Your application claims certain strengths. Your referees should be people who witnessed those strengths in named settings—not simply the most senior name in your network.
Share with each referee a short brief: the programme or funder’s criteria language, two or three episodes you hope they can confirm, and the deadline. Do not script the letter; do give them anchors.
If your statement emphasises field supervision in rural clinics and your referee only knows your desk research, the packet pulls in two directions. Either adjust the claim or choose a different referee for that criterion.
For Japan-based applications that request sealed letters or institutional letterhead, confirm logistics early. A late referee is a submission risk equal to an unfinished statement.
During an evidence map session we often ask: for each major claim, who outside your household could verify it? If the answer is empty, the claim needs softer wording or better documentation.
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