Application for the Mandela Washington Fellowship 2027 for Young Africans are currently open for an opportunity to take part in a six-week executive-style Leadership Institute hosted at a U.S. college or university.
The fully funded Mandela Washington Fellowship 2027 offers young African leaders an opportunity to participate in an intensive leadership and professional development programme in the United States engaging with American experts and exploring areas like Business and Trade, Emerging Technologies, and Governance and Security. Participants also take part in networking, community engagement and activities that expose them to American innovation, industry and culture.
The Fellowship is the flagship program of the U.S. Government’s Young African Leaders Initiative (YALI). Established in 2014, the Fellowship has brought nearly 7,800 young leaders from every country in Sub-Saharan Africa to the United States for academic and leadership training
The Mandela Washington Fellowship, often called the YALI Fellowship is designed to strengthen the leadership skills of accomplished young professionals from Sub-Saharan Africa while building connections between African and American leaders.
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Eligibility Criteria
Applicants must:
- Be 25–35 years old on or before the application deadline. Exceptional applicants aged 21–24 may also be considered.
- Be a citizen and resident of an eligible Sub-Saharan African country.
- Not be a U.S. citizen or permanent resident.
- Be eligible to receive a U.S. J-1 visa.
- Be proficient in reading, writing and speaking English.
- Not be an employee or immediate family member of an employee of the U.S. Government.
- Not be a previous Mandela Washington Fellow.
- Be permanently residing in an eligible country as of February 1, 2027 and at the beginning of the Fellowship in June 2027.
- Demonstrate leadership and professional accomplishments and a commitment to contributing to their community.
Eligible Countries
Nigeria, Ghana, Kenya, South Africa, Uganda, Tanzania, Rwanda, Zambia, Zimbabwe and other eligible countries across Sub-Saharan Africa.
Fellowship Benefits
- J-1 visa support.
- Round-trip travel from the Fellow’s home city to the United States.
- Required domestic travel within the United States.
- Full participation in the six-week Leadership Institute.
- Housing and meals during the programme.
- Limited accident and sickness benefit plan.
- Leadership and professional development activities.
- Networking with American professionals, organisations and leaders.
- Optional four-week Professional Development Experience for up to 50 selected Fellows.
Note: The Fellowship does not cover Fellows’ salaries while they are away from their regular employment or personal purchases.
Method of Application
Interested applicants for the Mandela Washington Fellowship 2027 for Young Africans should follow the steps below:
- Visit the official Mandela Washington Fellowship application portal.
- Create or access an application account.
- Complete all required sections of the 2027 application.
- Provide accurate personal, citizenship, residency and professional information.
- Complete the leadership assessments and required written responses.
- Review the application carefully and submit it before the deadline.
Application Deadline: October 13, 2026.
For More Information: Visit the Scholarship Website.
