The U.S. Department of State and IREX are seeking academic, professional, and regional experts to read and score applications for the 2025 Mandela Washington Fellowship for Young African Leaders. Over the first nine years of the Fellowship, the program received nearly 434,000 applications from 49 sub-Saharan African countries for 7,200 Fellow slots. Your talents and expertise in helping score our high volume of applications are greatly appreciated
The Mandela Washington Fellowship for Young African Leaders is the flagship program of the Young African Leaders Initiative (YALI). The Fellowship brings young leaders to the United States for academic coursework and leadership training to create unique opportunities for Fellows and U.S. citizens to collaborate, spur economic growth and prosperity, strengthen democratic governance, and enhance peace and security across Africa and the United States. In summer 2025, the Fellowship will bring up to 700 young leaders to the United States for a comprehensive executive-stye program designed to build skills and empower Fellows to lead in their respective sectors and communities.
About Young African Leaders Initiative (YALI)
The Young African Leaders Initiative (YALI) is a signature effort to invest in the next generation of African leaders. The need to invest in grooming strong, results-oriented leaders comes out of the statistics: nearly 1 in 3 Africans are between the ages of 10 and 24, and approximately 60% of Africa’s total population is below the age of 35. Who will empower and lead these young Africans? Who will shape the future of business and entrepreneurship, civic leadership, and public management? In order to answer these questions, YALI promotes three models designed to identify and empower young leaders: the YALI Mandela Washington Fellowship, YALI Network, and now the establishment of Regional Leadership Centers across Africa. What are YALI Regional Leadership Centers? There are four Regional Leadership Centers in Africa (Ghana, Kenya, Senegal, and Southern Africa). These centres will serve as regional hubs across the continent to encourage transformational learning and enhance leadership skills.
Mandela Washington Fellowship
| Application Deadline | 01 Sep 2024 |
| Country to study | United States |
| Type | Fellowship |
| Sponsor | Young African Leaders Initiative (YALI) |
| Gender | Men and Women |
Aim and Benefits of Mandela Washington Fellowship
The Fellowship plans to bring up to 700 young leaders from 49 sub-Saharan African countries to the United States for academic coursework and leadership training and creates unique opportunities for Fellows and U.S. citizens to collaborate as they spur?economic?growth and prosperity, strengthen democratic governance, and enhance peace and security across Africa and the United States.
Requirements for Mandela Washington Fellowship Qualification
Ideal readers are academics and/or professionals with expertise in one or more of the Fellowship’s thematic areas (business, civic engagement, or public management), or who have experience working in Africa or on sub-Saharan African issues. U.S. Government employees and Fellowship Alumni are eligible. Applicants for the 2024 Fellowship are not eligible to be readers.
Interview date, Process and Venue for Mandela Washington Fellowship
Responsibilities and Reading Period
Readers will be responsible for evaluating approximately 50 applications based on set guidelines and a scoring rubric. This is a great volunteer professional development and résumé-building opportunity for professionals or degree-seeking individuals. Readers will gain exposure to challenges and proposed solutions in sub-Saharan Africa and to key processes in international and higher education.
Application Deadline
September 1, 2024
How to Apply
Interested and qualified? Go to Young African Leaders Initiative (YALI) on www.surveygizmo.com to apply
For more details, visit YALI website
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