Engage with the next generation of African leaders on your campus!
The Mandela Washington Fellowship for Young African Leaders, the flagship program for the U.S. Government’s Young African Leaders Initiative (YALI) launched in 2014, is seeking U.S.-based post-secondary educational institutions, including accredited colleges and universities, and non-governmental organizations to implement six-week Leadership Institutes in the summer of 2025. The objective of the Mandela Washington Fellowship is to further develop knowledge, skills, and experience of selected Fellows to facilitate and empower leadership, cross-cultural exchange, and the formation of a sustainable, prestigious network of effective leaders in critical sectors in Sub-Saharan Africa and the United States. The Mandela Washington Fellowship is sponsored by the U.S. Department of State with funding provided by the U.S. Government and administered by IREX.
Recruitment Process
The recruitment of Leadership Institute hosts will take place from September 3 to October 15, 2024, offering applicants six weeks to submit an application for consideration during the competitive selection process.
The Mandela Washington Fellowship is committed to Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility (DEIA), and we encourage Minority-Serving Institutions (MSIs), Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), and community colleges to apply.
Application Timeline
- September 3, 2024: Request for Applications Issuance Date
- October 15, 2024: Submission Deadline
- November 2024: Selection Notifications
- June – July 2025: Mandela Washington Fellowship Leadership Institutes
Application Requirements
- Online Application Form
- Resumes or Curricula Vitae for proposed Academic and Administrative Directors and Leadership Manager
- Letter of Support from Post-Secondary Educational Institution/Non-Governmental Organization Senior Leadership not in a direct leadership role as part of the Fellowship.
- Note: Non-governmental organizations applying to host on a U.S. college or university campus should also include a letter of support from the U.S. college(s) or university(ies) hosting. Joint applicants should include a letter from each of the colleges or universities hosting.
- Institute Narrative (Available for download in Application Resources).
- Budget Worksheet (Available for download in Application Resources).
- Budget Narrative (Available for download in Application Resources).
Application Resources
Joint applications between two educational institutions are permitted, particularly in cases where a smaller institution may wish to partner with a neighboring institution to leverage complementary resources. All joint applications must designate one official entity as the lead administrator on the sub-award, delineate how responsibilities will be shared, and meet the requirement that Leadership Institutes take place on a U.S. college or university campus.
You can view the below materials for your application:
Request for Applications
Required Templates for Application
General Resources
- Institute Partner Staffing Guidance
- Common Leadership Curriculum (CLC) Facilitator Guide
- Focus Project Coaching Overview
- RFA FAQ Page
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.