Apply Now! Be a part of the next generation of African Leaders.
Applications for the 2020 Mandela Washington Fellowship are due on October 9, 2019.
Apply NowHost Fellows On Your Campus
U.S. Department of State and IREX seek partners to host 2020 Leadership Institutes.
Learn More2020 Reciprocal Exchange Application Now Open
Through the Reciprocal Exchange component, Americans travel to Africa to build upon strategic partnerships and professional connections developed with young African leaders during their Fellowship in the United States.
Apply NowAbout us
The Mandela Washington Fellowship for Young African Leaders is the flagship program of the Young African Leaders Initiative (YALI). The Fellowship brings young leaders to the United States for academic coursework and leadership training and creates unique opportunities for Fellows and Americans to collaborate and as they spur growth and prosperity, strengthen democratic governance, and enhance peace and security across Africa and the United States.
Learn MoreBUREAU OF EDUCATIONAL AND CULTURAL AFFAIRS
The Mandela Washington Fellowship for Young African Leaders is sponsored by the U.S. Department of State with funding provided by the U.S. Government and administered by IREX.
Program Impact
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49
?Sub-Saharan African CountriesFellows have come from all 49 countries in Sub-Saharan Africa. -
4,400
Mandela Washington Fellowship Alumni -
45 Million
?People ReachedNumber of employees, beneficiaries, and stakeholders impacted by Fellows' business and non-profits since 2014. -
39,000
?Hours of Support Dedicated to U.S. CommunitiesApproximate number of hours dedicated to support U.S. communities during Fellows' Leadership Institutes since 2016.
Stories
Growing global business partnerships from international exchanges Sub-Saharan Africa has some of the fastest-growing economies across the globe, while the United States exports a large number of American goods to African countries. Nathalie Kpante,...
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News
2020 Reciprocal Exchange Component Application Now Open
September 17, 2019
News
Apply Now! 2020 Fellowship Application Opens
September 12, 2019
Apply to be a part of the next generation of African Leaders!
“I believe that the Mandela Washington Fellowship has made me a stronger and better leader and has challenged me to think outside the box… There can only be more, bigger, and better to come from me, my fellow Fellows, and the continent of Africa as a whole.”
– 2017 Mandela Washington Fellow
The application for the 2020 Mandela Washington Fellowship for Young African Leaders will be opening in September 2019! Do you have what it takes to join our next cohort of Fellows? Check out the 2020 Fellowship Application timeline, eligibility information, and more by clicking here.
Learn more-
September 12, 2019
Application opens
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October 9, 2019
Application closes
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Dec 2019 - Feb 2020
Semifinalists interviewed by local U.S. embassies and consulates
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Late March 2020
Applicants are notified of their status
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May 2020
Finalist visa processing and Pre-Departure Orientations
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Mid-June 2020
Fellowship begins in the United States
Application Deadline: October 9, 2019
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Including Fellows, Reciprocal Exchange Awardees, and U.S. Partners
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