Mandela Washington Fellowship for Young African Leaders

Available Fields

• Leadership & Public Management

The Mandela Washington Fellowship for Young African Leaders is the flagship exchange program of the U.S. Government’s Young African Leaders Initiative (YALI). It is designed for accomplished young leaders from Sub-Saharan Africa and combines leadership training, academic study, networking, and professional development in the United States. Since 2014, nearly 7,800 young African leaders have participated.

Opportunity

Mandela Washington Fellowship for Young African Leaders

Type

Fully Funded Leadership Fellowship / Professional Exchange Program

Organizer

U.S. Department of State – Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs

The program is funded by the U.S. Government and administered by IREX.

Host Country

United States

Target Region

Sub-Saharan Africa

Fellows have participated from all 49 countries in Sub-Saharan Africa.

Age Range

The Fellowship has traditionally targeted young leaders aged 25–35.

Fellowship Tracks

Participants take part in six-week Leadership Institutes focused on:

• Business
• Civic Engagement
• Public Management

Program Duration

The core component consists of a six-week Leadership Institute hosted by U.S. colleges and universities. Selected Fellows may also have access to additional professional development opportunities.

Who Is It For

The program targets accomplished young African professionals and community leaders with demonstrated records of:

• Leadership and achievement
• Community or public service
• Professional experience
• Positive impact
• Strong communication and collaboration skills
• Commitment to applying their experience after returning to Africa

Selection Areas

Competitive applicants are typically assessed on:

• Leadership record
• Professional accomplishments
• Community service and volunteerism
• Ability to work with diverse groups
• Communication skills
• Relevant experience in their chosen Fellowship track
• Clear future goals
• Commitment to returning to Africa and contributing to their communities

Funding

The Mandela Washington Fellowship is a U.S. Government-funded exchange program. Historically, the program has covered major participation costs associated with the U.S. exchange, including program-related accommodation, meals, local transportation, and participant support.

Degree Requirement

This is not a Bachelor’s, Master’s, or PhD scholarship.

It is a professional and leadership fellowship, so the emphasis is on leadership experience, professional impact, and community engagement rather than pursuing an academic degree.

Application Fee

Free

The official Fellowship application does not charge an application fee.

2026 Status

Not offered in 2026.

This is important: the official Mandela Washington Fellowship website explicitly states that the Fellowship will not take place in 2026. Alumni opportunities continue, but there is no normal 2026 Fellowship cohort for prospective African applicants.

2027 Application Deadline

Not announced yet.

As of 13 August 2026, I could not find an official announcement opening applications for a 2027 Mandela Washington Fellowship cohort or specifying a 2027 deadline. The official site currently still states that the Fellowship will not take place in 2026.

So for your website, I would not publish this as an active open opportunity yet. Wait until YALI or the U.S. Department of State officially announces the next Fellowship cycle