V International competition

The competition brings together community leaders and NGO representatives from around the world and is based on a strong, long-standing history

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Project history

In 2015

The international competition “Leader of Public Diplomacy” brings together public leaders and NGO representatives from around the world and is based on a strong, long-standing history. The project was launched in 2015 by the Assembly of the Peoples of Russia as an All-Russian competition for leaders of non-profit organizations and public associations in the field of state national policy and quickly became a popular platform for leaders in the ethnocultural and public sphere.

In 2021

The key stage of development was 2021, when the VII All-Russian Competition was held for the first time with international participation. Representatives from 11 regions of Russia and 5 foreign countries took part in the finals, and 15 people became winners in 5 categories. In December 2021, at the All-Russian Forum of National Unity, it was decided to transform the project into the International Competition “Leader of Public Diplomacy”.

In 2022

196 representatives from 23 countries and 34 regions of Russia took part in the 1st International Competition.

In 2023

The competition brought together 146 participants from 19 countries and 24 Russian regions.

In 2024

The geography of the project has expanded to 34 countries, covering Eurasia, Africa, North and South America. In just three years of the international format, the competition has supported people's diplomats from 47 countries.

In 2025

The year marked a new stage in the development of the competition model. The competition received more than 150 applications from 42 countries. Participants completed an educational track, during which the competition committee evaluated project defenses, essays, and test assignments. A key feature of the year was the introduction of a mentoring system: for the first time, laureates of past years from different countries acted as mentors, along with members of the International Organizing Committee. They accompanied the contestants, helped refine projects and reveal their potential. This interaction turned out to be especially effective during the game stage of the finals, where the participants, united in teams, created virtual cities of the future and mastered practical tools of public diplomacy. Within the framework of the World Public Assembly, project mentors represented 10 countries: Belarus, Germany, Spain, Pakistan, Portugal, Transnistria, Russia, Tunisia, Finland and France.

In 2026

The competition is being held for the fifth time and includes 15 country stages, 5 regional stages and one international final. The 30 strongest participants reach the finals, the competition is conducted in five official languages - Russian, English, Spanish, French, Arabic, and the award ceremony is traditionally dedicated to the International Day of Peace - September 21, emphasizing the international and peacekeeping mission of the project.

Partners

FAQ

The format and sample of letters of recommendation and letters of support are not specified in the Regulations. An organization that supports a contestant and recommends him as a participant provides him with letters in the form established by the organization.

Yes, the competitor can provide a link to the video that was posted on the Internet before the competition was announced. The video must illustrate the activities of the competitor in the area of the competition chosen or proposed by him. The video can also be recorded on a phone and uploaded to the website during the application window.

The package of documents must be prepared and uploaded at once. If you are not sure about the completeness of the document upload, or there is a need to send something, you can write us a letter through the feedback form on the website.

The official languages of the Competition are English, Arabic, Spanish, Russian, French.Therefore, the application can be submitted in one of the official languages. Support letters and questions regarding the competition rules can also be submitted in any of the competition languages.

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