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 program that is designed to build skills and empower Fellows to lead in their respective sectors and communities.
The Mandela Washington Fellowship does not discriminate against applicants because of race, ethnicity, color, national origin, sex, age, religion, geographic location, education, income, socio-economic status, ability, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other protected characteristic as established by U.S. law. The Fellowship is committed to fairness, equity, inclusion, and accessibility.
Benefits of Fellowship Program
The Fellowship is an unparalleled opportunity to:
Participate in a six-week Leadership Institute at a U.S. college or university to share your experiences with and learn from U.S. citizens and other Fellows.
Explore industries beyond your daily work and expand your expertise.
Participate in a Summit with young African leaders.
Meet with U.S. Government, civic, and business leaders.
Strengthen your work through new connections, skills, and ideas.
Join a continental and global Alumni Network to help you seek innovative solutions to common challenges.
Requirements for Fellowship Program
The Mandela Washington Fellowship is open to young African leaders who meet the following criteria:
Are between the ages of 25 and 35 as of the application deadline (September 10, 2024), although exceptional applicants ages 21-24 may 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 (spouses, parents, children, or siblings) 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 (additional guidance coming for applicants who are deaf).
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 May 1, 2025, and at the beginning of the Fellowship in June 2025; and
Are not Alumni or prior participants of the Mandela Washington Fellowship.
Selection Process and Criteria
The Mandela Washington Fellowship selection process is a merit-based open competition. After the deadline, independent readers will review all eligible applications. Following this review, chosen semi-finalists will be interviewed by the U.S. embassies or consulates in their home countries.
Selected semi-finalists will be required to participate in these in-person interviews in their home country within Africa. If advanced to the semi-finalist round, applicants must provide a copy of their international passport (if available) or other government-issued photo identification at the time of the interview. Selected Finalists are required to attend the mandatory Pre-Fellowship Orientation in their home country within Africa.
Timeline
August 13, 2024, | Application opens
September 10, 2024, | Application deadline
November 2024 – January 2025 | Semi-finalists interviewed by local U.S. embassies and consulates
March 2025 | Applicants notified of their status
May 2025 | Visa processing and Pre-Departure Orientations for Finalists
June 2025 | Fellowship begins in the United States
Application Deadline
September 12, 2024
How to Apply
Interested and qualified? Go to Mandela Fellowship to apply
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