The Mandela Washington Fellowship is the flagship Young African Leaders Initiative (YALI) programme, bringing up to 550 young African professionals to the United States each year for a six-week leadership institute. Nigerian citizens and residents are eligible, along with applicants from over 45 other African countries. Applications for the 2027 cohort are open right now.
Deadline and funding
The 2027 application closes October 13, 2026 at 4:00 PM GMT. Selected fellows attend a six-week institute at a US academic institution from mid-June through early August 2027, choosing one of three tracks: Business and Trade, Emerging Technologies, or Governance and Security. A further 50 fellows are selected for an optional four-week Professional Development Experience afterward. The programme is fully funded by the US government: round-trip travel, visa support, housing, meals, and a limited accident and sickness benefit plan are all covered, and there is no application fee.
Who is eligible?
- Aged 25–35 (exceptional candidates aged 21–24 may be considered)
- A citizen or resident of an eligible African country, permanently residing there through June 2027
- Proficient in reading, writing and speaking English
- Not a US citizen or permanent resident, and eligible for a J-1 exchange visa
- Have not previously participated in the Mandela Washington Fellowship
There is no fixed career-stage requirement — past fellows have ranged from early-career professionals to senior executives, so long as they demonstrate a track record of leadership and community impact.
How to apply
- Register and complete the online application at apply.mandelawashingtonfellowship.org before the October 13, 2026 deadline.
- Select the track (Business and Trade, Emerging Technologies, or Governance and Security) that best matches your work and leadership goals — you cannot switch tracks after submitting.
- Prepare concrete examples of leadership and community impact; the application places heavy weight on demonstrated action, not just potential.
Status checked 24 September 2026. Confirm any updates directly on the official Mandela Washington Fellowship site before the deadline.