Swedish Institute (SI) Leader Lab 2023 for MENA Countries

Are you a civil society leader in South Asia or the MENA region? Are you working for a more gender equal world? SI Leader Lab is an online leadership programme for advocates of gender equality who wish to grow in their role while exploring new tools and forms for collaboration. Apply to SI Leader Lab if you want to grow as a leader, develop your advocacy skills and share knowledge in a network of inspirational peers.

Application Deadline: 30th November 2022

About the Award: SI Leader Lab 2023 will bring together 60 young influential civil society leaders in South Asia, the MENA region and Sweden who are active advocates of gender equality. The overarching objective is to strengthen leaders who are working for gender equality.

The programme is an opportunity for you to develop your advocacy skills and work on strategic outreach within your focus area. It’s also an opportunity to grow as a leader, exchange experiences, form new connections and to try out innovative tools and methods with peers working in a similar context.

The programme, spread over three months, contains highly interactive online meetings. We will work in smaller learning groups, combined with sessions that include all participants. The training is founded on experience-based and collaborative learning and will allow you to explore real challenges and areas of development for your own organisation in an innovative and supportive environment.

The programme is as much about personal as professional development. It is about growing as a person with renewed confidence and insights, and growing as a leader with new tools, methods and perspectives.

The particular expertise and experience of the participants will largely determine the topics that we work on. The following broader issues, however, will be central: value-based leadership and group development and effective advocacy methods.

Type: Training

Eligibility: You can apply to SI Leader Lab if you:

• Have a leading position (formal or informal) in a civil society organisation or network working for gender equality.
• Work in a collaborative setting, where you have a leadership role (formal or informal).
• Between the age of 25 and 45 years old (born 1977 to 1998).
• Have a good working knowledge of both written and spoken English.
• Are a citizen of Algeria, Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Egypt, India, Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon, Libya, Morocco, Nepal, Pakistan, Palestine, Sri Lanka, Syria, Tunisia or Yemen.
• Are available to take part in all parts of the programme.
• Are prepared to forward competences and knowledge you gain from the programme to your team, organisation or other relevant actors.

Please note that we are not able to make any exceptions to the eligibility requirements.

Please note that SI Leader Lab is a demanding programme, as we use experienced based learning and reflection as a tool for personal growth. Therefore, we recommend that all participants are in psychological balance and willing to put in the efforts that the programme requires.

Eligible Countries:  Afghanistan, Algeria, Bangladesh, Egypt, India, Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon, Libya, Morocco, Nepal, Pakistan, Palestine, Sri Lanka, Syria, Tunisia, Yemen

Number of Awards: 60

Value of Award: Costs covered and arranged by Swedish Institute

• Your flights to and from Stockholm.  
• Your accommodation and meals in Stockholm during the programme’s period of onsite sessions in Sweden.
• Your insurance during the programme’s period of onsite sessions in Stockholm, Sweden.  
• All training material, online and onsite.

Programme timeline

Here is an estimation of the time the programme requires: 

Online
From mid-February to May, there will be regular online sessions once every other week. There will be approximately 15 online sessions (approximately 80 hours, spread out over three months, plus time for your own initiative). Online sessions are typically one to two hours of group meetings, plus the time you use for your own team assignments and learning groups. Participants will take part in online seminars, practical group assignments and individual project work. There will also be optional coaching sessions where you can invite your team to participate. An exact schedule will be sent at the start of the programme.  
 
Onsite – Stockholm, Sweden 
On 2 — 10 May (including travel days), there will be an onsite meeting in Stockholm, Sweden. During this time, the programme is full-time and it’s important to take time off work to be able to participate fully.  
 
Organisation involvement
As a participant, it’s important that you have permission from your supervisor to take part in the programme and to try out tools and methods from the programme with your team. During the programme, you are expected to actively implement the tools and methods from the programme (for example by holding implementation workshops with your team). There will also be optional coaching sessions where you can invite your team members to participate. 

Programme timeline

• Submission period for applications: 1 – 30 November 2022
• Selection period: 16 – 21 December 2022
• Notification of acceptance: 16 January 2023
• Online workshops and coaching: Mid-February – April 2023
• Onsite sessions in Stockholm (3 regions, 90+ participants): 2 – 10 May 2023 (incl. travel days)
• Programme wrap up, online: Early June 2023

How to Apply: Download and fill out the SI Leader Lab application form If you are in need of an accessibility supported version of SI Leader Lab 2021 application form, please send an email to leaderlab@si.se

• It is important to go through all application requirements in the Award Webpage (see Link below) before applying.
• GOODLUCK

Visit Award Webpage for Details