Description

The Queen Elizabeth II Academy for Leadership in International Affairs (the Academy) at Chatham House, The Royal Institute of International Affairs is pleased to announce that applications for the 2026-27 Asfari Foundation Leadership Masterclass Programme are now open. The 2026-27 Leadership Masterclass Programme will run from early October 2026 through early July 2027 and runs parallel to Academy Fellowships.

Established in 2017, the Leadership Masterclass Programme at the Academy is a nine-month, part-time leadership training programme which equips early to mid-career professionals working in policy, international affairs and/or research with the knowledge, skills, and networks to lead positive policy change in their areas of expertise. Participants have the opportunity to engage and build their capacity for independent thinking on global policy issues and leadership by participating in a variety of regular sessions and activities, all held at Chatham House with world-class experts. They also have the opportunity to develop a network with other like-minded individuals, all with the support of a professional career coach.

The Asfari Foundation invests in and supports a resilient and empowered civil society and innovative youth leaders. By doing so, the Foundation aims to create transformative and positive change in communities and countries.

This application is only open to people who are based in/around London and are nationals of one of the following countries: Algeria, Bahrain, Djibouti, Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Libya, Mauritania, Morocco, Oman, Palestine (State of Palestine), Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Sudan, Syria, Tunisia, United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Yemen who are based in London.

Programme structure

• Induction day - on the first day of the Leadership Masterclass Programme, participants attend an intensive induction that introduces them to the programme and Chatham House;

• Discussion seminars - in these sessions, Leadership Masterclass Programme participants meet and discuss current international affairs challenges with subject matter experts from Chatham House and beyond. The sessions cover the principal substantive and skills-based areas vital for informed and effective international leadership. Participants usually chair these sessions and are expected to contribute to and learn from one another’s experience;

• Leadership workshops - over the course of the programme, participants attend multiple half-day workshops focusing on skills development within specific aspects of leadership such as ‘Leadership in a new role’ and ‘Fostering innovation and entrepreneurship’;

• Personal development coaching - Leadership Masterclass Programme participants join the Academy seeking to grow their self-awareness through one-to-one sessions with a dedicated coach. In those sessions participants set personal development objectives which they work to meet during their time at Chatham House and beyond;

• Media training - participants learn how to interview effectively on television and radio, culminating in a mock interview from which they receive feedback on their presentation style and other areas of improvement;

• Leadership briefings - participants attend the ‘Leadership briefings’ series, giving them the opportunity to discuss leadership experiences and lessons in an informal setting with acknowledged leaders from government, business, media and the non-profit sectors; and

• Career mentoring (optional).

Citizenship

The Asfari Foundation stream is open to citizens of Algeria, Bahrain, Djibouti, Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Libya, Mauritania, Morocco, Oman, Palestine (State of Palestine), Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Sudan, Syria, Tunisia, United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Yemen who are based in London.

Commitment

The programme runs over nine months from October 2026 to July 2027, with a break around the Christmas holidays. Sessions will take place in-person mostly on Thursdays in the timeframe of 9:30 am and 5:00 pm. Most weeks, the total time commitment on Thursdays will be around 2.5 hours, although some weeks will have multiple sessions or longer workshops, totalling no more than 7 hours. The programme schedule will be released on a quarterly basis so that participants can plan their time.

Participants are expected to attend a minimum of 80 precent of the programme activities, and to join sessions in-person, unless otherwise agreed before the start of the programme. Participants are expected to contribute to discussions, engage with speakers, and seize networking opportunities over the course of the programme.

Benefits

• Cost of the programme will be covered by the Asfari Foundation;

• Weekly in-person training sessions at Chatham House;

• Individual Membership of Chatham House for the duration of the programme and two years following completion of the programme; and

• Access to a personal career coach.

Selection criteria:

Qualified applicants will be early to mid-career professionals who can demonstrate a strong potential to excel in their industry or field. They will be in - or aspire to be in - positions where they are expected to think and act internationally, and where the need to understand the interconnectedness of global policy issues is evident. Participants will often be working in – or aspire to work in – positions where a strong understanding of policy and policy influencing is relevant. They will have a global perspective on challenges, as well as a broad understanding of working in and across different cultures. They will be motivated by the values and mission of Chatham House.

To be a successful candidate, you must be able to demonstrate that you fit the above profile. In addition, participants will be selected on the basis of their experience and expertise and based on how the Masterclass opportunity will support them at this point in their career. The Academy team will also take into consideration the background of other Leadership Masterclass participants and Academy Fellows to ensure a diverse cohort.

We value diversity and do not discriminate on the basis of protected characteristics. We encourage applications from all backgrounds. If there is anything we can do to improve your experience or support you, please get in touch at Academy@Chathamhouse.org

Closing date: Tuesday 22 September 2026 at 23:59 BST. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis and the closing date may be brought forward if needed, therefore applicants are encouraged to apply early.