Mandela Washington Fellowship 2026 Available Now – YOA

Are you able to collaborate throughout continents and make an influence in Sub-Saharan Africa whereas strengthening skilled ties between the U.S. and Africa? The Mandela Washington Fellowship Reciprocal Exchange Component 2026 is formally accepting functions—and that is your likelihood to affix a transformative management and innovation expertise.

About the Reciprocal Exchange

The Mandela Washington Fellowship for Young African Leaders is the flagship program of the U.S. Government’s Young African Leaders Initiative (YALI), created to empower future African leaders. Since 2014, the Fellowship has constructed a community of changemakers and innovators. Its Reciprocal Exchange Component takes this additional by supporting partnerships between U.S. professionals and Fellowship Alumni in Sub-Saharan Africa.

Through this alternate, U.S. individuals can journey or interact just about to implement tasks with Fellowship Alumni that straight profit communities, broaden markets, and foster lengthy-time period skilled relationships.

Internship Package and Benefits

Successful candidates obtain funding and logistical help to implement collaborative tasks:

• Hybrid Exchange Projects: Grants of as much as $3,000 per challenge.
• In-Person Projects: Grants of as much as $5,000 per chosen participant (as much as 4 individuals per challenge, with a most of $20,000).
• Visa Support: IREX covers visa procurement charges and companies for vacationers.
• Professional Growth: Participants achieve worldwide challenge expertise, broaden networks, and strengthen their management expertise.
• Community Impact: Projects should ship measurable advantages to communities within the Alumni’s home international locations whereas additionally enhancing U.S. organizations and networks.

Location and Duration

• Projects are carried out in Sub-Saharan African international locations the place Mandela Washington Fellowship Alumni reside.
• Hybrid tasks contain digital collaboration through Zoom or comparable platforms, whereas in-particular person tasks permit U.S. individuals to journey.
• Each challenge ought to be accomplished inside 4 (04) weeks in the course of the grant interval.

Eligibility Criteria

The program has joint eligibility necessities for each U.S. professionals and Fellowship Alumni:

• For U.S. Professionals

  • Must be U.S. residents dwelling within the United States.
  • Cannot be workers or instant members of the family of U.S. Government workers.
  • May full not more than two in-particular person Reciprocal Exchange tasks however stay eligible for hybrid ones.

• For Fellowship Alumni

  • Must be acknowledged Alumni in good standing with the Mandela Washington Fellowship.
  • Must reside within the proposed challenge nation and be current for the total length.
  • Cannot be workers or instant members of the family of U.S. Government workers.

This eligibility ensures a good and impactful collaboration between each side of the alternate.

Timeline and Key Dates

Mark your calendars fastidiously—functions shut quickly:

• Application Deadline: September 19, 2025
• Notification of Awards: December 2025
• Grant Implementation Period: February 1 – June 30, 2026

Projects have to be proposed with clear, measurable targets and display joint engagement from each the U.S. skilled and the Fellowship Alumni.

Visit daadscholarship.com for More Fully-funded SCHOLARSHIPS 2026 News.