Applications Open for 2017 FES Young Leaders Forum (YLF): “Driving Change Across Sectors”! Deadline: 18 May 2017

Applications Open for 2017 FES Young Leaders Forum (YLF): “Driving Change Across Sectors”! Deadline: 18 May 2017

Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung Afghanistan has launched a call for applications for 2017 FES Young Leaders Forum (YLF): “Driving Change Across Sectors”.

The FES YLF program is among Afghanistan’s most distinguished young leaders networks. FES brings together a unique group of graduate students as well as up-and-coming young professionals from diverse backgrounds:  political activists, civil servants, scholars, journalists, young entrepreneurs. What unites all of them is a strong desire to help address the socio-political and economic challenges Afghanistan and the wider region are facing.

Throughout FES YLF program’s rigorous 6-month curriculum, applicants will be receiving practical training in leadership, negotiation, organization and communication skills. Applicants will have the opportunity to learn from and exchange views with established leaders and guest speakers. And applicants will become part of the unique FES YLF network, an ever-growing group of truly inspiring young men and women working to contribute to positive change in Afghanistan and around the globe.

FES YLF Program

The “Young Leaders Forum” (YLF) program was initiated in 2004. Since then, Friedrich-Ebert-Foundation (FES) has trained more than 280 outstanding Afghan men and women from all walks of life. Many of their alumni are highly successful young professionals. They work in government, in diplomacy and for nonprofit organizations impacting change across a variety of sectors. The program offers:

• Bi-weekly lectures and seminars on current political and social topics in national and international development;
• Three two-day workshops on leadership, negotiation, organization and communication skills;
• Guest talks and discussions with senior decision makers and international experts;
• Social events and networking opportunities with the FES YLF alumni;
• A mentoring program that pairs current and former YLFies;
• The opportunity for each and every participant to shape the program him-/herself, as individual initiative and proposals are explicitly encouraged.

Eligibility Criteria

• Eligible candidates must be:
  • Between 22 and 32 years old;
  • In the final year of their university education, have recently graduated or gathered first professional work experience;
  • Able to debate and work in English;
  • Based in Kabul or ensure that they can attend bi-weekly lectures and training sessions;
  • Highly interested and well-informed about international politics and Afghanistan;
  • Identify with the overall goals of the program, which are to help sustain a wide reaching network for social justice, fairness and responsibility for the underprivileged;
  • Respectful, open and tolerant toward people of various backgrounds.
• Applications from female candidates are explicitly encouraged and welcomed. The FES YLF program is strongly committed to promoting gender equality and women’s participation in public and political life. That is why we aim to have an equal share of men and women in their incoming cohort.

How to Apply

Interested applicants must fill out and submit the application form, along with the essay question at the address given on the website.

For more information, please visit 2017 FES Young Leaders Forum.