Engage with the next generation of African leaders on your campus

Group of men and women in professional dress standing in front of a brick building
The 2019 Mandela Washington Fellowship Cohort at the University of Delaware

The Mandela Washington Fellowship for Young African Leaders works with qualified U.S.-based higher education institutions, including accredited U.S. colleges, universities, and non-governmental organizations, to host and implement six-week Leadership Institutes.  Selected Institute Partners host 25 Fellows each year from mid-June to late July for a non-credit, non-degree, six-week Leadership Institute.  

Recruitment Process 

The recruitment of Leadership Institute hosts typically takes place from early September to mid-October with the launch of a formal Request for Applications (RFA), offering applicants approximately six weeks to submit an application for consideration during the competitive selection process. 

The Mandela Washington Fellowship is committed to a fair and merit-based selection process and is open to all institutions of higher education. 

Join Our Mailing List

Interested in receiving updates about Mandela Washington Fellowship Leadership Institutes, including the announcement of the next recruitment cycle? Please follow the “Institute Interest Contact Form” link to be added to our contact list. 

Institute Interest Contact Form

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.