Partially Funded Fellowship in Democracy and Development from Stanford University in the USA

Stanford University invites invites emerging political, civil society and business leaders from transitional countries to apply to participate in its 18th annual Draper Hills Summer Fellowship on Democracy and Development.

• Stanford asks all applicants to be prepared to contribute towards the cost of their participation in the fellowship if they are selected. Typically, this comes in the form of a fellow covering round-trip airfare to the Program. Stanford will pay for accommodations, meals, and transportation costs for the duration of the Program.
• In the past, some fellows have asked their employers to subsidize their travel to Stanford based on the benefits that the training will contribute towards their professional and organizational advancement. Fellows may also choose to fundraise for these costs after selection decisions are issued in April 2022.
• A small travel fund is available for fellows who under no circumstances can support their travel or need to apply for a partial subsidy. Priority for accessing the travel fund will be given based on need, and destinations from which airline fares to California are exorbitant.
• The program is unable to provide funding for families to accompany fellows to Stanford for the program or to accommodate them during the program's duration. It is against Stanford policy to house children under the age of 18 years on campus, so any fellow traveling with family would have to locate and self-fund off campus housing.

• This program is aimed at mid-career practitioners working actively in the fields of democracy, development, and the rule of law.
• Applicants can be working as policy-makers, academics, legal professionals, social entrepreneurs, business entrepreneurs, and leaders of civil society organizations (such as representatives of trade unions, nongovernmental organizations, the media, business and professional associations).
• Applicants should play important and influential roles in their country's political, economic, and social development.
• Participants should have demonstrated professional and personal achievements in a relevant sector of democracy, development, and the rule of law.      
• Successful applicants will have academic credentials necessary to participate and contribute to the six-hour seminars each day and tackle advanced academic readings to complement the classroom-based curriculum.
• Ninety-nine percent of alumni hold a bachelor's degree at the time of their participation in the program but this is not a requirement for admission to the program.
• A working knowledge of English is an important prerequisite for participation in the program. It is expected that each fellow has a solid command of written and spoken English to fully benefit and participate in the program.

Selection Criteria:

• This is not an academic fellowship but is meant for practitioners only. Judges value practical experience over academic credentials, and admit scholars only to the extent that they are active in government, public policy, civil society, economic development and rule of law. They should hold leadership roles in their respective sector.
• Applicants must be mid-career practitioners and have at least ten to 12 years of experience to qualify for the fellowship. Those with more experience are much more competitive in the selection process.
• Candidates must be from and currently reside in a country where democracy is not well entrenched. Candidates residing outside their home country due to war or conflict may be granted exceptions. Applicants will not be accepted from countries such as the U.S., Canada, Australia, Japan, and member states of the European Union.
• Candidates must be at least 28 years of age at the start of the fellowship in July 2022. The average age of fellows at the time of the program is 38.
• Candidates must be actively working in the field of democracy, development, and the rule of law. We do not accept candidates who are in the midst of full-time university degree programs.
• Candidates must have a solid command of written and spoken English. All program materials and sessions are in English. Participants will also be required to give 7-minute TED-style talks throughout the three-week program regarding their work and motivation. English language proficiency is very important in order to benefit and contribute to the program dialogue.

About Stanford University:

Stanford University, located between San Francisco and San Jose in the heart of California's Silicon Valley, is one of the world's leading teaching and research universities. Since its opening in 1891, Stanford has been dedicated to finding solutions to big challenges and to preparing students for leadership in a complex world.

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