News

The Leadership Academy for Development (LAD), at Stanford University’s Center on Democracy, Development and the Rule of Law (CDDRL), and the Economic Policy Research Center (EPRC) are opening the application intake for the “The Role of Public
Policy in Private Sector Development” workshop which will take place in Tbilisi, Georgia on January 18-22, 2016.

About the LAD Program

General Information

The Leadership Academy for Development (LAD) is an executive-level training program that trains government officials and business sector leaders from developing countries to help the private sector be a constructive force for economic growth and development. LAD was co-founded by Stanford University’s Center on Democracy, Development and the Rule of Law (CDDRL) and the Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies. For more information about LAD, please see http://cddrl.fsi.stanford.edu/research/the_leadership_academy_for_development.

LAD Program in Georgia

The LAD Program in Georgia will take place on January 18-22, 2016 and will be implemented jointly by CDDRL and the Economic Policy Research Centre (EPRC) – a local think tank based in Tbilisi, Georgia. LAD in Georgia is supported by the Ilia State University. “The Role of Public Policy in Private Sector Development” workshop is an intensive, five-day, executive-level training program that will teach selected participants how to be effective reform leaders, promoting sound public policies in complex and contentious settings. The LAD Program in Georgia will be led by CDDRL Director, Francis Fukuyama of Stanford University and
Professor Alan Trager of Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies.

LAD Training Program Overview

A driving principle of the LAD curriculum is that policy reform is not like engineering or other technical fields that have discrete skills and clear, optimal solutions. Instead, successful reformers must be nimble and weigh a broad range of factors that influence policy outcomes. They must have a solid grasp of country-specific economic, financial, political and cultural realities. Most importantly, they must have a sense of how to set priorities, sequence actions and build coalitions. LAD provides participants with an analytical framework to build these abilities and operate effectively under adverse conditions.

LAD courses are based on case studies that are designed to encourage participants to think critically about the key decisions that have led to policy reforms. They are written from the perspective of decision-makers who have designed or executed specific policies and they demonstrate how effective public officials think and act strategically. The case studies show
how these leaders address technical obstacles while simultaneously taking into careful consideration the political, cultural and social constraints to reforms. Also, the performance of the private sector and its role as either a catalyst or an obstacle to economic growth is closely connected to how well or badly government policies are designed and implemented. LAD
provides participants with an analytical framework to build these abilities and operate effectively under adverse conditions.

About the Center on Democracy, Development, and the Rule of Law (CDDRL)

The Center on Democracy, Development, and the Rule of Law (CDDRL) at Stanford University engages in research, training, teaching, and organizes intellectual and policy dialogues aimed at increasing public understanding of economic and political development. Founded in 2002 CDDRL has collaborated with scholars, policymakers, and practitioners around the
world to advance collective knowledge about the linkages between democracy, sustainable economic development, human rights and the rule of law.

APPLICATION DEADLINE: The deadline for submitting electronic applications is November 6, 2015 6:00 pm Tbilisi Time