Draper Hills Summer Fellowship on Democracy and Development Program at Stanford University.

Launched in 2005, the Draper Hills Summer Fellowship on Democracy and Development Program (DHSFDD) is a three-week academic training program that is hosted annually at Stanford University’s Center on Democracy, Development, and the Rule of Law.

The program brings together a group of 25 to 30 mid-career practitioners in law, politics, government, private enterprise, civil society, and international development from transitioning countries. This training program provides a unique forum for emerging leaders to connect, exchange experiences, and receive academic training to enrich their knowledge and advance their work.

For three weeks during the summer, fellows participate in academic seminars that expose them to the theory and practice of democracy, development, and the rule of law. Delivered by leading Stanford faculty from the Stanford Law School, the Graduate School of Business, and the departments of economics and political science, these seminars allow emerging leaders to explore new institutional models and frameworks to enhance their ability to promote democratic change in their home countries.

Eligibility Requirements:

• This program is aimed at mid-career practitioners working actively in the field 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 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 2016. 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.Application are not accepted from 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 9-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.

Fellowship Worth:

• Stanford will pay travel, accommodation, andliving expenses for the duration of the three-week program for applicants.
• Participants will be housed on the Stanford campus in residential housing during the program.
• When possible, applicants are encouraged to supply some or all of their own funding from their current employers or international nongovernmental organizations.
• 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.

Time line:

• The dates for the 2016 Draper Hills Summer Fellows Program are Sunday, July 17- Friday, August 5,2016.

Download the Application Deadline

Apply Now for the Draper Hills Summer Fellows Program