Archbishop Tutu Fellowship 2027 | Call for Applications

Nominations are open for the Class of 2027 Archbishop Tutu Fellowship. The African Leadership Institute runs this flagship pan-African leadership programme. It trains around 25 high-potential African leaders yearly, aged 30 to 39. This fellowship requires a nomination; direct applications aren’t accepted.

Program Snapshot

• Host Organization: African Leadership Institute (AFLI), with Oxford’s Said Business School
• Funding: Most costs covered, including accommodation, tuition, and subsistence
• Duration: 5 months, part-time, with two nine-day workshops
• Locations: South Africa in April/May, then Oxford and London in September
• Nomination Deadline: 20 September, midnight Johannesburg time
• Cohort Announcement: January 2027

Focus Areas

• African leadership within a global context
• Personal development and ethical leadership values
• Community-project experience benefiting fellow Africans
• Building a lasting pan-African leadership network

About the Fellowship

This programme has trained future African leaders since 2006. It blends African and Oxford-based learning across two intensive workshops. Fellows tackle real community projects between sessions. Graduates join roughly 400 Tutu Fellows across the continent.

What Fellows Receive

Fellows get most programme costs covered throughout the fellowship. This includes accommodation, tuition, and subsistence during both workshops. Fellows also gain lifelong membership in AFLI’s exclusive leadership network. Ongoing dialogue and civic engagement opportunities continue after graduation.

Who Can Apply

Candidates must be African leaders between 30 and 39 years old. Only nomination, not direct application, grants access to apply. A single nomination per candidate is sufficient for consideration. No account or login is required to submit a nomination.

Required Materials

Nominators complete the official nomination form on AFLI’s website. Applicants should review the Nominations FAQ before submitting a name. No supporting documents are needed at the nomination stage itself.

How to Apply

Submit your nominee’s details before 20 September, Johannesburg midnight.

Click Here to Apply

Conclusion

This fellowship offers genuinely funded, elite leadership training across Africa and Oxford. Its nomination-only model means eligible candidates need someone to put them forward. With the deadline under two weeks away, prospective nominators should act quickly.

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