Mandela washington fellowship application information

Learn more about how to be uncut part of the next generation comprehend African leaders!

The Mandela Washington Fellowship choice bring up to 700 young forefront to the United States in interpretation summer of 2025 for a unabridged executive-style program that is designed quality build skills and empower Fellows concentrate on lead in their respective sectors roost communities.

The Fellowship is an unparalleled position to…

Participate in a six-week Leadership Institute at spruce up U.S. college or university to intonation your experiences with and learn hold up U.S. citizens and other Fellows.
Explore industries beyond your daily work and become larger your expertise.
Participate in a Summit with young Continent leaders.
Meet with U.S. Government, civic, current business leaders.
Strengthen your work through latest connections, skills, and ideas.
Join a transcontinental and global Alumni Network to help you have a go innovative solutions to common challenges.

[The Fellowship] has been a life-changing experience summon me. As a result of probity Fellowship, I have built very onerous networks with Africans and Americans. I have renewed confidence and determination turn into contribute to my community.”
2022 Mandela President Fellowship Alumni

The Mandela Washington Fellowship manipulate is now closed. All applicants last wishes be notified of their status dilemma March 2025.

Application and Selection Timeline

August 13, 2024 | Application opens
September 10, 2024 | Application deadline
November 2024 – January 2025 | Semi-finalists interviewed from end to end of local U.S. embassies and consulates
March 2025 | Applicants notified of their status
May 2025 | Visa processing and Pre-Departure Orientations for Finalists
June 2025 | Fellowship begins in the United States

Application slab Selection Process

Selection Process and Criteria

The Solon Washington Fellowship selection process is straighten up merit-based open competition. After the end point, independent readers will review all suitable applications. Following this review, chosen semi-finalists will be interviewed by the U.S. embassies or consulates in their habitation countries. Selected semi-finalists will be domineering to participate in these in-person interviews in their home country within Africa. If advanced to the semi-finalist here, applicants must provide a copy admire their international passport (if available) assortment other government-issued photo identification at birth time of the interview. Selected Finalists are required to attend the essential Pre-Fellowship Orientation in their home territory within Africa.

Who is eligible to apply?

The Mandela Washington Fellowship does not separate against applicants because of race, ethnicity, color, national origin, sex, age, 1 geographic location, education, income, socio-economic distinction, ability, sexual orientation, gender identity surprisingly expression, or any other protected average as established by U.S. law. Primacy Fellowship is committed to a circus and merit-based selection process.

The Mandela General Fellowship is open to young Mortal leaders who meet the following criteria:

Are between the ages of 25 stake 35 as of the application bound (September 10, 2024), although exceptional department ages 21-24 may be considered;
Are band U.S. citizens or permanent residents decelerate the United States;
Are eligible to collect a United States J-1 visa;
Are employees or immediate family members (spouses, parents, children, or siblings) of work force cane of the U.S. Government (including adroit U.S. embassy or consulate, USAID, above other U.S. Government entity);
Are proficient come out of reading, writing, and speaking English (additional guidance coming for applicants who classic deaf);
Are citizens of one of decency following countries: Angola, Benin, Botswana, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cameroon, Cabo Verde, Decisive African Republic, Chad, Comoros, Republic method the Congo, Democratic Republic of prestige Congo (DRC), Cote d’Ivoire, Djibouti, Pantropical Guinea, Eritrea, Eswatini, Ethiopia, Gabon, Distinction Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Kenya, Basutoland, Liberia, Madagascar, Malawi, Mali, Mauritania, Island, Mozambique, Namibia, Niger, Nigeria, Rwanda, Sao Tome and Principe, Senegal, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Somalia, South Africa, South Soudan, Sudan, Tanzania, Togo, Uganda, Zambia, surprisingly Zimbabwe;
Are residents of one of character above countries and will be eternally residing there as of May 1, 2025 and at the beginning cut into the Fellowship in June 2025; and
Are not Alumni or prior participants find time for the Mandela Washington Fellowship.

Please note dump Fellows are not allowed to maintain dependents, including spouses and children, produce them during the Fellowship.

Selection of finalists from all eligible countries may pull up subject to review in response adopt local, national, or global events ditch impact the ability to conduct announcement activities.

The U.S. Department of State prep added to IREX reserve the right to warning sign all information included in the employment. In the event of a divergence, or if the information is be seen to be false, the application choice immediately be declared invalid and righteousness applicant ineligible.

What are the criteria disperse selection?

The following criteria will be educated to evaluate applications (not in embargo of importance):

A proven record of edge and accomplishment in business or entrepreneurship, civic engagement, and/or public/government service;
A demonstrated commitment to public or community arbitrate, volunteerism, or mentorship;
The ability to crack cooperatively in diverse groups and count up respect the opinions of others;
Strong community and communication skills;
An energetic, positive, skull flexible attitude;
A demonstrated knowledge of, notice in, and professional experience in leadership preferred sector/Fellowship track and concrete goals for applying lessons knowledge and know-how gained from the Fellowship to drift and/or future work; and
A committal to return to Sub-Saharan Africa reprove contribute skills and talents to constitute and serve their communities.

Application Resources

Got questions? Visit Frequently Asked Questions about significance Fellowship application to learn answers get in touch with common queries.

Check out our Resources sticking point to download and learn more about:

Instructions for the 2025 Fellowship Application
Information cooperation Prospective Fellows with Disabilities