FAQs for Accepted Participants

Am I eligible to participate in the program?
The Leadership Program is not open for application. Acceptance into the Leadership Program is by nomination only from one of the Bloomberg Partner Organizations (Campaign for Tobacco Free Kids, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Foundation, International Union Against Tuberculosis and Lung Disease, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health World Health Organization-Tobacco Free Initiative, and World Lung Foundation). You are welcome to request nomination from one of the organizations for the 2013 Leadership Program during the nomination period in the Fall.

Who can BI Partner Organizations nominate to participate in the program?
BI Partner Organizations nominate individuals from low- and middle-income countries with consideration of the following:

• Nominate participants from among the group of talented tobacco control professionals that serve as grantees in priority countries, as well as other emerging leaders in tobacco control program implementation and advocacy in these countries.
  • We rely on our partners to consult with relevant government and non-government organizations to ensure that they have the opportunity to nominate individuals for the program.
• Nominate participants from among the low and middle-income countries (LMICs) with active grants.  These participants can include representatives from grantee organizations, as well as other emerging leaders and important stakeholders that are working in non-grantee organizations.
• Nominate participants within government and non-government organizations in other low and middle-income countries (LMICs) beyond those with active grants.

What are the selection criteria for choosing applicants from the pool of nominees?
In selecting the 110 invited participants, a selection committee comprised of JHU Staff and Faculty, in consultation with Bloomberg Philanthropies, considers all of the following:

• Achieving a geographic balance among BI priority countries, with consideration given to countries that have not been well represented in the previous years of the program
• Within BI priority countries, achieving a balance among represented organizations considering that there may be multiple nominations from some organizations
• The qualifications, experience, and likely influence of the applicants based on the information provided in the nomination forms
• Consideration of participants from among the low and middle-income countries (LMICs) with active grants
• Achieving a balance among BI partners’ nominations

In selecting the nominees from the waitlist if spots become available, a selection committee comprised of JHU Staff and Faculty, in consultation with Bloomberg Philanthropies, considers all of the selection criteria listed above, as well as considering the vacancy created by the individual who was unable to attend the program.

How many people are typically nominated and selected from each BI Priority Country?
The number of nominees for the program is typically around 150-200 nominees for 100 available spots.  The number of nominees for each BI priority country depends on the country size, as well as partner activity in the country.  For example, India and China on average have the most nominees and the most individuals selected due to population size, as well as the magnitude of the tobacco use epidemic in these countries.  The selection committee considers the criteria listed above when making their decisions and does not have any specific quota for the number of individuals selected from each country.

I have missed one of the deadlines for submitting nomination, application or visa forms. Am I able to submit a late form and/or participate in the program?
We encourage you to submit all forms ahead of the deadline to ensure that you meet all program requirements.  The program experiences a high demand; therefore, we ask all nominators, and selected applicants to respect the program deadlines.

If I already have a valid USA visa, do I still need to apply for a J-1 visa?
The US Department of State, as well as the Johns Hopkins University and Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health (JHSPH) requires that every international visiting scholar who is being funded by a US source must apply for a J-1 Exchange visitor visa. However, if you have a United States visa (e.g. B1/B2; G-4) that will remain current until July 1, 2013, please include a photocopy of the visa with this application packet.  Charnita James will inform you if your current visa meets Johns Hopkins University and US Department of State requirements to attend the Leadership Program.  If it does not, you will need to apply for a JI visa.

If I have been nominated or selected and am unable to participate, can I nominate a colleague to attend in my place?
No – please note that you should obtain the necessary permissions to attend from supervisors or other entities prior to submitting your application to attend the Program.  If you are unable to attend, the selection committee will select a nominee from the waitlist.

Why is the Leadership Program an English-only program?
Although we would like to be able to offer the program in multiple languages, we are unable to cater to every language represented in the program.  In order to facilitate cross-country participation in exercises and group discussions, we require that participants in the Leadership program are fluent in English.