MASS African Design Centre Fellowship 2025 for African architects and designers (Paid Fellowship in Kigali, Rwanda) – Opportunities For Africans

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Application Deadline:  July 13, 2025

Applications are actually open for the 2025 MASS African Design Centre Fellowship. With assist from the Mellon Foundation and extra funding from the Cravens Foundation, MASS is relaunching the ADC Fellowship, empowering African architects and designers to guide the continent’s urbanization.

The ADC Fellowship is a twelve-month hands-on residency program in Kigali, Rwanda, for nationals of an African nation. This program is designed to foster and incubate future African architects and designers by imparting important instruments, mentorship, and sources. The goal is to empower Fellows to develop culturally grounded and community-driven design options that deal with the continent’s vital infrastructure challenges, whereas concurrently preserving and integrating Africa’s architectural heritage.

The ADC Fellowship seeks rising design leaders with demonstrated dedication to advancing social justice and environmental accountability by way of their work, deeply rooted in African heritage. Ideal candidates search to take part in the motion that may outline how regionally pushed, design-based interventions can ship transformational change particularly in three areas of focus: 

• Maternal & Newborn Health – addresses foundational well being and dignity by way of dignified areas for care, progress, and resilience from delivery onward.
• Expanding Opportunities – expands social and financial alternative by designing areas that domesticate innovation, expertise, and native enterprise.
• Building a Climate-Positive Future – reimagines growth as a catalyst for climate-positive progress—advancing ecological stewardship and neighborhood well-being to make sure that individuals and nature thrive collectively.

The Fellows will: 

• Conduct Research: Undertake culturally rooted design analysis exploring indigenous information methods, vernacular structure, and city patterns.
• Pilot Projects: Engage in community-based design initiatives inside the designated focus areas.
• Disseminate Knowledge: Publish reflective items to share insights gained throughout the Fellowship.

Benefits

• This is a paid fellowship that requires relocation to Kigali, Rwanda, for 12 months.
• In the second 12 months, Fellows obtain ongoing distant mentorship and common check-ins with the MASS workforce.
• They may additionally be eligible for funded assist to pursue impartial analysis initiatives.

Eligibility Criteria:

• Applicants should be nationals of an African nation, 35 years of age or beneath.
• Applicants should be built-environment professionals and maintain a level in structure, city design, panorama, engineering, or a associated area.
• Applicants should have the ability to relocate to Kigali, Rwanda, from September 2025 to August 2026.

Application Process: The application is a three-stage choice course of. 

• Stage 1: Expression of pursuits. Eligible candidates shall be requested to submit resumes/CVs, references, portfolio, and a press release of alignment.
• Stage 2: Shortlisted candidates shall be contacted to submit pre-fellowship essays and affirm availability to totally take part in the Fellowship actions.
• Stage 3: Candidates with profitable essays will take part in interviews. 

Fellowship Timeline: The fellowship is a two-year dedication with required residency and work in Kigali, Rwanda, the primary 12 months. 

• In-Person Fellowship and residency in Kigali, Rwanda: September 2025 – August 2026
• ADC Fellowship Network and Community of Practice: September 2026 – August 2027

Interested candidates ought to full a web-based application. Eligible candidates shall be requested to submit resumes/CVs, references, portfolio, and a press release of alignment.

For More Information:

Visit the Official Webpage of the MASS African Design Centre Fellowship