. Scholar’s proposed visit. The invitation letter obtained from the host institution should also be attached as a soft copy and submitted with the application for grant consideration and approval. Applications should be forwarded to JACEE to process them on a rolling basis. Only on an exceptional basis may an individual scholar receive more than one regional travel grant in a given program year.  Upon receipt of an application, JACEE should confirm that all Public Affairs Sections and Commissions involved are aware of and have approved the proposal. If the Post/Commission invited the scholar, the Post/Commission is responsible to inform the scholar about the type of support that will be provided and which institution will provide it. If the U.S. Fulbright scholar arranged the program him/herself then JACEE should inform the scholar that ECA highly recommends that he/she be in close communication with the host institution/organization about the type of support they are expected to receive during the trip – please refer to the preceding paragraph ref cost-sharing. All U.S. Scholar regional travel should be on a U.S. Passport. If applicable, the receiving Post or Commission will be responsible for securing the U.S. Scholar’s visa prior to his or her arrival in the destination NEA country. A scanned copy of the host country’s entry visa should be sent to JACEE, prior to travel.

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What do we cover?

ECA supports cost sharing by host-country, receiving institutions, Posts, and Commissions. Examples of cost sharing include providing U.S. Fulbright Scholars with in-country arrival meet and greet services, local transportation, accommodations, and meals: this is a mandatory requirement from the U.S. Scholar’s receiving host institutional affiliate.

Per Fulbright Foreign Scholarship Board (FFSB) policy, Fulbrighters are not permitted to receive honoraria from either Commissions or Posts unless the host Commission/Post approves. While requesting host institutions are not required to pay an honorarium to the Fulbright Scholar, any support from institutions to cover local boarding, lodging, meals and transport is expected.

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Diversity

The Binational Fulbright Commission in Jordan strives to ensure that its efforts reflect the diversity of both, Jordanian and American societies.  The Commission seeks and encourages the involvement of people from traditionally underrepresented audiences in all its scholarships, grants, programs and other higher educational exchange activities and its workforce and workplace.  Opportunities are open to people regardless of their race, color, national origin, sex, age, religion, geographic location, socio-economic status, disability, sexual orientation or gender identity. The Commission is committed to fairness, equity and inclusion.

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Additional guidance

For more information on this grant category please contact:
Ms. Iman Abdul-Wahid, Deputy Director at the Jordanian-American
Commission for Educational Exchange (JACEE) and she can be reached at iman.aw@fulbright.org.jo