Hundreds of Young Leaders Celebrate Ten Years of the Mandela Washington Fellowship

2024 Fellows pose in front of the Washington Monument.

Nearly 700 young African leaders gathered in Washington, DC, this week for the 2024 Mandela Washington Fellowship Summit to engage in high-level sessions and workshops with leaders from across the African continent and the United States.  Established in 2014, the Mandela Washington Fellowship is celebrating its tenth anniversary in 2024.  This year’s Fellows were selected from a pool of over 50,000 applicants.  

“We are counting on you,” U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Linda Thomas-Greenfield told the Fellows in an opening address.  “Know that the United States is committed to being a partner for progress as you address challenges in your communities, in your countries, and on the continent.”

Ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield delivers remarks during the 2024 Mandela Washington Fellowship Summit.

Held July 29 – July 31 and hosted by the U.S. Department of State and IREX, the Summit marked the culmination of six weeks of leadership training at 28 educational institutions across the United States.  Throughout the program, Fellows develop lasting connections with Americans and forge networks with other young leaders across Africa.

Latanya Mapp, President and CEO of Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors, and Christine Ntim, CEO of Global Startups Ecosystems delivered the keynote addresses.  The Summit also featured a panel conversation with the directors and executive producer of the Disney+ animated series Kizazi Moto.

“The seeds of your greatness are right there.  You just need to trust what your heart tells you,” Christine Ntim said.  “The challenges that we are facing in our society will need transformational, authentic leaders.”

The Summit’s Networking Reception, held at the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture, forged relationships between Fellows and American professionals, setting the stage for continued collaboration when Fellows return home.  At the Partnership Expo, American companies and organizations highlighted their work and connected with the next generation of African decision-makers.

“We believe in you to take your energy, passion, and commitment back to your countries and make a difference,” Assistant Secretary Molly Phee of the Bureau of African Affairs told the Fellows in a panel on U.S.-Africa policy. 

Following the Summit, up to 100 competitively selected Fellows will participate in four weeks of professional development with U.S. non-governmental organizations, private companies, and government agencies.

Senior U.S. government panelists discuss their roles supporting U.S.-African during the Policy Panel Briefing.

“If the first ten years of this program have taught us anything, it’s that the challenges you all are grappling with are ones no advocate, organization, or even country can solve alone – or solve quickly,” Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken said in video remarks to the Fellows.  “They’re challenges we are going to have to work at together – across communities and continents.”

2014 Fellowship Alumnus Robert Nkwangu reflects on ten years of the Fellowship during the Alumni Closing panel.

The Mandela Washington Fellowship, the flagship program of the Young African Leaders Initiative (YALI), empowers young African leaders through academic coursework, leadership training, mentoring, networking, professional opportunities, and local community engagement.  YALI, the U.S. government’s signature effort to invest in the next generation of African leaders, supports young Africans as they spur economic growth and prosperity, strengthen democratic governance, and enhance peace and security across Africa.  The Mandela Washington Fellowship for Young African Leaders is a program of the U.S. Department of State with funding provided by the U.S. Government and administered by IREX.

Photos and videos of the Summit are available online.