Mandela Fellowships Available 2023

The Mandela Washington Fellowship represents one of the flagship initiatives of the US government, carried out in partnership with the Young African Leaders Initiative (YALI). This ambitious initiative plans to welcome up to 700 young African leaders to the United States during the summer of 2024, for an immersive experience within a comprehensive executive program. This program is carefully designed to consolidate and amplify the skills of these young leaders.

The YALI initiative was launched in 2010, by the U.S. government, to support young African leaders in their efforts to stimulate economic growth, cultivate prosperity, fortify democratic governance, and strengthen essential pillars of peace and security across the vast territory of sub-Saharan Africa.

OPPORTUNITY SUMMARY

DEADLINE: August 15 to September 12, 2023.

TYPE: Two-month training.

FUNDING: Full.

TARGET AUDIENCE: Africa

COUNTRY: United States of America.

COMPONENTS OF THE MANDELA WASHINGTON PROGRAM

LEADERSHIP INSTITUTES (SIX WEEKS)

A six-week leadership program to support the development of Scholars’ leadership skills through academic study, workshops, mentorships, networking with U.S. leaders, and collaboration with U.S. citizens. The institutes offer three components of skills development:

Business Leadership: will take place at:

Clark Atlanta University – Atlanta, Georgia

Drake University – Des Moines, Iowa

Jackson State University – Jackson, Mississippi

Lehigh University – Bethlehem, Pennsylvania

Purdue University – West Lafayette, Indiana

Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey – New Brunswick, New Jersey

University of Iowa – Iowa City, Iowa

University of Nevada, Reno–Reno, Nevada

University of Notre Dame – South Bend, Indiana

University of Texas at Austin – Austin, Texas

Leadership in Civic Engagement: will take place at:

Appalachian State University – Boone, North Carolina

Drexel University – Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Florida Gulf Coast University – Fort Myers, Florida

Kansas State University – Manhattan, Kansas

Michigan State University – East Lansing, Michigan

The Presidential Precinct – Charlottesville, Virginia

University of Delaware – Newark, Delaware

University of Georgia – Athens, Georgia

University of Maryland, Baltimore County – Baltimore, Maryland

Leadership in Public Management: will take place at:

Arizona State University – Phoenix, Arizona

Bridgewater State University – Bridgewater, Massachusetts

Cornell University – Ithaca, New York

Howard University – Washington, D.C.

Syracuse University – Syracuse, New York

Texas Tech University – Lubbock, Texas

University of California, Davis–Davis, California

University of Minnesota – Minneapolis, Minnesota

Wayne State University – Detroit, Michigan

2024 Leadership Institutes Map

ONE SUMMIT (TWO DAYS)

After the institutes, the fellows gather for a summit in Washington. This event represents an opportunity for Fellows to lay the foundation for lasting partnerships with and among U.S. professionals, and to make plans to continue their leadership journey after their fellowship.

PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT (FOUR WEEKS)

Upon completion of their Leadership and Summit Institutes, up to 100 fellows are competitively selected to stay in the United States and gain an additional four weeks of work experience with a private, public, or nonprofit organization lucrative.

RECIPROCAL EXCHANGES

The “reciprocal exchange” component of the Mandela Washington Fellowship offers American professionals the opportunity to engage in collaborative projects with former fellows in sub-Saharan Africa, building on the professional relationships developed during the fellowship.

MANDELA WASHINGTON SCHOLARSHIP AMOUNT

As a recipient of the Mandela Washington Fellowship, you can count on the full support of the U.S. government for all facets of the program:

Obtaining the J-1 visa supported.

Round-trip travel from your home city to the United States, plus domestic travel required by the program.

Participation in an intensive six-week Leadership Institute.

Attendance at the Closing Summit to be held in Washington, DC

Access to a restricted insurance plan in the event of accidents and illnesses.

Accommodation and meals for the duration of the program.

However, it is important to note that personal expenses remain the responsibility of the scholarship holder.

ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA

The Mandela Washington Fellowship is a merit-based competition open to young African leaders who meet the following conditions:

Be between the ages of 25 and 35 by the application deadline, although outstanding applicants between the ages of 21 and 24 are also eligible.

Have fluency in oral, written and reading English (special guidance will be provided for hearing impaired candidates).

Citizens and residents of one of the following countries: Angola, Benin, Botswana, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cameroon, Cabo Verde, Central African Republic, Chad, Comoros, Republic of Congo, Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Côte d’Ivoire , Djibouti, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Eswatini, Ethiopia, Gabon, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Kenya, Lesotho, Liberia, Madagascar, Malawi, Mali, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mozambique, Namibia, Niger, Nigeria, Rwanda, Sao Tome and Principe, Senegal, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Somalia, South Africa, South Sudan, Sudan, Tanzania, Togo, Uganda, Zambia or Zimbabwe.

Applicants for the Mandela Washington Fellowship are guaranteed to be treated fairly without any form of discrimination based on race, color, gender, religion, socio-economic status, disability, orientation sexual or gender identity.

It is important to note that recipients of the Mandela Washington Fellowship cannot be accompanied during the program by dependents, including spouses and children.

Individuals with disabilities are encouraged to apply for the Mandela Washington Fellowship.

KEY DATES

The Mandela Washington Fellowship Program will run as follows:

August 15, 2023: Applications open.

September 12, 2023: Deadline for submitting applications.

November 2023 – January 2024: Semifinalists will be interviewed by local U.S. embassies and consulates.

March 2024: Applicants are notified of their status.

May 2024: Visa processing and pre-departure orientation for finalists.

June 2024: Arrival of candidates and start of the program in the United States.

HOW TO APPLY FOR THE MANDELA WASHINGTON SCHOLARSHIP?

To apply for the Mandela Washington Fellowship, please submit your applications through the online system available at apply.mandelawashingtonfellowship.org. Please note that the deadline to submit your applications is Tuesday, September 12, 2023, 4:00 p.m. GMT.

The Mandela Washington Fellowship is distinguished by its competitive, merit-based nature. Each eligible application will be evaluated by independent evaluators. Following this initial evaluation, the Distinguished Semi-Finalists will be interviewed by U.S. Embassies or Consulates in their respective countries. These in-person interviews will be held in Africa, in the home country of the semi-finalists.

For applicants who complete this crucial step, it will be necessary to present a copy of their international passport (if available) or other official government-issued photo ID, at the time of the interview.

Selected finalists are required to attend a mandatory orientation session held in their home country in Africa, prior to departure. This orientation aims to prepare finalists for the experience ahead, while providing them with the essential information to start their leadership journey well.

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