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The John Smith Memorial Trust is now inviting applications to participate in the John Smith Fellowship Programme 2010. The Fellowships aim to strengthen and deepen awareness of good governance through a five-week programme in the UK and placements that show the workings of organisations within a long established democracy.

The Programme is designed to show that democracy of the kind that has evolved in the United Kingdom has become a successful tool for securing good governance, for making the Rule of Law effective, for advancing the citizens' human and legal rights, for empowering disadvantaged groups and for giving a voice to those who currently lack political influence. We do not suggest that it is perfect; merely that it works well in our country.
The Fellows are invited to consider how the institutions and practices that they study in the United Kingdom might be adapted for use in their own communities where the traditions and the problems are different. Above all, the Programme seeks to show that in a true democracy the spirit in which institutions are operated is vitally important.

The “ideal” candidate will be aged 25-40, working in politics, local administration, business, the media or civil society, with a track record of achievement in the area of good governance and public service. Applications for Fellowships are invited from the following countries: Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Kyrgyzstan, Moldova, Russia, Ukraine.

The largest network of John Smith fellows exists in Russia where 44 active leaders work in Nizhny, Novgorod, St. Petersburg, Moscow, Chechnya, Siberia, Ekaterinburg, Volgograd, Samara and Tyumen.

Good written and spoken English is essential. A minimum level of IELTS of 6.0 is normally needed for successful candidates. Candidates may be required to take an IELTS test at the final stage of the selection process. Not all finalists are required to sit a test. However, the interview panel reserves the right to require a test at their discretion. The costs of testing are covered by the John Smith Memorial Trust.

DEADLINE – The deadline for all applications and supporting documents is November 9th 2009.

Please find the application forms and further details at - http://www.johnsmithmemorialtrust.org/web/site/Programme/HowtoApply-Russia.asp.

The application process in Russia is administered by Larissa Poludnevich on behalf of the John Smith Memorial Trust. Larissa can be contacted on the following email address JSMT.Russia@johnsmithtrust.org

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