Call for applications for the Global Leadership Program 2026 by Aga Khan Foundation Canada is open now !!!
In a complex world where global forces are affecting our quality of life, where interconnectedness is the norm, and challenges require collective action, leadership requires a global perspective. The Global Leadership Program is a new initiative of AKFC designed to equip Canadian professionals with the intellectual insight and practical ingenuity to navigate and shape our world.
This program brings together a diverse cohort of mid-career Canadian professionals from across sectors to explore the forces shaping our societies and connect with others committed to a more peaceful, prosperous, and pluralist world for all. Through collaboration and shared learning, participants explore global and local challenges and consider Canada’s role, and their own, in addressing them.
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This program features a combination of self-paced online resources, virtual learning and engagement sessions, and an immersive, five-day in-person residency in Ottawa.
Learn through dynamic pedagogical approaches led by global thought leaders and practitioners. The program brings together global experts to share knowledge and guide discussions about core aspects of global leadership while inviting participants to apply a global lens to their own context, mandate, and leadership practice.
Join a diverse network of global leaders to exchange, collaborate, and reflect. This program creates opportunities to exchange, collaborate, and reflect on new ideas, as well as build connections related to global leadership. Participants are encouraged to break down silos, learn from others’ different experiences, and, in turn, share their own experiences and perspectives to shape the conversations.
Cultivate their global mindset, explore the forces shaping our world, and strengthen a practical skillset to lead in a time of complexity. Participants will leave the program equipped to approach complexities in our interconnected world not with a sense of despair but with a sense of agency and hope. They will be able to think critically about how global issues impact their work and consider what they can do to address these issues in their roles as Canadian leaders.
Being a part of this program doesn’t end with online and formal in-person learning — it opens a lifetime of opportunities, connections, and growth!
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AKFC’s Global Leadership Program provides a dynamic, interdisciplinary exploration of the forces that are affecting the quality of life of people around the globe. It is a unique opportunity for Canadian leaders to examine the complex connections between global and local challenges and mobilize their ethical imagination, intellectual insight, and practical ingenuity to forge a path toward a better future for all.
The program explores the social, economic, political, cultural, and environmental dimensions of sustainable development, considering questions of effective and ethical policies and practices, the factors that influence aid priorities, and the barriers to alleviating poverty and gender inequality, and improving quality of life at home and abroad.
Climate change serves as a lens for exploring fundamental shifts in global politics and how Canada is impacted by and responds to them within global institutions and systems. The program addresses economic transformation and the impact of the Fourth Industrial Revolution on the future of work, the future of populations, and the future of the planet. Participants explore these interconnected themes both through a theoretical lens and by engaging in collaborative, real-world problem-solving with peers and faculty.
Central to the program is an active engagement with pluralism — embracing diversity, fostering social cohesion, and building inclusive communities. To fulfill this commitment, the program integrates reflection, accountability, and context-specific strategies, which include activities focused on advancing gender equality and truth and reconciliation with Indigenous peoples in Canada.
Location:
CanadaBenefits
- Enhanced clarity of leadership purpose
- Stronger understanding of global systems
- Expanded professional networks
- Increased confidence in leading complex initiatives
- Long-term commitment to social impact and collaboration.
Eligibilities
- Be a citizen or permanent resident of Canada.
- Be fluent in English.
- Be available to travel to and attend the in-person residential program in Ottawa between November 1 and 6, 2026. (The program fully covers the cost of travel from anywhere in Canada, accommodation, and meals during the residency.)
- Demonstrate a clear desire to learn from others and to contribute to meaningful dialogue.
- Be committed to joining virtual group coaching sessions before and after the in-person residency.
- Be committed to staying engaged as an alum — continuing to learn, collaborate, and contribute to a growing network of global leaders that are committed to a more peaceful, prosperous, and pluralist world for all.
Please note: If you are selected, a nominal fee of $100 CAD will be expected to secure your spot in the program. AKFC is committed to ensuring that this program is accessible to participants regardless of financial status. If you are selected and this fee is a barrier, please notify AKFC so that they can accommodate this.
Eligible Regions: Open for all Canadian professionals.Application Process
- AKFC is using Submittable to collect applications to the Global Leadership Program. The data that you submit will be used to assess your eligibility and suitability for the program.
- To submit an application, you will need to create a Submittable account. All you need is an email and a password to create your account; it’s that simple. For further instructions, visit the following help center article.
- We value the authenticity and individuality of each application. To ensure a fair assessment process, we request that you complete your application form without using any external assistance, including AI tools.
- Supported internet browsers include: Google Chrome, Apple Safari, & Mozilla Firefox.
- If you have any technical issues, don’t hesitate to get in touch with them.
Timeline:
- Applications close: May 19, 2026
- Interview period: June-July, 2026
- Decisions distributed: by July 31, 2026
- Pre-residential program virtual engagement: September – October, 2026
- Ottawa in-person residential program: November 1 – 6, 2026
- Post-residential program virtual learning sessions: ongoing
Application Deadline: May 20, 2026 (22 Days Remaining)
Apply nowOfficial link
