In an effort to support Haiti's ongoing democratic efforts, a new scholarship has been established at the Kennedy School of Government for midcareer public-sector professionals in Haiti. Funded for three years by Haiti's Fondation SOGEBANK, a commercial bank, the scholarship will allow one Haitian professional each year to attend the Kennedy School as an Edward S. Mason Fellow.

"As one of the poorest countries in the Western Hemisphere, Haiti has been burdened with a political history of oppressive dictatorships and instability. Haiti desperately needs enlightened public policies and effective implementation." said Dean Joseph S. Nye Jr. "The SOGEBANK Fellowship for Haiti will help develop a corps of well-trained professional public leaders."

"The Fellows from Haiti working in such public-sector jobs as government, journalism, and nongovernmental organizations will study with faculty who have worked within the realities of nations in economic transition," said Carol Grodzins, director of the Edward S. Mason Program. "They will return to Haiti to help establish strong and innovative leadership and well established institutions of civil society."

Founded in 1957, the Edward S. Mason program is jointly administered by the Kennedy School of Government and the Harvard Institute for International Development. The program has prepared public-sector leaders from Asia, Africa, Latin America, the Middle East, and the former Soviet Union for significant contributions to their countries' economic and political growth. Mason Fellow alumni include the president of Costa Rica, five of his cabinet members, the former minister of Justice of Colombia, and the vice president of Peru. Fellows receive a Master of Public Administration from the Kennedy School.

Initiated by former Mason Fellow and chief economist of SOGEBANK, Pierre-Marie Boisson, the fellowship's goal is to help Haiti's current and future leaders address the economic, education, public health, and legal system challenges facing the country.