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Young Kashmiri Lawyer Umar Masoodi Selected for Prestigious Azm Global Leaders Fellowship 2026

Srinagar, June 4: Umar Masoodi, a young lawyer from Kashmir has been selected for the inaugural cohort of the prestigious Azm Global Leaders Fellowship (AGL) 2026, a highly competitive international leadership programme bringing together emerging changemakers from across the world.

The selection process witnessed participation from more than 2,000 applicants worldwide. Following a rigorous global evaluation process, Masoodi was selected among only 22 fellows, placing him within the top 2 percent of applicants internationally. The fellowship seeks to identify and develop young leaders demonstrating exceptional potential for social impact, ethical leadership, and community engagement.

The Azm Global Leaders Fellowship is a two-year leadership development programme running from July 2026 to July 2028. It combines intensive learning, global collaboration, mentorship, and applied leadership training. Fellows participate in monthly live sessions, weekly learning engagements, and international leadership summits designed to strengthen strategic thinking, moral leadership, and institution-building capacities.

As part of the fellowship, participants will attend three international summits, with the first scheduled to be held in Malaysia in July 2026. The programme provides substantial support to fellows, including international travel, accommodation, learning-related expenses, and a leadership stipend of USD 10,000 over the fellowship period.

The fellowship brings together a diverse network of young leaders from different countries, backgrounds, and professional disciplines who share a commitment to creating meaningful and lasting impact in their communities. Through immersive learning experiences, mentorship, and global dialogue, fellows are expected to develop the skills and networks necessary to contribute to positive social change at local and international levels.

Masoodi has previously been associated with several national and international academic and leadership initiatives. He has been an alum of the Lucerne Academy for Human Rights Implementation- Switzerland (2024), Norwegian Centre for Human Rights - Norway (2025) among several others.