Mandela Washington Fellowship for Young Africans, 2026-2027

Applications are being received for the Mandela Washington Fellowship for Young African Leaders. 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 application deadline for the 2027 Fellowship is October 13, 2026. There is no fee to apply. The Fellowship includes:

A six-week Leadership Institute: Fellows are placed in groups of 25 at leading educational institutions across the United States in both urban and rural areas that represent the diversity of U.S. higher education. Institutes will focus on skills development in one of three tracks: Leadership in Business, Leadership in Civic Engagement, or Leadership in Public Management. The intensive six-week model uses leadership development as the framework to create links between academic sessions, a strengths-based Common Leadership Curriculum, site visits, community service, and cultural activities.

A Summit in Washington, D.C.: At the conclusion of the Leadership Institutes, all Fellows will participate in a high-level Summit. Through a variety of sessions, Fellows will have the opportunity to network with each other and with U.S. leaders from the public, private, and non-profit sectors.

An optional four-week Professional Development Experience: As part of the Fellowship application, individuals may apply to participate in a Professional Development Experience (PDE) at a U.S. NGO, business, or government agency. The PDE is designed to provide Fellows with practical training and the opportunity to learn transferable skills, expand their professional networks, and apply concepts learned at their institutes to real-world situations in the U.S. context. Selected fellows must be available to be in the United States for a total of approximately 11 weeks.

Opportunities for Alumni: Fellows will have access to networking opportunities, ongoing professional development, and volunteer opportunities upon their return home after the Fellowship. Leveraging Innovations in New Communities (LINC) Grants allow selected alumni across cohort years, sectors, and regions to travel to each other’s organizations or communities or collaborate virtually to learn from each other’s best practices and expertise. Reciprocal exchanges provide U.S. citizens with opportunities to engage in collaborative projects with Fellowship alumni, building upon strategic partnerships and professional connections developed during the Fellowship program.

Program Details

• Host Institution: Leadership Institutes in the United States of America.
• Study field: Leadership.
• Duration: Six-week Leadership Institute, plus optional four-week Professional Development Experience.
• Number of Awards: Up to 700 Fellows.
• Target group: Young African leaders who are citizens and residents of eligible sub-Saharan African countries.

Mandela Washington Fellowship for Young Africans Benefits

There is no fee to apply to the Mandela Washington fellowship. If you are selected for the Fellowship, the U.S. government will cover all program costs. Selected candidates will be provided with the following benefits:

1. J-1 visa support;
2. Round-trip travel from Fellow’s home city to the United States and domestic U.S. travel as required by the program. Fellows must fly out of their home country in Africa to the United States;
3. A six-week Leadership Institute;
4. A concluding summit in Washington, D.C.;
5. A limited accident and sickness benefit plan;
6. Housing and meals during the program; and
7. An optional four-week Professional Development Experience (for up to 100 Fellows).

Eligible Countries

This America Opportunity program is open to citizens of the following countries: Angola, Benin, Botswana, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cameroon, Cabo Verde, Central African Republic, Chad, Comoros, Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), Republic of the Congo, 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, São Tomé and Príncipe, Senegal, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Somalia, South Africa, South Sudan, Sudan, Tanzania, Togo, Uganda, Zambia, or Zimbabwe.

Selection of finalists from all eligible countries may be subject to review in response to local, national, or global events that impact participant travel and/or the ability to conduct program activities. Nationals of countries subject to a full or partial suspension of entry to or visa issuance from the United States are eligible to apply, but selection of finalists from these countries will be considered on a case-by-case basis.

Mandela Washington Fellowship for Young Africans Eligibility

The Mandela Washington Fellowship does not discriminate against applicants because of race, color, national origin, sex, age, religion, geographic location, socio-economic status, ability, sexual orientation, gender identity, or any other protected characteristic as established by U.S. law. The Fellowship is committed to fairness, equity, and inclusion. The Mandela Washington Fellowship is open to young African leaders who are:

• Between the ages of 25 and 35 on or before the application submission deadline (October 13, 2026), although exceptional applicants ages 21-24 will be considered. No exceptions will be made for candidates older than 35 or younger than 21.
• Not U.S. citizens or permanent residents of the United States;
• 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);
• Proficient in reading, writing, and speaking English. The Fellowship will be conducted entirely in English. Applicants who are deaf should note that interpretation in the United States may only be available in American Sign Language (ASL).
• Citizens of one of the eligible countries (see full list above);
• Residents of one of the eligible countries. Your country of residence is the country in which you currently live and have a physical address. You must live in one of the countries eligible for the Fellowship to apply. If you live in any country outside of Sub-Saharan Africa, you are not eligible to apply, regardless of your citizenship.
• Not Alumni or prior participants of the Mandela Washington Fellowship.

