Do I have to be working in a social enterprise to be considered for the Food Systems Fellowship?

No. Although many of our Fellows do work in social enterprises, we encourage applicants working with any kind of initiative that is connected to food systems work. We are looking for people that have worked for at least five years in the food systems space and have a vision for building nourishing, regenerative, and equitable food systems. 

Is the Food Systems Fellowship only open to entrepreneurs?

No. Fellows go on multiple career paths and personal journeys, but many of the Fellows we’ve seen over the years include:

• Social Entrepreneurs: Founding or leading a for-profit or non-profit organization that provides critical goods or services to underserved populations within food systems.
• Social Intrapreneurs: Creating innovative solutions to tackle food systems challenges from within an existing institution by shifting its culture and/or strategy, and building new collaborations.
• Organizational Builders: Supporting the growth of an organization focused on alleviating food systems challenges by building the internal structures, and processes that enable the organization to pursue its purpose.
• Public Sector Leaders: Reimagining public policy and leveraging the government services to drive change within food systems.
• Bridge Builders: Finding and connecting organizations and leaders to discover commonalities and activate a shared vision for food systems transformation.

Above all, we are looking for systems leaders with an entrepreneurial mindset who understand that it will take all of us to tackle the greatest food systems challenges of our time.

What are the academic qualifications for the Fellowship?

There are no specific academic prerequisites.

Are there a minimum or maximum age requirements for Fellows?

There is no age requirement as we do not believe Fellows need to be within a certain age range to create impact. We do look for individuals who hold influence in the food systems initiatives and communities they work with, so that they are able to create change where they work.

Do I need to currently be involved in work focused on food systems?

Yes. We are looking for individuals who currently have a leadership role in one or more organizations or initiatives that are committed to food systems work on a full-time basis. We will consider applicants who are working part-time on an exceptional basis, as long as they demonstrate a full-time commitment to food systems work.

Can two people from the same organization apply to the Food Systems Fellowship?

The Food Systems Fellowship is a significant investment in an individual’s leadership journey. As the Fellowship is competitive and only offers 20 seats per year, we aim to amplify our impact through the Fellows by asking them to take learnings from the Fellowship back to their teams and communities.

This means that in a given year, while multiple people from the same organization may apply, should you all meet our basic eligibility criteria, we will only be able to select one of you to advance in the selection process. We suggest keeping this in mind as you make the decision regarding whether one or more of you will apply in the same year.

Can I apply if I have taken Acumen Academy courses?

Absolutely! Taking Acumen Academy courses prior to the fellowship is strongly encouraged.

Can I apply if I have participated in The Rockefeller Foundation Food Systems Vision Prize?

Absolutely! We strongly welcome applicants to the Food Systems Vision Prize. Just state the name of your Vision in your application.

Is English proficiency a requirement?

Yes. All seminars and workshops are conducted in English. Conversational proficiency in English is a requirement to ensure Fellows are able to give and get the most from this experience.

Is someone eligible to apply for the Food Systems Fellowship if they have taken part in an Acumen Fellowship in a different region?

No. Each cohort of Acumen Fellows must be comprised of individuals who have not previously taken part in an Acumen Fellowship. This is specific to Acumen’s programs; candidates who have participated in other fellowships or leadership programs, or who have taken part in Acumen Academy courses or accelerators, are welcome to apply.

What is The Rockefeller Foundation-Acumen Food Systems Fellowship?

The purpose of the Food Systems Fellowship is to develop a community of experienced food systems builders who are working to create more equitable food systems across the world. These builders challenge the status quo, work across lines of difference, and inspire their communities to believe in a brighter future. The Fellowship is the start of a journey toward mastering the skills, attributes, and values of moral leadership - a combination of empathy, immersion, understanding, and action - and then applying these skills to the gradual process of systemic change within the food systems they operate in.

What do you mean by ‘food systems’?

Food systems include but also go beyond value chains, i.e. the production, processing, distribution, and consumption of food. Food systems are complex, and are closely connected to, and significantly impact, human and animal health, land, water, climate, biodiversity, the economy and other systems. Transforming food systems for the future requires Systems Builders — individuals who can see the complexity of food systems and have the ability to influence them at multiple levels, including the actors within the system, the linkages between them, and the enabling environment that they operate within.

Who are Food Systems Fellows?

The Food Systems Fellowship is designed for individuals who are currently leading or are an integral part of building one or more initiatives whose mission is to shift our food systems to be more equitable, nourishing and regenerative food systems. Fellows come from diverse cultural, geographic, and socioeconomic backgrounds, and are experienced practitioners of food systems work, often across multiple work streams, from food production and distribution, to agricultural economics and policy, to food safety and justice.

How is the Fellowship structured?

Fellows will remain in their jobs while taking part in a total of five seminars - three deep immersives (2 in-person, 1 virtual) lasting 1 full week each; and two workshops spanning 5 weeks each, with a commitment of ~8 hours per week. Our immersives provide opportunities with intensive introductions to concepts as well as cohort-building activities. Our workshops allow Fellows to continue the journey and weave lessons into their work and lives. Attendance at each seminar is mandatory.

What is the total time commitment required for the Fellowship?

