The Mandela Washington Fellowship is poised to welcome an impressive cohort of up to 700 young leaders to the United States in the summer of 2025. This prestigious program, which is part of the Young African Leaders Initiative (YALI), is designed to provide an extensive executive-style educational experience that focuses on developing the skills and capabilities of emerging leaders from across Africa. Through a combination of academic coursework, hands-on training, and networking opportunities, the Fellowship aims to equip participants with the tools they need to excel in their respective fields, whether in business, civic engagement, or public service.
The program not only emphasizes leadership development but also fosters a spirit of collaboration and innovation among the Fellows, encouraging them to share their diverse perspectives and experiences. In addition to the rigorous training and educational components, the Mandela Washington Fellowship offers participants the chance to engage with American leaders, organizations, and communities, thereby broadening their understanding of effective leadership practices and strategies. This exposure is invaluable as it allows Fellows to gain insights into different approaches to problem-solving and community development.
Requirements for YALI Mandela Washington Fellowship Qualification
The Mandela Washington Fellowship does not discriminate against applicants because of race, ethnicity, color, national origin, sex, age, religion, geographic location, education, income, socio-economic status, ability, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other protected characteristic as established by U.S. law. The Fellowship is committed to fairness, equity, inclusion, and accessibility.
The Mandela Washington Fellowship is open to young African leaders who meet the following criteria:
- Are between the ages of 25 and 35 as of the application deadline (September 10, 2024), although exceptional applicants ages 21-24 may be considered;
- Are not U.S. citizens or permanent residents of the United States;
- Are eligible to receive a United States J-1 visa;
- Are not employees or immediate family members (spouses, parents, children, or siblings) of employees of the U.S. Government (including a U.S. embassy or consulate, USAID, or other U.S. Government entity);
- Are proficient in reading, writing, and speaking English (additional guidance coming for applicants who are deaf);
- Are citizens of one of the following countries: Angola, Benin, Botswana, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cameroon, Cabo Verde, Central African Republic, Chad, Comoros, Republic of the Congo, Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), Cote d’Ivoire, Djibouti, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Eswatini, Ethiopia, Gabon, The Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Kenya, Lesotho, Liberia, Madagascar, Malawi, Mali, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mozambique, Namibia, Niger, Nigeria, Rwanda, Sao Tome and Principe, Senegal, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Somalia, South Africa, South Sudan, Sudan, Tanzania, Togo, Uganda, Zambia, or Zimbabwe;
- Are residents of one of the above countries and will be permanently residing there as of May 1, 2025 and at the beginning of the Fellowship in June 2025; and
- Are not Alumni or prior participants of the Mandela Washington Fellowship.
Please note that Fellows are not allowed to have dependents, including spouses and children, accompany them during the Fellowship.
Application Deadline
September 10, 2024
How to Apply
- To apply, visit the page to Submit your application
- if you are interested and qualified. For additional information, check out the official link
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