Global Access Pipeline (GAP)
The Global Access Pipeline (GAP) was launched in November 2009 at a meeting of twenty-five organizations all concerned with expanding participation in careers in global affairs. Organized by the International Career Advancement Program (ICAP) with a grant from the Ford Foundation, the GAP conference mobilized leaders from organizations ranging from pre-collegiate, collegiate, and mid-career programs to research and policy institutions.
Comprehensive Approach
A consensus developed around the GAP project’s potentially significant impact and benefits due to its unique comprehensive approach. A pipeline that extends from pre-collegiate, college and graduate school to early, mid, and senior careers provides real potential for a positive impact on public, private, and philanthropic sectors in the international arena.
Building New Linkages
Over the course of the conference, participants committed to initiating new linkages between organizations, creating a lifelong pipeline from early education to senior-level careers in the international arena. Since that 2009 conference, the consortium of committed individuals and groups has focused on coordinating programs, collective measures, and joint projects to expand global knowledge and participation across government, nonprofit, and private sectors.
The GAP project links pre-collegiate programs focused on global engagement and leadership development to college and graduate programs that prepare students by providing mentors, internships, and study abroad opportunities. Alumni of these programs are then connected to key mid-career leadership programs that, in turn, become part of recruitment and promotion efforts at prominent institutions that influence and implement international policies.
Annual Global Affairs Conference
One major joint effort initiated by GAP is an annual “Conference on Expanding Participation in Global Affairs” held each year in the spring. Jointly sponsored and organized by GAP, ICAP, and the Council on Foreign Relations (CFR), the conference is held at the CFR headquarters in either Washington, D.C., or New York City. For the last several years, it has been a major annual springtime gathering, with nationally renowned speakers, for all three organizations.
Membership and Partnership Opportunities
Membership in GAP includes both individuals and organizations whose activities include efforts to expand knowledge and participation in international careers, from high school programs through policy institutions and government agencies. Annual membership dues are $100 for individuals and $200 for organizations. Privileges of membership include joint projects, attendance at the annual and other meetings, and participation in the annual joint GAP/ICAP/CFR Conference.
Anyone wishing to explore membership in GAP should contact Tom Rowe, GAP Senior Advisor at tom.rowe@du.edu, or Lily Lopez McGee, GAP Co-Chair at lilylop@gmail.com. For more information, visit www.globalaccesspipeline.org.
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