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SWISS LEADERSHIP AWARD
IN INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS

Since 2001, the project Capacity Building in International Relations (CABIR) has been offering training courses on human rights, humanitarian law, international economics and negotiation for young government officials from Armenia, Azerbaijan and Georgia. Following the success of these courses and a growing CABIR alumni network, the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC) and the Program for the Study of International Organization(s) of the Graduate Institute of International and Development Studies (PSIO-GIIDS) decided to create the Swiss Leadership Award in International Relations. The award has the objective to reward and acknowledge outstanding professional leadership, to foster a process of self-awareness among CABIR Alumni and to encourage committed officials who are working in a volatile and difficult environment.

The prize of the award is a one-week working trip to Switzerland. The trip aims to create interface opportunities between CABIR leaders, the Swiss government, the international organisations in Geneva and the Diplomatic Missions of Armenia, Azerbaijan and Georgia in Geneva. A total of eight winners were selected in 2005, seven winners in 2006, eleven winners in 2007, seven winners in 2008 and seven winners in 2009. The award is given to CABIR Alumni who have proven personal qualities for leadership and commitment to reform in their countries. Applicants for the Swiss Leadership Award must be CABIR Alumni.

Criteria for evaluating applications for the Swiss Leadership Award include:

Activities

Professional or extra-curricular activities in one of the fields of human rights, humanitarian law, international economics and negotiation;
Professional or extra-curricular activities contributing to reform;
A proven track record of initiative, creativity and success.