The dateline to apply for the programme has been set for September 15, 2020
By Boris Esono Nwenfor
The Denis and Lenora Foretia Foundation in partnership with the National Endowment for Democracy, has launched a unique programme targeting Emerging Leaders based in Cameroon. This special programme will identify highly skilled and motivated Cameroonians below the age of 35, who have demonstrated remarkable leadership and have shown great potential in their understanding of public policy and are dedicated to implementing positive change in the country. This inaugural class of Emerging Leaders is limited to 20.
According to a release from the D&L Foretia Foundation prospective candidates for the Emerging Leaders Programme must meet certain considerations which involves; being a Cameroonian, under the age of 35 by September 2020, be bilingual (French and English), have at least a bachelor’s degree.
The candidate must also have a good understanding of the history and geopolitical complexity of the country; be able to articulate his/her thoughts in newspaper articles or television interviews; must be versatile and comfortable with public speaking and be able to interact and engage with policy-makers; and demonstrate good leadership qualities.
Benefits and Expectations of the Program
The leaders of tomorrow will participate in a 3-day immersion in Policy & Public Service in Yaounde. All expenses will be covered by the Foundation.
The Emerging leaders will be split into four groups of five that will be provided financing to host an event of their choice promoting political freedoms, and a democratic culture in any region in the country. Topics may include governance issues, human rights, or youth engagement in public service. These events will be an important opportunity for the organization to encourage youth leaders to work for a freer, more peaceful, and more democratic future Cameroon.
The leaders will produce at least 20 publications in the 12-month period on democracy, human rights and freedoms to promote citizen engagement. The Emerging leaders will be affiliated with the Governance and Democracy Initiative (GDI) of the Nkafu Policy Institute for a period of one (1) year. As affiliates of GDI, they will participate in training seminars organized by the Nkafu Policy Institute and publish short articles on a quarterly basis.
How to apply
According to the release, interested applicants have been urged to complete the ONLINE application form no later than September 15, 2020 at 5:00 p.m PT. “No paper version for this programme will be accepted. Female candidates are strongly encouraged to apply,” D&L Foretia Foundation stated.
To apply for the programme, the candidate will need to provide a copy of his/her national identity card or passport clearly showing their photo and date of birth. They will also need a cover letter explaining why they should be selected for the programme. The cover letter must be less than 300 words. “If the text exceeds 300 words, you will not be able to submit your dossier online. Curriculum Vitae of less than 3 pages with two (2) contactable professional references will be needed,” D&L Foretia Foundation added.
Shortlisted candidates will be notified on September 20, while the announcement of selected emerging leaders will be made available on September 24. From October 14 to October 16, 2020, there will be the start of the Emerging Leaders Programme in Yaounde.
To apply for the programme, visit www.foretiafoundation.org or www.leaders.foretiafoundation.org. If you have any questions, contact the foundation at leaders@foretiafoundation.org.
