Welcome to the online application process for the FUTURE LEADERS programme at European Development Days 2015!
We are looking for 12 extraordinary young people ages 21-26, from across the world with proven commitment and community engagement to represent the powerful impact that youth have in the development field. The winners will be ‘movers and shakers’ in their communities and countries who are helping to solve the universal challenges outlined in the EDD programme.
Calling All Future Leaders
Welcome to the online application process for the FUTURE LEADERS programme at European Development Days 2015!
We are looking for 12 extraordinary young people ages 21-26, from across the world with proven commitment and community engagement to represent the powerful impact that youth have in the development field. The winners will be ‘movers and shakers’ in their communities and countries who are helping to solve the universal challenges outlined in the EDD programme.
Debate with Global Development Actors
As a FUTURE LEADER, you will speak in the auditorium panel discussions, along with key political leaders, and have the opportunity to present your story to the audience, engaging with the delegations of governments and international organisations.
Prior and during the forum, the FUTURE LEADERS will have the opportunity to visit the EU institutions, meet relevant development policy-makers and present practices from their regions.
How to apply
In order to apply for the FUTURE LEADERS programme, please submit your application by 23.59 CET 18 March 2015. Application forms are available by clicking the APPLY NOW button on the Future Leaders page. Late applications will not be accepted.
You will be applying as a speaker’s role for one of the EDD15 auditorium sessions, according to the topic of the panel. To complete the form, you must select the EDD topic that you wish to speak about. You must feel comfortable and knowledgeable about the topic of your choice, and it must relate closely to your interests and expertise.
The topics of EDD15 include: (please refer to the EDD15 website for more detail on each session topic)
ØØ Halting Climate Change And Building Resilience (Keywords: climate change, disaster risk reduction, adaptation, risk prevention, disaster detection, urban/property development, capacity building, resilience to food crises)
ØØ Sustainable Energy For Growth (Keywords: innovation, renewable energy, smart grids, infrastructure, wind, solar, recycling, sustainable energy for all, sustainable consumption of energy)
ØØ An Urban World: Challenges And Opportunities (Keywords: urban planning, energy efficiency, demographic challenge, ageing population, youth unemployment, public transportation, rural to urban migration, poor habitat, local dimension of development, civil society, affordable/ available housing, challenge in feeding the cities)
ØØ Gender Rights (Keywords: women’s empowerment, men 4 women, gender equality, Beijing+20, LGBT rights, female genital mutilation, gender pay gap pay, equal representation, women in leadership positions, violence against women)
ØØ Right to Health (Keywords: Ebola, strengthening public health institutions and medical care coverage for all, horizontal vs. vertical funds, right to live saving drugs, basic health care coverage, maternal health, health prevention)
ØØ Inclusion and Inequality (Keywords: access to social services, horizontal inequality, marginalisation, capital allocation, inequalities of income and wealth, inclusive globalisation)
ØØ Feeding the Planet Together (Keywords: global food security, hunger, sustainable agriculture, nutrition, right to food, fisheries, land management, property rights, retail, policy coherence for development)
ØØ Fair Globalisation (Keywords: trade, global finance regulation, debt, global governance, access to financing, WTO trade facilitation agreement, policy coherence for development)
ØØ Migration (Keywords: making migration work for development, right of asylum, refugees & asylum seekers, war & security, global peace agenda, human trafficking, policy coherence for development)
ØØ Growth And Poverty Eradication (Keywords: CSR, rule of law, secure investments, infrastructure, accountability of companies, tax avoidance, financial transaction tax, transparency, G7 agenda, whistle-blowers, industry watchdogs)
ØØ Decent Jobs (Keywords: responsible supply chains, garment initiative, social & economic rights, social protection, social dimension of globalisation, job security, flexi-security, decent wage, child labour, modern forms of slavery, workplace safety, unemployment security)
ØØ Global Citizenship (Keywords: sustainable & conscious consumption, carbon footprint, sustainable tourism, voice and empowerment, civil society action consumers)
The application process will involve three key stages.
1. A “profile” stage, where you will be asked to fill in personal details and submit a Curriculum Vitae detailing your skills, with special emphasis on leadership and public speaking skills. You will be required to present yourself and your engagement, in a short 2min video and explain why you are a good representative for your chosen topic.
2. A “leadership” stage, where you will be asked to state which group or organisation you will be representing during EDD15.
It is important to demonstrate that you will be speaking in representation of other youth or civil society organisations. You will be asked to submit an additional reference letter from someone who can testify that you are a qualified leader.
3. An “involvement” stage, where you will be asked to submit up to two examples of active commitment to a cause related to your topic of choice. Your involvement can include a variety of different activities, such as building a project, conducting research, or volunteering for a cause related to the topic of your choice. You will be required to include key achievements, a project background description, a description of your role in the project, outlining leadership skills, commitment to the relevant topic, and future plans or ambitions in the field of the chosen topic. You will also be able to upload up to supporting 3 files for each project project.
If you would like additional information about the role of FUTURE LEADERS at the conference, as well as more information about EDD15 as a whole, please take the time to read the Community Guide, available on eudevdays.eu before you fill in this form and submit your proposal.
Eligibility
• Applicants must be between 21 and 26.
• Applications are open to young adults from all around the world, without restriction of nationality.
• Applications must be submitted in one of the following official European Commission languages: English / French / Spanish / German / Portuguese. The candidate must be able to speak clearly and comprehensively in one of these languages. Passive translation will be provided if necessary during EDD15 for those languages.
• Applicants must be able to travel to and participate in EDD15 in Brussels.
Evaluation Criteria
We will evaluate your application based on three criteria:
• 40% Your knowledge of your chosen topic and the relevance of your active engagement. We encourage candidates to show how their activities have had an impact on the community.
• 30% Your role as a legitimate representative of an organisation, other youth or community, and your leadership experience or potential.
• 30% Your public speaking skills and ability to speak at a high-level panel.
Get Started!
You fill find the application form on the FUTURE LEADERS page of the European Development Days website.
Note that you will be required to register on the website before starting the application. Once registered, click on “Add new proposal” and select “Future Leaders”. You can save and leave the application process at any time, you just need to save your progress before you exit. You can therefore complete the form in instalments. However, please do not forget that you should submit a completed form before Wednesday 18th March 2015.
Please note that the Submission Form is subject to change in the following days. We will inform you accordingly. Should you require any additional information or assistance, please contact This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
We wish you the best of luck in the application, and we are very much looking forward to reviewing your proposal.