Stanford University’s Center on Democracy

letters of recommendation Deadline: January 5, 2015

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 emergingleaders 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 exposethem 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.

• Stanford will pay travel,accommodation, living expenses and visa costs 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.

The Programme

• 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). In their present capacity, 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.

Eligibility:

• Applicants must be mid-career practitioners and have at least six years of experience and ideally ten years or more 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 27 years of age when they apply for the fellowship.
• Candidates must be actively working in the field of democracy, development, and the rule of law.
• Candidates must have a solid command of written and spoken English

For More Information:

Visit the Official Webpage of the Draper Hills Summer Fellowship