Mandela Washington Fellowship for Young African Leaders

The Mandela Washington Fellowship for Young African Leaders (2027 Cohort) (hosted by the U.S. Department of State and IREX at mandelawashingtonfellowship.org/apply/) is the flagship program of the Young African Leaders Initiative (YALI).

It provides ~550 young African leaders with a fully funded 6-week Leadership Institute at a top U.S. university in one of three tracks: Business, Civic Leadership, or Public Management, followed by an optional U.S. Professional Development Experience (PDE).

• Direct Award Type: 100% Fully Funded Executive Fellowship (0% equity taken; no tuition, fees, or debt).

• Comprehensive Benefits Included:

  • Round-trip airfare to/from the United States and all internal program travel.

  • Full housing, meals, and living stipends for the 6-week duration.

  • J-1 visa processing and pre-departure orientation support.

  • Post-fellowship access to reciprocal exchange grants, seed funding opportunities, and the global YALI Alumni Network.

1. Business Track: Tailored for entrepreneurs, tech founders, social innovators, and agribusiness leaders scaling commercial ventures.

2. Civic Leadership Track: Designed for leaders in non-profits, community organizations, human rights, climate advocacy, and social impact.

3. Public Management Track: Focused on emerging leaders in public policy, government agencies, international development, and civic administration.

To qualify for the 2027 cohort cycle, applicants must meet the following parameters:

1. Age Band: Must be between 25 and 35 years old by the application deadline (exceptional candidates aged 21–24 may also be considered).

2. Citizenship & Residency: Must be a citizen and permanent resident of a Sub-Saharan African country (including Nigeria, Ghana, Kenya, Tanzania, South Africa, etc.).

3. Language: Must demonstrate proficiency in reading, writing, and speaking English.

4. Exclusions: U.S. citizens, green card holders, current U.S. government employees, and past Mandela Washington Fellowship alumni are ineligible.