YALI stands for the Young African Leaders Initiative.

The Young African Leaders Initiative (YALI) is the United States’ signature effort to invest in the next generation of African leaders.

The Mandela Washington Fellowship for Young African Leaders is the flagship exchange program of the Young African Leaders Initiative (YALI).  The Fellowship has brought nearly 7,800 young leaders from Sub-Saharan Africa to the United States for six-week Institutes at American educational institutions. 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.  

The YALI Network provides free tools and resources to help young African leaders develop the skills and networks they need to drive positive change in their communities, benefitting both Africa and the United States.  Learn more about the YALI Network.

Through the Reciprocal Exchange component, Americans have the opportunity to apply for funding to travel to Africa to collaborate on projects with Fellowship Alumni, building upon connections made during the U.S. exchange. These partnerships are intended to form lasting relationships and expand markets and networks that benefit Africa and the United States.  Learn more about Reciprocal Exchanges.

Through the Professional Development Experience (PDE), a group of competitively selected Fellows work with private, public, and non-profit organizations. Both Fellows and hosts benefit from exploring shared interests and challenges in their sectors while positioning U.S. organizations for international engagement.  Learn more about PDEs.

Learn more about how you can work with the Fellowship on our Partnership Information page.

Please visit yali.state.gov/network to reach out to the YALI Network as well as the U.S. Embassy in your region.