The Global Solvers Accelerator is an 8-month, peer-driven, and collaboration-based leadership program with practical learning and implementation. We invite you to read through the most frequently asked questions about the program, and discover insightful application tips, a deeper view into the program, scholarship information, and more!
Q) How is the Global Solvers Accelerator different from other such programs?
The Global Solvers Accelerator serves as a learning platform, a catalyst, and an accelerator for young adults aged 20-35 who are invested in social impact work and are looking to work with global peers to pivot their work.
During a guided, experiential learning journey with intentional peer exchange, tailored subject matter advisory, and leading-edge thematic impulses, you will build the competencies, capacity, and network(s) to intentionally unleash the fullest transformative potential of your social impact work. The program follows a pedagogy of blended learning, project assignments, peer exchange, and subject matter advisory to build capacity in areas such as collective leadership, transformative impact, and systemic design and maximize the learning that can be directly applied to your project.
Collectively, we will strive towards you becoming the catalyst for transformative change who can leverage their global citizenship skills to connect and collaborate across boundaries of place, identity, and paradigms.
The program follows a pedagogy of blended learning, project assignments, peer exchange, and subject matter advisory to build capacity in areas such as collective leadership, transformative impact, and systemic design and maximize the learning that can be directly applied to your project.
Q) How does the program align with the Sustainable Development Goals?
In 2015, the United Nations adopted Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) as the blueprint to achieve a better and more sustainable future for all. These 17 goals identify the big global challenges of our time and lay out measures to ensure sustainable development by 2023.
The Melton Foundation fully supports the Global Goals and contributes to SDG attainment through Global Citizenship development (SDG 4), cross-boundary collaboration (SDG 17), among others. And at the Global Solvers Accelerator, we contribute actively to sustainable development by engaging participants in refining and scaling their projects so that they can contribute more effectively to the SDGs.
Q) Can I apply to the program without a project?
No. The Global Solvers Accelerator program is tied to your work in a social impact project or initiative and many tasks throughout the program will be connected with that project. The project you would bring to the program can be at any stage – early or advanced – but without a project, you would not be able to get the most out of the program.
Q) Does my project have to be correlated with specific SDGs to be considered for the program?
No, at the Global Solvers Accelerator, we do not focus on particular SDGs. Instead, we acknowledge that the 17 SDGs are interlinked and will ask you to identify the SDG(s) your project is contributing to, and how.
Q) Can I apply even if my project is in an early stage yet to be implemented?
Yes. The project you are applying with can be in any stage – early planning or advanced implementation – and it must meet these three criteria:
Q) Do I need to prepare any documents for my application?
Yes. The online application form, for one, is comprehensive and requires time to complete. Take a look at the Application Guide, which contains all the relevant information you will be asked to provide in the application form, and start preparing your application sufficiently early.
IF YOU REQUIRE A SCHOLARSHIP IN SUPPORT OF YOUR PARTICIPATION FEE, you must also present the following documents with your application:
Q) I am working with other people on my community project, can we apply to the program as a group?
No. The application is individual, and we encourage you to designate the best-suited group member from your midst to apply for the representation of your project. The Global Solvers Accelerator is project-based, so there will be ample opportunity to (indirectly) benefit from the program through your representative.
Q ) Will I need to travel for the Global Solvers Accelerator?
Yes. Actively engaged participants will also have the opportunity to participate in a fully-funded in-person retreat, the Global Solvers Co-Lab. All other aspects and elements of the program are designed for virtual participation.
Q) When is the deadline for application?
The global application deadline is December 15, 2023, at 23:59 hrs US-EST (New York). Any applications submitted past the deadline will not be considered.
Q) How much do I need to pay if selected for the program?
At the Global Solvers Accelerator, everyone contributes – also financially. We charge a program fee for multiple reasons:
The program fee is 800 USD which you will need to pay only if selected for the program. When accepted into the program, you are expected to settle your fee within a month, as part of your onboarding, to ensure continued participation in the program.
Scholarships covering up to 80% of the program fee are available to participants with proven needs.
Q) Are there scholarships available if I cannot pay the program fee?
Scholarships are available to participants with proven needs. With our scholarships you can reduce the program fee by up t0 80% and you can indicate whether you would require a scholarship with the application to the program.
If you require a scholarship, you must also present the following documents with your application:
Q) Can I receive a full scholarship to participate in the Global Solvers Accelerator?
Full scholarships are NOT available, and we encourage participants to raise the funds to participate in the program. Here are 10½ crowdfunding tips to help you organize the campaign and reach your crowdfunding goal.
Q) Is the Global Solvers Accelerator open to applicants from all countries?
Yes. The application is open globally. Anyone who meets the candidate requirements can apply, regardless of where they are from and/or currently. We expect participants to bring sufficient English language skills to participate in all aspects of the program.
Q) Is the Global Solvers Accelerator available in another language?
No. English is the primary means of communication at the Global Solvers Accelerator and all participants are expected to bring sufficient English language skills to participate in all aspects of the program.
Q) What kind of learning materials and contents will I have access to during the Global Solvers Accelerator?
The Global Solvers Accelerator entails 8 thematic modules and is geared toward unleashing participants’ fullest transformative potential. Topics covered throughout the learning journey include project effectiveness, team dynamics, collective leadership, systems thinking and (eco)systemic stakeholder mapping, (social) innovation & transformation, impact modeling, audience engagement & strategic visibility, and Monitoring and evaluation.
With each thematic module, you will have access to a carefully curated resource section, bi-weekly online workshops, subject matter advisory and mentoring, and – most importantly – a practitioner’s window into the world of social impact elsewhere through your peers.
Q) Can I expect to participate in live sessions (e.g. via Zoom)?
Yes. The Global Solvers Accelerator is divided into 8 modules, each spanning approximately one month. Each module entails two life sessions online to deliberate on monthly topics and how they affect the work and impact of the project you want to accelerate.
Furthermore, the program includes an in-person retreat in July 2024 for active and engaged Global Solvers! All of the activities during the retreat will be in-person and/or hybrid.
Q) How many people will be selected for the program?
Each year, we accept up to 20 motivated and well-suited candidates into the program.
Q) How will I know if I am selected?
Following the application deadline (15 December 2023), a selection committee will get to work to identify the best-suited candidates to participate in the program. The selection process spans multiple evaluation stages, including a 120-minute virtual assessment center for shortlisted candidates (on 17 February 2024 – tentatively scheduled for 1:30 pm GMT). Shortlisted candidates will receive an email invitation to the Assessment Center by early February 2024.
The up to 20 finalists selected for the program will receive detailed information about the next steps within two weeks of the Assessment Center, including how to pay the program fees, materials to prepare, and the onboarding process for the program.
