Elected leaders join the International Democracy Fellowship at the Institute for Global Affairs at Eurasia Group

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

NEW YORK, NY — The Institute for Global Affairs (IGA), a nonprofit research and public education organization focused on geopolitics and founded by Ian Bremmer, today announced the selection of ten elected officials for its 2026 International Democracy Fellowship.

The International Democracy Fellowship brings together elected leaders with fewer than ten years of experience from around the world who are responding in innovative, practical ways to democratic challenges within their own political realities. Rather than promoting a single model of democracy, the program examines how democratic practice functions within each country’s specific political environment — including how elected leaders operate at the local or national level, how systems of checks and balances function in practice, how disinformation affects public trust, and how public institutions respond to new technologies.

“We are proud to welcome this group of leaders,” said Rudina Hajdari, Acting Program Director. “Through this fellowship, we are exploring innovative ways to elevate locally grounded solutions and draw on the expertise and knowledge of elected officials across five continents. The goal is practical collaboration — sharing what works and what does not — so leaders can strengthen their effectiveness within their own political environments through peer-led, experience-based exchange. The urgency of today’s challenges requires leaders who are willing to engage seriously in this kind of practical collaboration to improve democratic practice within their respective countries.”

Meet the 2026 Fellows
The 2026 Fellowship cohort includes a distinguished group of elected officials representing multiple regions and levels of government:

• Sahar Albazar — Member of Parliament, Egypt
• Bilal Bilici — Member of Parliament, Turkey
• Sebastian Burduja — Member of Parliament, Romania
• Sam Cho — Port Commissioner, United States
• Janusz Cieszński — Member of Parliament, Poland
• Khatia Dekanoidze — Former Member of Parliament, Georgia
• Manuel Morales Díaz — Member of Parliament, Costa Rica
• Ernest Imamović — Mayor, Bosnia and Herzegovina
• Meekail Naseem — Member of Parliament, Maldives
• Thokozani Tembo — Deputy Minister / Member of Parliament, Malawi

Meet the Jurors
The fellowship selection committee, composed of globally recognized practitioners and experts in political leadership and democratic governance, evaluated applications and selected the final cohort. Jurors include:

• Ilker Barburoglu — Founder & CEO, MedTrade Energy & Commodities
• Obiageli Ezekwesili — President, Human Capital Africa
• Jonah Fisher — Senior Director, Atlantic Council
• Beatriz Merino — Former Prime Minister of Peru
• Jonathan Moore — Former U.S. Ambassador & Head of Mission, OSCE
• Christopher Schroeder — Chairperson, German Marshall Fund
• Akira Tsuchiya — President & CEO, The Global Institute

The jury’s expertise — spanning international governance, civic innovation, institutional reform, and leadership development — helped identify leaders whose work advances democratic practice in diverse political environments.

The 2026 International Democracy Fellowship runs for six months from February through July 2026, featuring structured virtual sessions designed to spotlight each fellow’s work and facilitate deep exchange across political systems and regions.

“At a time when democratic institutions are being tested around the world, the need for principled, courageous leadership has never been greater,” Hajdari added. “The urgency of this moment demands leaders who are willing to do that work together.”

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For media inquiries, please contact:

Rudina Hajdari
Acting Program Director
hajdari@instituteforglobalaffairs.org