Admissions
The application for the 2025 fellowship has closed. Applications for the 2026 cohort will open in the fall of 2025.
Please find more information about the program below.
Incoming FLPFI classes will join a distinguished and diverse community of policymakers and regulators working to facilitate progress in inclusive finance.
The Fellowship is a nine-month certificate program that begins with a series of online modules and assignments. Then, Fellows attend a two-week residency at The Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy in Boston, Massachusetts, USA. The Fellowship will conclude with a final working session and graduation held in conjunction with the Alliance for Financial Inclusion (AFI) Global Policy Forum.
All admitted fellows will receive a full scholarship covering expenses for round-trip air travel to Boston, on-campus lodging, tuition, and most meal expenses during the residency. Additional costs associated with attendance at the AFI Global Policy Forum are expected to be covered by your institution: participation is a requirement for receiving a certificate in this course.
The work of the Fellowship is to deeply analyze a financial inclusion challenge in your country, and to design policy solutions to address that challenge. We will use expert lectures, case studies, and the FLPFI 8 Question Method for Policy Development curriculum to conduct the relevant analysis and policy design.
Mentor – Mentee Fellowship Application Opportunity: A few 2025 fellowship spots may be reserved for mentor-mentee pairs from the same institution. If you would like to apply as part of a mentor-mentee pair, please indicate that when asked in the application form. You must apply as a pair, with another individual from your institution; both individuals are required to submit application forms. Your pair will work to address the same financial inclusion challenge and co-design a policy solution. Both the mentor and the mentee will fulfill all requirements of the fellowship, including attendance at the Boston residency and the AFI GPF. We anticipate that mentors will be in senior management or higher roles. If you have any questions about the Mentor – Mentee Fellowship Application Opportunity for the 2025 Fellowship, please reach out to financialleadership@tufts.edu.
Admitted Fellows will be expected to:
- Participate actively in the online course. Complete and submit a series of required assignments, including original market research based on online modules.
- Attend the Residency at The Fletcher School;
- Attend the closing sessions at the Alliance for Financial Inclusion (AFI) Global Policy Forum (GPF) (dates are to-be-determined; however, participants should expect at least a 2-day on-site commitment plus travel time).
- Complete all components of the program, including the writing of an original policy memorandum and participation in post-residency online modules.
The Fletcher School Leadership Program for Financial Inclusion is a funded fellowship. All fellows will receive a full-tuition scholarship covering the following expenses:
- All course materials, site visits, instruction and course fees;
- Round-trip coach-class airfare to Boston for the residency at the Fletcher School campus; travel will be arranged by the Fletcher staff directly;
- On-campus lodging for the duration of residency;
- Most meals during the Boston residency, including breakfast and lunch during each day of instruction and a few dinners;
The Program will not cover the costs of:
- Per diems or miscellaneous expenses;
- Any expenses associated with attending the Alliance for Financial Inclusion (AFI) Global Policy Forum (GPF);
- Travel or program attendance for guests (i.e., spouses, colleagues, dependents);
- Long-distance phone calls or hotel incidentals;
- Alternative lodging or transportation outside of the programmed activities;
- Visa fees for entry to the U.S.
The Fellowship is composed of four parts, which build sequentially on each other and culminate in a well-designed and well-communicated policy.
Part 1: Online Modules. Fellows will complete 13 online modules, combining independent work with collaborative online discussions with peers. The modules will cover topics in financial inclusion and give fellows a chance to interact with their colleagues on a digital platform. Fellows are also expected to complete two market research assignments.
Part 2: Boston Residency. A two-week residency held at The Fletcher School at Tufts University and key locations in the Boston area. The residency will draw upon the work completed during the pre-residency to launch a deep exploration of financial inclusion policy and the leadership skills necessary to propel such policies to the next level. The residency blends research, analysis, negotiation, and presentation skills trainings with expert lectures and case discussions. Full policy memos will be refined throughout the residency and submitted in the month after the residency concludes. Please note that this is a rigorous program that demands both a full class load and participation in mandatory extracurricular activities.
Part 3: Post-Residency. Fellows draft, edit, and finalize a Policy Memorandum for publication. Fellows are expected to simultaneously work toward policy implementation. Additional topical subjects and complementary instruction will be covered in periodic online modules.
Part 4: Closing Sessions at Alliance for Financial Inclusion (AFI) Global Policy Forum (GPF). Held in conjunction with the AFI GPF, fellows convene for the final working sessions and graduation. At the final residency, fellows will report on their professional development and progress implementing new policy initiatives. The Program concludes with a graduation celebration and the conferral of certificates.
Questions? Email FinancialLeadership@tufts.edu