Southeast Asia Acumen Fellowship

The Southeast Asia Acumen Fellowship is a regional leadership program administered by Malaysia Acumen Academy, a licensed independent affiliate of Acumen Fund Inc., with YTL Foundation as a partner. Acumen identifies 2024 as the inaugural year for the regional Fellowship. It is intended for experienced, full-time leaders at organizations tackling poverty and working in Southeast Asia.

The upcoming Fellowship is described as an eight-month hybrid experience. Its published structure includes a five-day in-person orientation, two five-day full-time in-person immersives, two virtual Learning Labs, and monthly one-to-one calls with the program team. Fellows are expected to continue running their organizations during participation; the stated average workload is at least 2.5 hours per week, alongside the scheduled immersive blocks. The official page schedules the next start for April 2027, without specifying an exact day.

Plan to keep leading your organization during the Fellowship and account for the full-time, five-day in-person orientation and two five-day immersives alongside the average weekly workload. Completion requires full attendance, subject to case-by-case emergency exceptions, and completed assignments; unmet requirements can result in removal. Do not assume international travel costs, a grant, or an investment are covered.

Applicants must be over 18, have at least five years of work experience, and currently lead and work full-time in an organization tackling poverty. Their work must directly impact the covered Southeast Asian region, and applicants must be proficient in English. The Fellowship seeks regional residents; applicants elsewhere may be considered depending on capacity if they demonstrate a concrete regional connection. No academic prerequisites are specified. People who previously participated in another Acumen Fellows program are excluded, as are graduates of six specifically named Acumen Leadership Accelerators. Multiple people from one organization may apply, but only one may advance in a given year's selection process.

The FAQ describes the Fellowship as fully funded and says Acumen covers lodging, food, and transportation for the immersives. International travel is not funded, and the Fellowship itself does not provide participant funding or guarantee a grant or investment. Upon completion, fellows receive Foundry membership; Foundry members may separately apply to Acumen Angels through a competitive process. Job placement is not provided.