Mandela Washington Fellowship for Young African Leaders 2027 (Fully-funded to the U.S.) – YOA

Deadline: October 13, 2026

Applications are open for the Mandela Washington Fellowship for Young African Leaders 2027. This is your likelihood for entry to a 6-week coaching at a high U.S. instructional establishment in Business, Civic Engagement, or Public Management.

The Mandela Washington Fellowship will convey roughly 550 younger leaders to the United States in the summer time of 2027 for a complete government-type program designed to empower Fellows to lead of their respective sectors and communities and construct partnerships with American counterparts.

The Fellowship is an unparalleled OPPORTUNITY to…

• Join an lively community of practically 7,800 alumni.
• Participate in a six-week government-type institute at a U.S. school or college to share your experiences with and be taught from American consultants.
• Engage with U.S. consultants in in enterprise and commerce, rising applied sciences, and governance and safety.
• Meet with American leaders in the private and non-private sectors to strengthen your skilled community.
• Explore American innovation, trade, historical past, and tradition to broaden your experience.

Eligibility

The Mandela Washington Fellowship is open to younger African leaders who meet the following standards: 

• Are between the ages of 25 and 35 on or earlier than the application deadline, though distinctive candidates ages 21-24 could also be thought-about;
• Are not U.S. residents or everlasting residents of the United States;
• Are eligible to obtain a United States J-1 visa;
• Are not staff or quick relations (spouses, mother and father, kids, or siblings) of staff of the U.S. Government (together with a U.S. embassy or consulate or different U.S. Government entity);*
• Are proficient in studying, writing, and talking English (candidates who’re deaf ought to refer to the “English Language” part of the application instructions);
• Are residents of one in every of the following international locations: 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 in every of the above international locations, and can be completely residing there as of February 1, 2027, and at the starting of the Fellowship in June 2027; and
• Are not alumni or prior contributors of the Mandela Washington Fellowship.

  *Current IREX staff and consultants and their quick relations (spouses, mother and father, kids, and siblings) aren’t eligible to apply for any IREX-applied grant applications, both as people or as the accountable social gathering representing an institutional applicant.

Please notice that Fellows aren’t allowed to have dependents, together with spouses and youngsters, accompany them throughout the Fellowship.

Selection Criteria

The following standards can be used to consider functions (not so as of significance):

• Proficiency talking, studying, and writing in English;
• A confirmed report of accomplishment in enterprise, commerce, rising applied sciences, governance, and/or safety; 
• A demonstrated and clear curiosity in constructing and sustaining partnerships with American organizations and companies that advance shared targets;
• A dedication to return to Sub-Saharan Africa and contribute expertise and abilities to construct and serve their communities;
• The capacity to work cooperatively in teams and to respect others;
• Strong social and communication expertise; and
• Demonstrated adaptability and the capacity to lead successfully in various and altering environments.

Application

The 2027 Mandela Washington Fellowship application directions present detailed steerage for candidates. This useful resource explains eligibility necessities, application elements, choice standards, and key deadlines, whereas outlining the info required in every part of the application.

Applicants are inspired to assessment these directions earlier than starting an application to higher perceive Fellowship necessities and put together supplies prematurely.

Download the application instructions here.

Click here to apply.

For extra info, go to MWF.