Latin America Leadership Program

Georgetown University’s Innovation and Leadership in Government (ILG) is an annual professional development (non-degree) executive education program organized by Georgetown University's Latin America Leadership Program (LALP) to promote responsible and ethical public leadership and innovation across Latin America and the Caribbean. 

Program Objectives

• • Foundations: ​Strengthen foundational principles of governance and analyze emerging challenges and issues to develop new frameworks for addressing policy issues.
  
• • Innovation in Policy Development: Provide tools for the elaboration and evaluation of viable public policies and social initiatives with high impact for society.
  
• • Diverse Perspectives: Analyze best practices and innovation in the implementation of public policies, understand and appreciate regional diversity, and foster international networks that promote the inclusion of all sectors of society.
  
• • Personal Leadership Development: Fortify leadership skills on an individual level to promote positive change within governments, multilateral institutions, and non-governmental organizations that, in turn, create a positive impact in society.
  

Requirements

• • Currently working in one of the following contexts:
• 1. A local, state, or federal public or government entity (executive, legislative, and judiciary branches); or
  2. Multilateral/international cooperation institution; or
  3. Social/non-governmental organizations.
  
• • Current work/past work experience positively impacts the Latin American region or the Caribbean.
  
• • Five or more years of experience working in public, multilateral, or social initiatives in Latin America or the Caribbean.
• • Speak and understand Spanish fluently.
• • Currently living in a Latin American or Caribbean country. Non-residents may apply if their current job impacts the region. Before applying, please email lalp@georgetown.edu to explain your case and confirm that you may apply.

Program Costs and Available Scholarships

• The ILG program is valued at USD$10,000. LALP offers scholarships of 50% and 75% of the total cost to admitted participants with demonstrated financial need.
  
• The program fee covers: 
• •Registration fee and program tuition
• •Academic materials
• •Continuous support throughout the program
• •Shared Housing (two people per room) during the in-person component only (meals not included) 
  
• •Local transportation to program activities in Washington DC
• •Meals during the in-person program when activities are held on campus  (all other meals are not included).
• •Basic emergency medical insurance for the in-person component.
• •Certification of program participation issued by LALP (non-degree certificate)
  
• •(*) All other expenses not included in this program, such as airfare and other travel/stay incidentals, are the responsibility of the participant.

FAQs​

• ​What is the profile of the ILG program participant?
• ILG is designed for government managers from the different branches (executive, legislative, and judicial), public sector officials at the local, regional, national, or federal level, and representatives from multilateral and international cooperation organizations with at least 5 years of experience in areas related to the design, implementation and/or evaluation of public policies or initiatives in Latin America. Likewise, people with extensive experience in the civil society sector of the region who lead social projects with government institutions can apply. Participants must be able to communicate in Spanish.
• Are there age requirements for the ILG program?
• There is no age minimum or maximum for this program, as the selection committee will focus on the applicant's level of experience and merits.
• What is the deadline to apply for the ILG program?
• The call for applications for ILG 2025 runs from April 21 through June 23, 2025.  You can apply during the application period at https://georgetown-ilg.smapply.io/
• In what language must I submit my documents?
• Your application and essays can be submitted in English or Spanish. Additional documents, such as your CV, certification of employment, and letters of recommendation, may also be submitted in English or Spanish.
• When will I know if I was accepted into the ILG program?
• ILG 2025 selected applicants will be notified of their admission no later than July 25, 2025. Please know that selection is highly rigorous and depends on each year´s application pool, so LALP encourages all applicants who were not accepted one year to apply for future editions. If selected, applicants have only 7 days to confirm their acceptance and pay a non-refundable deposit of USD $250.
  
• What is the duration of the ILG program?
• ILG 2025 will be held from September 15 through October 24, 2025, in a hybrid format. The first four weeks, September 15to October 10, will be held in a virtual format, three mornings a week (generally Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays). Admitted participants will have one week to review content and work on their public policy or social projects with their mentors and prepare for the in-person component at Georgetown University. The program will culminate in a final face-to-face full-time immersive week in Washington from October 20 to 24, 2025 (Monday-Friday, 9 am to 5:30 pm).
  
• Do I need to speak English or Spanish to participate?
• The ILG program is carried out almost entirely in Spanish. Depending on the cohort and the availability of professors, some classes may, at times, be taught in English, with simultaneous translation from English to Spanish as required. Prospective participants will be asked to describe their level of English proficiency during the application process, but English skills have no bearing on the admissions process, as the only language requirement for the program is that participants must speak Spanish fluently.

• What if I cannot attend all program classes and activities?

• Attendance at all program classes and activities, regardless of instructional format, is mandatory. We understand that extraordinary circumstances may require a participant to miss one or more classes/activities. In these special cases, participants are required to email lalp@georgetown.edu well ahead of time to let the LALP team know about an absence. More than three absences may result in the participant reimbursing the Latin America Leadership Program the total amount of the scholarship received, and not being able to graduate with their class.

• • What type of visa will I need to participate in the in-person program?

• For those participants that require a visa to travel to the States, they must apply for a B1/B2 visitor visa at the embassy or consulate of the United States of his/her country. The visitor visa contains two designations—B1/B2—and lasts 90 days, which covers the time spent in the United States for the ILG program. All participants must ensure they abide by these timelines when coordinating their arrival and departure flights. Once accepted, participants will receive more information.

• Please note that due to the pandemic, US Embassies overseas may experience visa processing delays, so if you need a B1/B2 tourist visa to travel to the United States, we encourage you to make an appointment ASAP at your nearest US Embassy so, if you are selected, you may be able to travel and arrive on time for the start of the program.

• What are the check-in and check-out dates for the in-person component?

• The program facilitates shared housing for the in-person weeks (two participants per room). Selected candidates will receive further accommodations details before the program starts. The hotel check-in and check-out days for the in-person ILG 2025 program are October 18 and October 25, 2025, respectively. 
  

• I have an additional question not listed on the FAQ page.

• If your question is not listed, please send them to lalp@georgetown.edu.