Evaluation Criteria

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

• Proficiency speaking, reading, and writing in English. Your essay responses should demonstrate your actual level of English proficiency. Small errors in grammar and spelling will not be counted against you.
• A proven record of accomplishment in business, trade, emerging technologies, governance, and/or security. Have you won any awards or been recognized publicly for your work? Use the long essay questions to connect your work to your first-choice track. Why is this track your first choice? What experiences or skills have led you to focus on this sector? Explain your reasoning. Make sure your resume reflects knowledge and experience in your first-choice track.
• A demonstrated and clear interest in building and maintaining partnerships with American organizations and businesses that advance shared goals. Provide specific examples of how you have initiated and/or sustained partnerships to meet professional challenges and accomplish goals. This can be as small as reaching out to individual team members, or as large as managing a team or identifying a new institutional partner.
• A commitment to return to Sub-Saharan Africa and contribute skills and talents to build and serve their communities. How will you use the knowledge and skills developed through the Fellowship to benefit your community and/or country? Clearly outline your goals and specific plans wherever possible in essay responses.
• The ability to work cooperatively in groups and to respect others. Have you had an experience where you disagreed with team members or colleagues? Have you mediated a disagreement in your community? Highlight these examples as possible in your essays. Make sure that any relevant experience, including mentorship and volunteerism, is reflected both in your resume and your essay responses.
• Strong social and communication skills. Are there any specific examples of initiatives you have led or new solutions you have introduced? How have you gained support for these efforts?
• Demonstrated adaptability and the ability to lead effectively in varying and changing environments. Highlight how you have worked to overcome and learn from adversity in your professional endeavors.

Technical Eligibility Requirements: Age

Applicants must be between the ages of 25 and 35 as of the application submission deadline, although exceptional applicants ages 21-24 will be considered. If you are still 35 on the application deadline of October 13, 2026, you are eligible to apply. No exceptions will be made for candidates older than 35 or younger than 21.

Technical Eligibility Requirements: Citizenship

U.S. citizens, permanent residents, and green card holders are not eligible to apply for the Fellowship under any circumstances. Employees and immediate family members (parents, siblings, spouse, or children) of employees of the U.S. Government are not eligible for the Fellowship.

If you have dual citizenship in your African home country and another country: If you live in one of the sub-Saharan African countries eligible for the Fellowship and reside in another sub-Saharan African country that is eligible, you are eligible to apply. If you are selected as a Fellow, you must apply for your U.S. visa and enter the United States on your eligible country’s passport. If you live in any country outside of Sub-Saharan Africa, you are not eligible to apply for the Fellowship, regardless of your citizenship.

Technical Eligibility Requirements: Residency

Your country of residence is the country in which you currently live and have a physical address. You must live in one of the countries eligible for the Fellowship to apply. If you are a citizen of Ghana currently living in South Africa, you are eligible because both are eligible countries. Applicants living outside their eligible country of citizenship but in another eligible country may apply. Select the correct country of citizenship and list your current permanent address for your residency.

Residents of the United States, or of any non-eligible country, are not eligible for the Mandela Washington Fellowship under any circumstances, even those with temporary residency (such as students). If you are an African student studying in France (or another non-eligible country), you are not eligible. You may be eligible for a future Fellowship year once you permanently return to your home country, if you meet the other technical eligibility requirements.

Technical Eligibility Requirements: Language

The Fellowship will be conducted entirely in English. High-level proficiency in written and spoken English is required for the Fellowship. Language abilities will be assessed through the online application and, if you are chosen for the next stage, during an interview at your local U.S. embassy or consulate. TOEFL scores are not required.

You can practice your English language skills through various online platforms. Some free and reputable English language tools include: BBC Learning English, Busuu, Duolingo, ELSA Speak, FLOW Speak, Memrise, Online Professional English Network, and Voice of America (VOA) Learning English.

All application components must be written in English. If your application is not in English, it will not be considered for selection.

