LGI's fellowship program supports practical policy reform in the region, builds the capacities of individuals who are well placed to influence policy, creates networks of multinational experts, and supports the mission of LGI. Through the Fellowship Program LGI explores emerging or insufficiently studied policy issues relevant for the regions where we work. Each year LGI selects talented professionals from Central, East and South-East Europe and the former Soviet Union to participate in the one-year program. This year we also are looking for proposals beyond these transitional regions. Fellows work in small teams under the guidance of a well-respected mentor to produce policy-oriented studies on a given topic. The completed studies are impact oriented; each contains an advocacy or implementation strategy and concrete policy recommendations. LGI provides its fellows with training on how to write effective policy reports, how to identify and analyze available policy options, how to formulate an effective advocacy campaign, and how deliver a persuasive policy presentation. At the conclusion of the program LGI works with its fellows to determine what steps it can take to support the proposed recommendations in the completed studies. Fellows are generally policy researchers, policy advisors, civil servants and members of NGOs, advocacy groups or professional associations.

This year LGI is featuring three topics:

1: Local Taxation of Informal Economies  

2: Improving the Effectiveness and Accountability of Voluntary Inter-municipal Cooperation Arrangements

3: Citizen Participation in Public Decision-Making: How Sub-national Governments Can Support Citizen Engagement and Institutionalize Participatory Practices

For more background information about the fellowship program please see: http://lgi.osi.hu/documents.php?m_id=127

To learn more about the Open Society Institute see: http://www.soros.org/

To learn more about the Local Government and Public Service Reform Initiative see: http://lgi.osi.hu/

For more precise information please see the attached document below.