2022 Mandela Washington YALI Fellowship for Young Africans

The Mandela Washington Fellowship for Young African Leaders, begun in 2014, is the flagship program of the Young African Leaders Initiative (YALI) that empowers young people through academic coursework, leadership training, and networking. The Mandela Washington Fellowship will bring up to 700 young leaders to the United States in the summer of 2023 for a comprehensive executive-style program that is designed to build skills and empower Fellows to lead in their respective sectors and communities.

 Fellowship Components

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• U.S.-based activities
  1. Leadership Institutes
  2. Mandela Washington Fellowship Summit
  3. Professional Development Experience

• Africa-based activities
• Upon returning to their home countries, Fellows continue to build the skills they have developed during their time in the United States through support from U.S. embassies, the YALI Network, USAID, the Department of State, and affiliated partners. Through these experiences, select Mandela Washington Fellows have access to ongoing professional development and networking opportunities, as well as support for their ideas, businesses, and organizations. Fellows may also apply for their American partners to travel to Africa to continue project-based collaboration through the Reciprocal Exchange Component.

To be considered for the Fellowship, you must:

• Be a African
• Be between the ages of 25 and 35 on or before the application deadline, although exceptional applicants ages 21-24 will be considered;
• Not U.S. citizens or permanent residents of the United States;
• Be eligible to receive a United States J-1 visa;
• 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);
• Be proficient in reading, writing, and speaking English

Scholarship Duration and Reward

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.
• Attend a Summit with young African leaders in Washington, D.C.
• Meet with U.S. Government, civic, and business leaders.
• Strengthen your work through new connections, skills, and ideas.

Selection Criteria

The following criteria will be used to evaluate applications (not in order of importance):

• A proven record of leadership and accomplishment in business, civic engagement, or public service;
• A demonstrated commitment to public or community service, volunteerism, or mentorship;
• The ability to work cooperatively in diverse groups and to respect the opinions of others;
• Strong social and communication skills;
• An energetic, positive attitude;
• A demonstrated knowledge of, interest in, and professional experience in the preferred sector/track; and
• A commitment to return to Africa and apply leadership skills and training to benefit the applicant’s country and/or community after they return home.

How to Apply

All applications for the fellowship are to be via the online application platform.

Please note that Fellows are not allowed to have dependents, including spouses and children, accompany them during the Fellowship. The U.S. Department of State and IREX reserve the right to verify all information included in the application.

Click on the button below to commence your application.

The Application Deadline is 13th September 2022

2022 Mandela Washington YALI Fellowship for Young Africans

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