2024 Mandela Washington Fellowship
Overview
The 2024 Mandela Washington Fellowship is a prestigious program that will bring up to 700 young African leaders to the United States in the summer of 2025. This fully-funded fellowship offers a comprehensive, executive-style program designed to build leadership skills and empower participants to lead in their respective sectors and communities.
Host Country: United States of America (USA)
Category: Fellowships
Eligible Countries: African Countries
Reward: Full Sponsorship | Travel Costs | Accommodation
Deadline: September 10, 2024
Fellowship Details
The Mandela Washington Fellowship is an unparalleled opportunity for young African leaders to gain:
- Leadership Training: Participate in a six-week Leadership Institute at a U.S. college or university.
- Networking: Engage with U.S. citizens and other Fellows, and participate in a summit with young African leaders.
- Industry Exploration: Explore industries beyond your daily work and expand your expertise.
- Professional Development: Meet with U.S. Government, civic, and business leaders to strengthen your work through new connections, skills, and ideas.
- Alumni Network: Join a continental and global Alumni Network to seek innovative solutions to common challenges.
Eligibility Requirements
To qualify for the 2024 Mandela Washington Fellowship, applicants must:
- Age Requirement: Be between 25 and 35 years old by the application deadline (exceptional applicants aged 21-24 may be considered).
- Citizenship: Be a citizen of an eligible African country and not a U.S. citizen or permanent resident.
- Residency: Be a resident of one of the eligible countries and plan to reside there as of May 1, 2025, and at the beginning of the Fellowship in June 2025.
- Visa Eligibility: Be eligible to receive a United States J-1 visa.
- Government Employment: Not be an employee or immediate family member of employees of the U.S. Government, including U.S. embassies or consulates.
- Language Proficiency: Be proficient in reading, writing, and speaking English.
- Alumni Status: Not be a prior participant of the Mandela Washington Fellowship.
Selection Criteria
Applicants will be evaluated based on the following criteria:
- Leadership Record: Proven leadership and accomplishment in business, civic engagement, or public service.
- Commitment to Service: Demonstrated commitment to public or community service, volunteerism, or mentorship.
- Teamwork: Ability to work cooperatively in diverse groups and respect the opinions of others.
- Communication Skills: Strong social and communication abilities.
- Attitude: Energetic and positive outlook.
- Sector Knowledge: Demonstrated knowledge, interest, and professional experience in the preferred sector/track.
- Post-Fellowship Commitment: Dedication to returning to Africa to apply leadership skills and training to benefit the applicant’s country or community.
How to Apply
Interested and qualified applicants should follow these steps to apply for the Mandela Washington Fellowship:
- Visit the Fellowship Application Page: Click on the “Apply Here” button below to begin your application.
- Complete the Application Form: Fill out the form and upload all required supporting documents.
- Review Process: After submission, independent readers will review eligible applications.
- Interviews: Semi-finalists will be interviewed by U.S. embassies or consulates in their home countries.
- Final Selection: Selected finalists will attend a mandatory Pre-Fellowship Orientation in their home country.
For detailed application instructions and to apply, click the button below: