IPC participant from Azerbaijan, social entrepreneur Farida Asgarzade was among 12 candidates selected to participate in the six-week Rumsfeld Foundation Fellowship Program, which took place in Washington, USA in October-November 2023. The CAMCA Fellowship consists of a series of high-level meetings with top policy-makers, journalists, academics, military personnel, business leaders, non-governmental organizations and regional experts through which Fellows are exposed to inside perspectives on how the public and private sectors work in the U.S. The program also incorporates opportunities for professional development and networking. As an additional part of the Fellowship, participants spend one week traveling to two major U.S. cities for meetings with local businesses and government representatives in order to gain insights into the United States beyond the nation's capital. In the final weeks of the program, Fellows collaborated on and deliver a group presentation on a topic of their choice at a Central Asia-Caucasus Institute public forum, which serves as a platform for the Fellows to present their thoughts and engage with representatives from locally-based embassies, companies, universities, media outlets and others interested in the region.
Also, as part of the program, Farida Asgarzade, together with director of US-Azerbaijan Trade Chamber Natig Bakhishov, His Excellency Ambassador Khazar Ibrahim and project coordinator of Rumsfeld Foundation Program David Soumbadze, organized a private reception at the Azerbaijan-US Chamber of Commerce.
Also, as part of the program, Farida Asgarzade, together with director of US-Azerbaijan Trade Chamber Natig Bakhishov, His Excellency Ambassador Khazar Ibrahim and project coordinator of Rumsfeld Foundation Program David Soumbadze, organized a private reception at the Azerbaijan-US Chamber of Commerce.