Deadline: 10 September 2024
Applications are now open for the Mandela Washington Fellowship for Young African Leaders 2025 . This is your chance to access a 6-week training programme at one of the USA's leading educational institutions in Business, Civic Engagement or Public Management.
The Mandela Washington Fellowship will bring up to 700 young leaders to the United States in the summer of 2025 for a comprehensive executive-style programme designed to develop skills and empower fellows to lead in their respective sectors and communities.Components of the Brotherhood
- Leadership Institutes: During the scholarship, fellows participate in six-week Leadership Institutes, studying Business, Civic Engagement or Public Management, organised by US colleges or universities. At all institutes, fellows enrich local communities in the US while sharing best practices.
- Mandela Washington Fellowship Summit: After the Institutes, the Fellows gather for a Summit, where they make connections with each other and with US leaders from the private, public and non-profit sectors, setting the stage for long-term engagement between the United States and Africa.
- Professional Development Experiences (PDEs): Fellows can apply for the opportunity to work with private, public and non-profit organisations for up to six weeks immediately after the Summit during their fellowship or as alumni. Both fellows and hosts benefit from discussing shared issues and challenges in their sectors, broadening their perspectives and positioning US organisations for international engagement.
- Reciprocal exchanges: US citizens have the opportunity to apply to implement projects in sub-Saharan African countries to continue collaborative work with Fellowship Alumni on the continent. These partnerships and professional connections aim to form lasting relationships, expand markets and networks, and increase mutual understanding.
- Opportunities for alumni: Fellowship alumni continue to build on the skills and connections developed during the programme through access to ongoing professional development, networking and collaboration opportunities with the support of the US Department of State and affiliated partners.
- Virtual Programming: The Fellowship draws on the expertise of stakeholders to provide a suite of virtual programming for the Fellowship Network to support its ongoing leadership development and strengthen its access to networks and resources.
Benefits
The scholarship is an unrivalled opportunity:
- Take part in a six-week Leadership Institute at a US college or university to share your experiences and learn from US citizens and other scholars.
- Explore sectors beyond your daily work and expand your knowledge.
- Take part in a summit with young African leaders.
- Meet with US government, civic and business leaders.
- Strengthen your work through new connections, skills and ideas.
- Join a continental and global network of alumni to help you find innovative solutions to common challenges.
EligibilityApplicants will not be discriminated against on the basis of race, colour, gender, religion, socio-economic status, disability, sexual orientation or gender identity. The Mandela Washington Fellowship is open to young African leaders who meet the following criteria:
- Aged between 25 and 35 on or before the application deadline, although exceptional candidates aged between 21 and 24 will be considered;
- They are not US citizens or permanent residents of the United States;
- They are eligible to receive a J-1 visa from the United States;
- Are not employees or immediate family members of U.S. Government officials (including a U.S. embassy or consulate, USAID or other U.S. Government entity);
- Are proficient in reading, writing and speaking English (additional guidelines for deaf candidates);
- They are citizens of one of the following countries: Angola, Benin, Botswana, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chad, Comoros, Republic of Congo, Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Côte d'Ivoire, Djibouti, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Eswatini, Ethiopia, Gabon, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Kenya, Lesotho, Liberia, Madagascar, Malawi, Mali, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mozambique, Namibia, Niger, Nigeria, Rwanda, São Tomé and Príncipe, 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
- They are not alumni of the Mandela Washington Fellowship.
Selection criteria
The following criteria will be used to assess the applications (not in order of importance):
- A proven track record of leadership and achievement in business or entrepreneurship, civic engagement and/or public/governmental service;
- A demonstrated commitment to public or community service, volunteering or mentoring;
- The ability to work co-operatively in different groups and to respect the opinions of others;
- Strong social and communication skills;
- An energetic, positive and flexible attitude;
- A proven knowledge, interest and professional experience in the preferred sector/path of the scholarship and concrete goals to apply the knowledge lessons and skills acquired on the scholarship to current and/or future work; and
- A commitment to return to sub-Saharan Africa and contribute skills and talents to build and serve their communities.
Application
