Frequently Asked Questions
1. What is the Swedish Institute Young Leaders Visitors Program?
YLVP is an intercultural leadership program that aims to lay a foundation for dialogue, mutual understanding and knowledge sharing among young leaders from the MENA region and Sweden.
The program is designed to provide the participants with new skills, networks and innovative tools to strengthen their work to drive processes for social change in their respective contexts. The program combines intercultural leadership training with theory and practice in the fields of transparency, democracy and human rights. Cutting-edge social media solutions are used throughout the program, as tools for learning and for building networks that promote dialogue, knowledge sharing and openness.
During the program, participants will be part of an active network that will boost creativity and support personal and professional development, while also laying the platform for a more connected future.
2. When and where does the Young Leaders Visitors Program take place?
The first module of the 2013 program will take place 19 May - 6 June in different venues in Stockholm and Malmö. Module 2 will take place in the MENA region 2-8 November. It is mandatory to attend both phases.
3. Who can apply?
Young open-minded leaders in Algeria, Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon, Libya, Morocco, Syria, Tunisia, West Bank-Gaza, Yemen and Sweden who are actively working for democracy and human rights within the spheres of society, culture, politics and media: youth leaders, project managers, youth politicians, government civil servants, lawyers, journalists/bloggers, activists and cultural workers. Age: 20-32 at the time of the start of the program, with good working knowledge of both written and spoken English.
4. How do I apply?
Submit your application by sending the YLVP Application form 2013 together with your CV in English to 
by December 14. The application form will be available in the right-hand menu on November 12. Only applicants who have submitted a complete application will be considered for the program. A complete application consists of:
- A completed YLVP Application form 2013 in English, including your contact details and the contact details of two reference persons.
- An updated CV in English
Please note that the reference persons should be someone who knows your work in the areas of democracy and human rights. We may contact the reference persons of the applicants who are selected for an interview. We only need the contact details of the references, i.e. no letters of recommendation. We accept references who speak English, Arabic and French.
If you have any questions regarding the application form, please contact 
.
If you have not heard from us by February 28, 2013, you have not been accepted to the Young Leaders Visitors Program. However, you are more than welcome to apply again for next year's program.
5. When is the deadline to apply for the Young Leaders Visitors Program?
Deadline for submitting the application for the YLVP 2013 is December 14, 2012.
6. How does the selection process of eligible applicants work?
The Swedish Institute will appoint a selection committee consisting of staff from the Swedish Institute as well as representatives from partner organizations and field experts. The applications will be evaluated according to the following selection criteria:
- The relevance and quality of the personal motivation and commitment, and the applicant’s answers to the YLVP questionnaire.
- An assessment of the eligibility criteria, CV and recommendations.
- The general qualifications of the applicant.
The Swedish Institute will make its decision based on the final selection, taking into account the recommendations of the selection committee as well as the candidates’ general suitability for the program. Out of all applicants, a number of shortlisted candidates will be called for interviews as a second step of the selection process. The interviews will be conducted through Skype (see Skype.com).
The Swedish Institute makes a list of reserve candidates for an eventual second selection. If you were not announced as a reserve candidate by February 14, you are not on the reserve list.
A total of 28 applicants will be selected to attend the YLVP 2013. As far as possible, the Swedish Institute has ensured that there is an even distribution of candidates from the different countries.
If you have not heard from us by February 28, 2013, you have not been accepted to the Young Leaders Visitors Program. However, you are more than welcome to apply again for next year's program.
7. Why is the Young Leaders Visitors Program only open for applicants from Algeria, Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon, Libya, Morocco, Syria, Tunisia, West Bank-Gaza, Yemen and Sweden?
The main aim of YLVP is to lay a foundation for dialogue, mutual understanding and knowledge-sharing among young leaders from Sweden and the Middle East and North Africa.
For this year’s program participants from Algeria, Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon, Libya, Morocco, Syria, Tunisia, West Bank-Gaza, Yemen and Sweden are eligible to apply. However, YLVP is an annual event and the countries may change from year to year.
8. How much does it cost to attend the Young Leaders Visitors Program?
Participants from the Middle East and North Africa
If you are accepted to the YLVP, it is an offer which covers all costs in association with program participation.
Accommodation, food and transport
All costs related to accommodation, food and transport during the YLVP are covered by the Swedish Institute. The Swedish Institute will also arrange and pay for your air travel to and from Module 1 in Sweden and Module 2 in the MENA region – but participants are responsible for costs related to transport within their own countries.
Insurance
During the program in Sweden all participants will be insured against acute illness and accident through the Swedish State Group Insurance and personal insurance by The Swedish Legal, Financial and Administrative Service Agency (Kammarkollegiet). For the second module which will take place somewhere in the MENA region, all participants are kindly requested to purchase a travel insurance covering the period of the module in their respective home countries. The Swedish Institute will reimburse participants for the cost of the insurance later.
Participants from Sweden
Accommodation, food and transport
All costs related to activities outside your home town during the YLVP in Sweden are covered by the Swedish Institute; this includes accommodation, food and transport.
During the program in Stockholm, the Swedish Institute covers your lunch expenses as well as the costs of all arranged activities.
The Swedish Institute will arrange and pay for your air travel to the follow-up module, but participants are themselves responsible of costs related to transport within Sweden to the nearest airport.