APF places fellows in one of six programs managed by the National Rural Support Programme (NRSP), which works with over 3.4 million poor households organized into a network of 216,873 community organizations. Fellows are primarily based at the NRSP headquarters in Islamabad, with fieldwork carried out in rural areas of Pakistan. In 2024, APF will also place Fellows with Atlantic Council, an international affairs think tank in Washington, DC and virtual Fellows with Sehat Kahani, an accessible telemedicine solution provider in Pakistan.

Fellows pay for some direct participation costs including round trip airfare; food; travel insurance; visa fees; and miscellaneous expenses. Housing, placement related transportation, and airport pick-up and drop-offs are provided by the host organization. Program administrative costs are covered by APF and the host organization.

Anyone who has completed their sophomore year in college or beyond​; and a U.S. citizen or permanent resident and living in the United States. Those who are still in high school (including seniors) are not eligible to apply.

For the NRSP program in Islamabad, the usual volunteer working hours are 9:00-5:00 PM, Monday-Friday. If traveling for fieldwork, hours and locations may vary and Fellows may be commuting during the weekend. Changes in the standard schedule are decided once a Fellow commits to fieldwork.

Local housing and work-related transportation for fellows will be provided by host organizations. Fellows must arrange their own transportation for non-work related trips. Fellows are required to stay at the host provided housing and may not stay with family or friends for the duration of the fellowship.

Depending on their status, Fellows will need to apply for visas to visit Pakistan. APF will assist and advise fellows through the visa application process.

APF requires any media engagements to be cleared in advance. We encourage Fellows to maintain a professional public image.

APF will provide paperwork validating the internship should Fellows seek class credit and satisfactorily complete the program.

Fellows live and work in Pakistan for eight weeks.

Yes. As long as you meet the eligibility requirements, you can apply to be a Fellow.

The host organization covers all local travel, housing, food, and administrative expenses. International travel and visa application fees are the applicant’s responsibility.

APF staff and members of the Leadership Council manage the program. APF maintains active avenues of communication with the host organization and all Fellows throughout the program.

Yes. One of the benefits of the Fellows program is that participants learn about the culture, people, and history of Pakistan. Fellows must organize such trips in consultation with APF and NRSP staff. APF requires at least two fellows to travel together at all times.

In case of such an issue, APF holds its partner organizations to a high standard to have a safety response system in place and to ensure all Fellows are safe and accounted for.

Placements are based on the experience and interest areas of the Fellows. Previous focus areas for NRSP include education, micro-finance, health, sanitation, poverty alleviation, and social media. Sehat Kahani introduces fellows to the telemedicine and healthcare sector.

APF requires Fellows to develop a career portfolio, including writing three blog posts; preparing a report for the host organization; preparing an APF report; and participating in an APF post-program event.

APF provides a pre-departure orientation which outlines best practices and experiences regarding safety and security in Pakistan. APF also connects former Fellows with applicants to address questions about security and other topics.

There is no requirement for any linguistic fluency other than English but the program experience will be more beneficial with a basic understanding of languages, such as Urdu, Punjabi, Saraiki, and/or Pashto, which are commonly spoken in Pakistan’s rural areas.

APF strongly encourages Fellows to follow standard health procedures for traveling in foreign countries. This includes obtaining necessary vaccinations; taking precautions when consuming food and water; and being mindful of the health-related impact of extreme weather. Medical centers are available throughout Pakistan but quality and access of healthcare may vary across urban and rural areas. Treatment costs must be paid for out of pocket or with travel medical insurance.

Yes. Fellows may get to Pakistan earlier and leave later but they must share all travel plans with APF and are responsible for all housing before and after the designated housing dates provided for the fellowship. Fellows are responsible for their airport pickup and drop-off if they choose to arrive earlier and/or leave later.

Previous Fellows include college and graduate students, as well as working professionals. Fellows come from a variety of disciplines, including medicine, political science, law, human rights, business, economics, and international development.

APF receives several hundred applicants a year and selects the most qualified candidates. Selection is conducted by a committee including APF staff, Leadership Council members, and former Fellows. Applicants are scored based on their application materials and interviews. APF solicits feedback from partner organizations on the ground prior to making final selections.

Fellows will have the opportunity to network with Pakistani leaders from corporate, nonprofit, startup, government, and academic backgrounds.