The 3 immersive seminars require a total of 18 full days to be committed to the Fellowship. This is in addition to travel time to locations for the in-person seminars. Whenever possible we have scheduled seminars to run from Monday to Saturday.

The 2 workshops require a total of 10 weeks (~8 hours per week) to be committed to the Fellowship. These include synchronous sessions with the whole cohort, and self-paced activities and assignments between sessions.

Between seminars, you will be expected to spend additional time on program-related assignments, email correspondence and collaborative projects for ~3 hours per week.

See more details in our Food Systems Fellowship Overview.

Where will the different seminars and meetings for the program be held?

Individuals will be notified of the exact dates of all seminars, and locations of the in-person seminars, upon being selected as a Food Systems Fellow at the beginning of 2023.

What happens during and between the seminars?

During the Food Systems Fellowship, Fellows are equipped with the knowledge, support systems, and skills to challenge the status quo, work across lines of difference, and mobilize their communities to build more inclusive food systems for all.

Our curriculum draws on powerful leadership frameworks, tools, and approaches, including Systems Thinking, Adaptive Leadership, Authentic Voice, Good Society Readings, Immunity to Change, and Polarities Management. Fellows also build trust and test new leadership skills within their cohort. This cohort-based model creates deep bonds of trust and fellowship, which persist long beyond the first year and which Fellows utilize to create greater impact.

What is the attendance policy? What if I need to miss a seminar?

The Food Systems Fellowship has a 100% attendance requirement, and all selected Fellows must attend all seminars and complete assignments between seminars or face possible removal. We make exceptions for emergencies on a case-by-case basis.

Is internet connectivity a requirement to participate in the fellowship?

Yes. The primary method of communication regarding logistics and other important information is email, online sessions are held using Zoom, and assignments between seminars will be provided via an online learning platform. Therefore, all Fellows must have regular and reliable internet access that allows the downloading and uploading of documents as well as audio and video files.

How does Acumen Academy design for an inclusive experience?

Acumen Academy is deeply committed to equality, equity, diversity, and inclusion. We encourage applications from all food systems builders, as long as they have the motivation to make it happen.

Please reach out to us at foodsystemsfellows@acumenacademy.org if you have specific needs or requirements related to the application or program. We will listen to the various needs and explore options to accommodate as much as possible.

Which costs does the Fellowship cover?

Acumen covers all fellowship-related expenses during the fellowship year. This includes all costs associated with the in-person seminars including lodging, food, transportation and visas, as well as technology costs associated with virtual seminars.

Does the Fellowship provide scholarships, funding or additional benefits?

No. As this is a part-time fellowship, we do not provide stipends, funding, or insurance in addition to the program costs that we cover.

Do I automatically qualify for grant funding or an investment if I participate in the Fellowship?

No. Acumen’s leadership development initiatives are completely independent of our investment activities.

What are the application deadlines? And what happens after I submit my application?

Upon application submission, our selection team will carefully review submissions and participation at each stage of the process, and select candidates who will advance to the next stage. At each stage of the application process, all candidates will receive communication from our team about the progress of their application.

How many Fellows are selected for the Food Systems Fellowship?

Acumen will select 20-22 Fellows from across the world for each cohort of the Food Systems Fellowship.

What are the technology requirements for accessing and completing the application?

For all stages of the application process, applicants will need a stable internet connection. All application documents and components must be submitted through an online portal. We highly recommend using Google Chrome or Firefox as your browser. Late submissions due to internet or technology issues will not be accepted. Please plan to submit your application well in advance before the deadline.

If you experience issues submitting any element of your application, please try submitting your application from a different browser, computer or a different location with stronger internet connectivity. If you continue experiencing issues, please contact the Acumen team via foodsystemsfellows@acumenacademy.org

Will I get notified after my application has been submitted?

Yes. Our system automatically sends a confirmation email once your initial application has been submitted. If you do not receive one immediately after submitting your application, please check your email settings to make sure that our emails are not caught in your spam filter. We will send emails through the following domains: @mail.smapply.net, and @acumenacademy.org

Are recommendation letters required?

No. However, if someone from the Acumen or The Rockefeller Foundation communities has recommended you using our process, please get a referral link from them to include in your application.

Can I edit my application after it’s been submitted?

No, this is not possible.

However, it is possible to save your application before submitting it, to return to later for editing. Make sure you double check all elements of your application before it is submitted. We cannot accept edits or changes after the fact, either through the platform or by email.

Is post-Fellowship job placement provided?

No.

What do Fellows do after completing the program? What type of professional and personal development support does the Food Systems Fellowship offer?

Acumen is invested not only in each Fellows’ growth over the course of the year-long program, but also in their development as lifelong builders of food systems work. After completing the first year, Fellows may receive continued mentorship and coaching. Acumen and the Rockefeller Foundation also have a very active and growing network of social sector organizations, thought leaders, and Fellows across the globe. We engage all Acumen Fellows through events, newsletters and subsequent recruitment and selection processes. In addition, after the program the Fellows become part of a community of moral leaders who are fighting poverty or injustice in their region and across the world.

If you still have questions after reading the Frequently Asked Questions, please email foodsystemsfellows@acumenacademy.org