Technical Eligibility Requirements: Miscellaneous

• You do not need to have attended university or have a university degree to apply. While formal education may contribute to your overall competitiveness in meeting the Fellowship’s selection criteria, you will not be disqualified if you do not have a formal diploma or degree.
• Applications from members of the military, defense ministries, police, and other law enforcement are eligible and will be considered.
• You do not need a passport to apply for the Fellowship. However, if you are selected, you will be required to have a passport that is valid through at least February 28, 2028, or March 31, 2028 if selected for the Professional Development Experience.
• You must be able to participate in mandatory pre-Fellowship activities, such as a visa interview. Residency in an eligible country as of February 1, 2027 is required to participate.
• If you are selected and are planning to pursue opportunities in a foreign country after the Fellowship, you must secure the necessary visas prior to your travel to the United States. In most instances, it is impossible to apply for visas to travel to other countries while you are away from your home country.
• Fellows are expected to be fully engaged during the Fellowship. This includes full attendance at and participation in all required activities, events, and sessions during the institute and, if applicable, the Professional Development Experience. No time off will be granted.
• You may not bring any members of your family with you to the United States. Program rules prohibit Fellows from bringing their dependents or other family members, and no dependent visas will be issued.
• If your technical eligibility for the Fellowship changes at any point, or if you need to withdraw your application for any reason, email [email protected] and your local U.S. embassy or consulate immediately.

How to Apply for the Mandela Washington Fellowship for Young Africans

Eligible applicants who would like to apply for this North America opportunity should click on the apply button below and follow instructions to submit their applications. You can access the application from any device that is connected to the internet. The application is mobile-friendly. The application system functions in low-bandwidth environments and allows users to save their progress. You can complete the application over multiple sittings.

You must create a separate account at apply.mandelawashingtonfellowship.org to apply. All previous applications have been erased. You will need to register again to complete the 2027 application. You must submit your application through the Mandela Washington Fellowship online application system. Paper applications or applications via email attachment will not be accepted.

Use the email address you access most frequently and that can be accessed from any internet connection. Work email addresses that cannot be accessed outside your office, or that you will not be able to access if you change jobs, are not recommended. It is highly recommended that you include an alternate email address in your application, in case you lose access to your primary email address.

Notes:

1. You may submit only one application. Submitting additional applications may disqualify you.
2. You do not have to finish your application in one session. You may save your work and return as many times as necessary. Once you have submitted your application, you can no longer add any additional information or make any changes. All information and documents must be uploaded before your final submission.
3. All application questions must be answered in English. All answers must be written in your own voice. The substance of your responses, your experiences, examples, reasoning, and plans must be your own. You may use spell-check, grammar support, translation applications, or other technology to help with clarity or language mechanics, but if you used any technology (including AI) to help prepare your responses, you must disclose this where asked in the application. You remain responsible for the content you submit.
4. Do not plagiarize. If you use another person’s writing, ideas, words, or materials, you must credit the source. Do not copy and paste text from the internet or other sources. Using wording from another applicant or Fellowship Alumni in your application is also prohibited. The U.S. Department of State and IREX will check all applications for originality and plagiarism. Applicants who plagiarize any content in their application materials will be disqualified.
5. All fields marked with a red asterisk (*) must be completed.
6. If you have a physical disability or special need and require another person’s assistance to complete your application, you may use such assistance. However, the thoughts, ideas, and content of your application must be your own.

How to Save a Copy of Your Application

To download a copy of your application, log in to your application at apply.mandelawashingtonfellowship.org. Then click “Generate PDF” at the bottom of the screen.

Choosing Your Track

You should list the tracks according to what best aligns with your current work and/or long-term professional goals. All tracks will help Fellows build partnerships and strengthen widely transferable skills, including strategic planning, communications and marketing, financial management, and organizational management. For more detailed information on each track, please review the Institute Track section of the application.

Disability and Other Accommodations

Individuals with disabilities are encouraged to apply for the Mandela Washington Fellowship. Applicants with physical disabilities or special needs who require another person’s assistance to complete an application may use such assistance. However, the thoughts, ideas, and content of your application must be your own; you cannot collaborate with the person assisting you on the content of your application. Each Fellow’s needs are evaluated individually so the Institute Partner and IREX can determine reasonable accommodations to ensure the Fellow’s full participation in program activities.

The deadline to submit applications is October 13, 2026. For more details on the Mandela Washington Fellowship for Young Africans, please visit the official page.