Atlantic Dialogues Emerging Leaders Programme 2026

What this is

ADEL is the young-leaders programme attached to Atlantic Dialogues, the annual policy conference run by the Policy Center for the New South in Rabat. Selected participants take part in a dedicated week of seminars and workshops, and are then embedded in the main conference alongside ministers, diplomats and academics.

The pairing is the point: the programme is designed so participants meet the conference audience rather than running in parallel to it.

Who it is for

Professionals aged 25 to 35 as of 6 December 2026, who are citizens or residents of Africa, North America, South America, Central America, Europe or the Caribbean — the Atlantic basin, broadly defined.

English proficiency is required, and you must be available for the full week.

What is covered

Round-trip economy airfare, hotel accommodation, meals and local transport for both the programme and the conference.

What to weigh

The programme runs 6-12 December, which sits awkwardly against end-of-year work commitments for many people. The selection process assumes full attendance.

Applying

Applications close 25 June 2026, over five months before the programme begins — an unusually long lead time, and a sign of how structured the selection is. Apply through the Policy Center for the New South using the official link.

Why the conference pairing matters

Plenty of programmes describe themselves as running "alongside" a major conference. ADEL genuinely embeds its participants in Atlantic Dialogues rather than running a parallel track — the seminars are built to prepare people for the conference, and participants are in the room for it.

For anyone working in policy, that room is the reason to apply.

The age rule is precise

25 to 35 as of 6 December 2026 — assessed on the programme's opening date, not the application deadline. If you turn 36 between June and December 2026, read the rule carefully before investing time in an application.

Eligible applicants are citizens or residents of Africa, the Americas, Europe or the Caribbean. Residency counts as well as citizenship, which widens this more than people assume.

What is covered, and what to plan for

Round-trip economy airfare, hotel accommodation, meals and local transport across both the programme and the conference — a fuller package than most.

Morocco requires visas from some nationalities and not others; check your own position early, since selected participants need time to assemble an invitation letter and appointment.

Timing

The programme runs 6-12 December 2026 and applications close 25 June — more than five months ahead. That lead time reflects a structured selection process rather than administrative caution, so expect the application itself to ask for substance.