Rule of Law, Transparency and Technology Leadership Programme 2026-27
Programme Overview
How can leaders harness technology to strengthen the rule of law, enhance transparency and build public trust?
As digital technologies transform public administration, justice systems and public services, leaders face new opportunities and challenges. Artificial intelligence, digital governance, open data and emerging technologies have the potential to improve efficiency, accountability and access to justice. At the same time, they raise important questions around judicial independence, anti-corruption, data governance, cybersecurity, ethics and democratic oversight.
The JST‘s Rule of Law, Transparency and Technology Leadership Programme will bring together emerging leaders from Eastern Europe, the South Caucasus and Central Asia to explore how technological innovation can strengthen governance, support the rule of law and enhance institutional transparency. Through dialogue with UK experts, peer learning and leadership development, participants will enrich their approaches to governing technology in ways that uphold the rules-based order and strengthen public trust.
Designed as a hybrid leadership programme, it combines online learning, an intensive residential programme in the UK and continued project development. Throughout the programme, Fellows will work on real-world reform projects, applying their learning directly to their professional practice and contributing to stronger, more transparent and resilient institutions in their home countries. At the end of the programme, Fellows will join the JST’s wider community and be eligible for lifelong participation in supportive and collaborative network activities.
Who should apply?
Applicants should:
- be citizens of Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Moldova, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Ukraine, and Uzbekistan, and be living and working in their country of citizenship at the time of application;
- be 25–35 years old;
- demonstrate emerging leadership potential and a commitment to public service;
- have professional experience in areas related to the rule of law, justice, transparency, governance or digital transformation;
- be committed to strengthening open institutions, the rule of law and accountable governance in their society;
- be able to participate fully in all phases of the programme;
- be leading, or have the opportunity to influence, a professional project aligned with the programme themes that they wish to develop throughout the programme.
As part of the application, candidates must submit a professional project that they are currently leading—or have the opportunity to advance—within their organisation or wider professional context. The project should relate to one or more of the programme themes and demonstrate how the applicant intends to strengthen the rule of law, transparency, accountability or the responsible use of technology in public governance. Throughout the programme, Fellows will develop their projects with support from UK experts, peers and the JST network.
The programme welcomes applications from professionals working in:
- Justice institutions and the judiciary
- Ministries of Justice and public administration
- Anti-corruption agencies and oversight bodies
- Digital transformation and e-government institutions
- National and local government
- Parliaments
- Ombuds institutions
- Civil society organisations
- Independent media and investigative journalism
- Public policy and governance think tanks
Programme Themes
Fellows will explore topics such as:
- Rule of law and democratic governance in the digital age
- Judicial reform and institutional independence
- Transparency, accountability and anti-corruption
- Digital government and public sector innovation
- Artificial intelligence and public decision-making
- Data governance, privacy and digital rights
- Cyber resilience and institutional security
- Ethical leadership and leading institutional change
Programme Journey
The programme combines leadership development, expert learning and practical project work over one year, followed by a twelve-month impact review.
Programme Orientation and Preparation (December 2026 – February 2027*)
Participants begin the Fellowship with a series of interactive online workshops, expert discussions, and peer-learning sessions designed to build relationships across the cohort, develop a shared understanding of the programme themes, and prepare for the UK residential.
Each Fellow will present a professional project related to the programme themes that they are leading— or wish to advance—within their organisation or wider professional context. These projects will form the foundation for learning, coaching, collaboration, and peer feedback throughout the Fellowship.
UK Residential Programme (26 February – 5 March 2027*, UK)
Fellows will come together for a week-long residential programme in the UK, featuring leadership development workshops, expert seminars, study visits, policy discussions and collaborative project sessions.
The leadership development programme will enable Fellows to explore their own leadership styles and values while strengthening the personal and professional skills needed to lead change with confidence, integrity, and resilience.
Throughout the residential, Fellows will engage with UK practitioners and institutions to explore the challenges and opportunities of strengthening the rule of law, transparency, and democratic governance. Through visits to the UK Parliament, meetings with policymakers and officials from the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO), and discussions with senior politicians, civil servants, leading experts, and grassroots activists, participants will gain insight into how UK institutions and civil society address these issues in practice. Alongside exploring international approaches and shared challenges, Fellows will further develop their own projects, drawing on the knowledge, networks, and perspectives gained during the programme.
Online Project Development and Network Engagement (April – September 2027*)
Following the residential, Fellows will continue their leadership journey through a programme of one- on-one coaching, group coaching, thematic seminars, country-focused discussions, networking events, and peer exchanges. These sessions will support participants in implementing and refining their projects while strengthening their leadership practice and expanding their professional networks.
Expert-led conversations will explore topics including the rule of law, technology, innovation, ethics, and other issues shaped by the interests, challenges, and expertise of the cohort. Throughout this phase, Fellows will continue learning from one another, sharing progress, and applying insights from the Fellowship within their own organisations and communities.
Projects and Impact
A practical work project is at the heart of the programme. Throughout the learning journey, Fellows will refine their projects with support from peers, facilitators and subject experts, strengthening their potential impact within their institutions and communities.
Twelve months after completing the programme, Fellows will report on the progress of their projects to JST and peers, reflecting on achievements, challenges and the impact of the programme on their leadership and professional practice.
What participants will gain
By the end of the programme, Fellows will:
- deepen their understanding of the relationship between technology, transparency and the rule of law;
- strengthen their leadership skills to drive institutional change;
- gain practical insights from UK and regional experience in governance reform and digital innovation;
- advance a professional project with tangible institutional impact;
- join the JST’s international network of leaders committed to democratic governance and public service.
Why this programme?
Technological change is reshaping how governments govern, deliver public services and uphold democratic values. Ensuring that innovation strengthens the rule of law, promotes transparency and reinforces public trust is becoming one of the defining leadership challenges of our time.
The Rule of Law, Transparency and Technology Leadership Programme equips emerging leaders with the knowledge, skills and networks to navigate this changing landscape. By combining leadership development with practical project work and cross-regional peer learning, the programme supports a new generation of leaders committed to building effective, transparent and resilient public institutions.
Applications for this programme will open in August. Click here to register your interest.
* All dates are subject to change