August 17th, 2023 at 03:05 am
YALI Mandela Washington Fellowship for Young Africans 2024
The YALI 2024 Mandela Washington Fellowship in the US is open to qualified young African leaders. The fellows will interact with U.S. government, civic, and corporate leaders and attend a summit with young African leaders.
The YALI Mandela Washington Fellowship will send 700 young leaders to the US in the summer of 2024 for an executive-style program to enhance their skills and empower them to lead in their fields and communities.
Details
Successful fellows have the chance to take part in a six-week leadership institute at a U.S. college or university, where they can share their experiences with and learn from fellow Fellows and Americans. Along with expanding their knowledge, fellows will study industries outside of their current fields of employment.
The Mandela Washington Fellowship for Young African Leaders (YALI) is the main initiative for young African leaders in the United States. Established in 2010, YALI. Since 2014, the Mandela Washington Fellowship has educated about 5,800 future leaders from Sub-Saharan Africa. Aged 25 to 35, the Fellows are pioneers and leaders in their communities and countries.
Summary
The U.S. Young African Leaders Initiative’s Mandela Washington Fellowship for Young African Leaders is its flagship program (YALI). Nearly 5,800 young leaders from every Sub-Saharan country have participated in the Fellowship since 2014. Leaders between 25 and 35, the Fellows have promoted innovation and positive change in their communities and countries.
Fellows
Leadership Institutes
Blindfolded Mandela Washington Fellowship Leadership Institute Fellows do a Common Leadership Curriculum team-building exercise. They’re kneeling and touching colorful fluffy balls.
Fellows attend six-week Leadership Institutes on Business, Civic Engagement, or Public Management at U.S. universities. Fellows improve U.S. communities while sharing best practices. Discover Leadership Institutes.
Summit Mandela
After the Institutes, Fellows attend a Summit to network with each other and U.S. leaders from the private, public, and non-profit sectors, setting the stage for long-term U.S.-Africa engagement. Summit info.
Learn how to become a future African leader!
The Mandela Washington Fellowship will bring up to 700 young leaders to the US in the summer of 2023 for a comprehensive executive-style program to build skills and empower Fellows to lead in their sectors and communities.
The Fellowship is a unique chance…
- Attend a six-week Leadership Institute at a U.S. college or university to share and learn from fellow Fellows and Americans.
- Learn about other fields.
- Summit with young African leaders.
- Meet U.S. government, civic, and business leaders.
- Connect, learn, and innovate to improve your work.
- Join a continental and global Alumni Network for innovative solutions to common problems.
Selection Timeline
- September 13, 2022: Application closed
- November 2022–January 2023: Semi-finalists interviewed by local U.S. embassies and consulates
- March 2023: Applicants are notified of their status
- May 2023: Visa processing and Pre-Fellowship Orientations for Finalists
- June 2023: Fellowship begins in the U.S.
Application Process
- Enter apply.mandelawashingtonfellowship.org.
- “Download Application PDF”
- Save your application.
- And use it later.
Applicant Selection
Merit-based open competitions select Mandela Washington Fellows. Independent readers will evaluate eligible applications after the deadline. After this review, U.S. embassies or consulates will interview semi-finalists. Semi-finalists must attend these in-person interviews in their African home country.
At the interview, semi-finalists must present a copy of their international passport (if available) or other government-issued photo ID. Finalists must attend Pre-Departure Orientation in their African home country.
Eligible applicants?
Race, color, gender, religion, socioeconomic status, disability, sexual orientation, and gender identity will not discriminate against applicants. Young African leaders who qualify for the Mandela Washington Fellowship:
- Are 25–35 years old by the application deadline, though exceptional applicants 21–24 will be considered;
- Not U.S. citizens or permanent residents;
- Are J-1 visa-eligible;
- Are U.S. government employees or immediate family members;
- Read, write, and speak English (deaf applicants receive additional guidance);
- Are citizens of 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 from one of the above countries and not Mandela Washington Fellows.
Fellows may not bring spouses or children.
The U.S. Department of State and IREX may verify all application information. If there is a discrepancy or the information is false, the application will be void and the applicant ineligible.
Selection criteria?
Application evaluation criteria (not in order of importance):
- Business, civic, or public service leadership experience;
- Volunteering, mentoring, or public service;
- Ability to cooperate in diverse groups and respect others’ opinions;
- Good social skills;
- Positive energy;
- Knowledge, interest, and professional experience in the desired sector/track;
- A promise to return to Africa and use leadership skills to benefit the applicant’s country or community.
Applications
- 2022 Fellowship Application Instructions
- Disabled Prospective Fellows
- Pregnant Prospective Fellows
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
What does YALI stand for?
YALI stands for the Young African Leaders Initiative.
What is the Young African Leaders Initiative?
The Young African Leaders Initiative (YALI) is a signature effort to invest in the next generation of African leaders. YALI was founded in 2010 and celebrated its tenth anniversary in 2020.
YALI was created to support young Africans as they spur growth and prosperity, strengthen democratic governance, and enhance peace and security across Africa. There are three components of YALI: the Mandela Washington Fellowship, Regional Leadership Centers, and the YALI Network.
What is the Mandela Washington Fellowship?
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.
In 2023, the Fellowship will provide approximately 700 outstanding young leaders from Sub-Saharan Africa with the opportunity to hone their skills at a U.S. college or university with support for professional development after they return home.
The Mandela Washington Fellowship is a program of the U.S. Department of State with funding provided by the U.S. Government and administered by IREX.
What are Regional Leadership Centers?
YALI Regional Leadership Centers (RLCs) build on existing institutional capacity in Africa to provide high-quality training, mentorship, and networking support to young leaders beyond the Mandela Washington Fellows.
RLCs provide on-the-continent programming focused on the Fellowship’s core themes – business, civic leadership, and public management. The four RLCs offer training throughout the year in English, French, and Portuguese and are located in Nairobi, Dakar, Accra, and Pretoria. Learn more about the RLCs.
What is the YALI Network?
The YALI Network provides members with invaluable opportunities to connect with other leaders in their community and to learn from experts in their field. Opportunities include free online training, professional development, online conversations, and more. Learn more about the YALI Network.
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