Applications for the Mandela Washington Fellowship Programme in the summer of 2024 are now open.
The Mandela Washington Fellowship for Young African Leaders is the flagship programme of the U.S. Government’s Young African Leaders Initiative (YALI).
The Fellowship brings young leaders 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.
The Mandela Washington Fellowship will bring up to 700 young leaders to the United States in the summer of 2024 for a comprehensive executive-style programme that is designed to build skills and empower Fellows to lead in their respective sectors and communities.
For more information on the Mandela Washington Programme visit Mandela Washington Fellowship Website.
Degree level
Non-degree programme.
Deadlines
Application deadline is 12 September 2023
Fields of study
The Mandela Washington Fellowship Leadership themes:
- Business;
- Civic Engagement; and
- Public Management.
Who can apply?
The Mandela Washington Fellowship is open to young African leaders who meet the following criteria:
- Are between the ages of 25 and 35 on or before the application deadline, although exceptional applicants ages 21-24 will 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 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 (applicants who are deaf should refer to the English Language instructions);
- 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 1 May 2024, and at the beginning of the Fellowship in June 2024; and
- Are not Alumni or prior participants of the Mandela Washington Fellowship;
- Have a proven record of leadership and accomplishment in business or entrepreneurship, civic engagement, and/or public/government service;
- Should demonstrate commitment to public or community service, volunteerism, or mentorship;
- Should have the ability to work cooperatively in diverse groups and to respect the opinions of others;
- Have strong social and communication skills;
- Must be energetic, positive, and have flexible attitude;
- Should demonstrate knowledge of, interest in, and professional experience in the preferred sector/Fellowship track and concrete goals for applying lessons knowledge and skills gained from the Fellowship to current and/or future work; and
- Commit to return to Sub-Saharan Africa and contribute skills and talents to build and serve their communities.
Please note that Fellows are not allowed to have dependents, including spouses and children, accompany them during the Fellowship.
What the scholarship offers
There is no fee to apply for the Mandela Washington Fellowship. If you are selected for the Fellowship, the U.S. Government will cover all programme costs.
Financial provisions provided by the U.S. Government will include:
- J-1 visa support;
- Round-trip travel from Fellow’s home city to the United States and domestic U.S. travel as required by the programme. Fellows must depart from their country of residence within Africa to the United States;
- A six-week Leadership Institute;
- A concluding Summit in Washington, D.C.;
- A limited accident and sickness benefit plan;
- Housing and meals during the programme; and
- An optional four-week Professional Development Experience (for up to 100 Fellows).
Application process
Applications must be submitted using the online application system at link
Contact
If you have any questions about or problems with your application, please contact
Documents and links
Instructions for the 2024 Fellowship Application
Learn more about Leadership Institutes
Information for Fellows with Disabilities
Information for Fellows who are Pregnant
Tips for preparing a strong application
Note
Please note that this opportunity is not offered by the Department of Higher Education and Training. Applicants are required to undertake their own research into programmes and institutions and are responsible for ensuring that the qualifications will be recognised in South Africa by contacting the South African Qualifications Authority and the relevant professional bodies. If there are any discrepancies in the details provided, the information given by the sponsor supersedes the details provided above. No additional financial support will be provided by the Department of Higher Education and Training.
