The objective of inclusive growth requires among other factors, a body of enlightened individuals who are responsible leaders sensitive to the needs and dynamics of equitable development. Despite a large pool of talent among graduate youth, one of the biggest challenges for the development sector in India is to attract and develop talented individuals who can strengthen the efforts and impact of organisations working for development.

CSO Partners helped design and launch the ICICI Fellowship programme, a high-profile leadership programme to attract India's top emerging talent, equip them with intensive and relevant training and deploy them in management capacity in credible civil society organisations (CSOs).

The ICICI Fellowship Programme comprise primarily of the following three components:

• Development Apprenticeship: Being placed with the participating NGO the Fellow will gain experience on programme development, and planning and implementation at the community and organisation level.
• Management Training and Corporate Exposure: This is aimed at equipping the Fellows with relevant management knowledge and industry best practices.
• Personal Development & Mentoring: Ongoing leadership mentoring to be provided by a senior professional drawn from industry.

The Leadership Programme has been designed along with IFMR Trust and iVolunteer to be beneficial to both the CSOs and the Fellows.

Benefits to CSOs

• Ongoing placement of Fellows with the same NGOs throughout the programme anticipated, to add systemic strength to their capacity to deliver development programmes.
• Potential set of brand ambassadors in the form of past Fellows.

Benefits to Fellows

• Opportunity to be a part of a high profile leadership programme aimed at nation building.
• Become equipped as a leader sensitive to social issues, in developing a career in both the development and corporate sectors .
• Successful Fellows will form an elite group of youth leaders forging a lifelong bond with their peers.

While the lead manager of ICICI Fellows (an initiative of ICICI Foundation)) is iVolunteer, IFMR Trust is responsible for design and delivery of all trainings related to Fellow development.