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Mandela Washington Fellowship for Young African Leaders in USA, 2020

Applications are invited for the Mandela Washington Fellowship available for young African leaders. The fellowship is available for six weeks of intensive executive leadership training, networking, and skills building, followed by a Presidential Summit in Washington, D.C.

The Mandela Washington Fellowship for Young African Leaders is the flagship program of the Young African Leaders Initiative (YALI). President Obama launched YALI in 2010 to support young African leaders as they spur growth and prosperity, strengthen democratic governance, and enhance peace and security across Africa.

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Summary

A wonderful opportunity for young African leaders.

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Students need to demonstrate that they have a good level of written and spoken English.

Scholarship Description:

  • Application Deadline: October 9, 2019
  • Course Level: Fellowships are available for academic coursework and leadership training.
  • Study Subject: Fellowships are awarded for skills development in one of three areas: Business and Entrepreneurship, Civic Leadership, or Public Management.
  • Scholarship Award:
    U.S.-based activitiesLeadership Institutes: Each Mandela Washington Fellow takes part in a six-week Leadership Institute at a U.S. college or university in one of three tracks: Business, Civic Engagement, or Public Management. The intensive model includes linkages between academic sessions, site visits, professional networking opportunities, leadership training, community service, and organized cultural activities.Mandela Washington Fellowship Summit: Following the academic component of the Fellowship, the Fellows visit Washington, D.C., for a Summit featuring networking and panel discussions with U.S. leaders from the public, private, and non-profit sectors.

    Professional Development Experience: Seventy selected Fellows remain in the United States to participate in a four-week Professional Development Experience with U.S. non-governmental organizations, private companies, and governmental agencies that relate to their professional interests and goals. The PDE is designed to give Fellows practical training and the opportunity to learn transferable skills, expand their professional networks, and apply concepts learned at their Institutes to real-world situations in the U.S. context.

    Africa-based activities

    Upon returning to their home countries, Fellows continue to build the skills they have developed during their time in the United States through support from U.S. embassies, the YALI Network, USAID, the Department of State, and affiliated partners. Through these experiences, select Mandela Washington Fellows have access to ongoing professional development and networking opportunities, as well as support for their ideas, businesses, and organizations. Fellows may also apply for their American partners to travel to Africa to continue project-based collaboration through the Reciprocal Exchange Component.

  • Number of Scholarships: 700
  • Nationality: International
  • Scholarship can be taken in the USA

Graphic with text: Looking for 700 Leaders in 2020! Apply Now for the Fellowship. Featuring an image of a Fellow in a blue outfit.

Eligibility for the Scholarship:

  • Eligible Countries: Citizens of Angola, Benin, Botswana, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cameroon, Cabo Verde, Central African Republic, Chad, Comoros, Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), Republic of the Congo, Cote d’Ivoire, Djibouti, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Eswatini, Ethiopia, Gabon, The 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, and Zimbabwe can apply for this Mandela Washington Fellowship.
  • Entrance Requirements: Applicants will not be discriminated against on the basis of race, colour, gender, religion, socio-economic status, disability, sexual orientation, or gender identity. The Mandela Washington Fellowship is open to young African leaders who meet the following criteria:
    • Are between the ages of 25 and 35 on or before the application deadline, although exceptional applicants ages 21-24 will be considered.
    • Are not U.S. citizens or permanent residents of the United States.
    • Are eligible to receive a United States J-1 visa.
    • Are not employees or immediate family members of employees of the U.S. Government (including a U.S. Embassy or Consulate, USAID, and other U.S. Government entities).
    • Are proficient in reading, writing, and speaking English. Applicants who are deaf should consult the Application Instructions for more information.
    • Are citizens and residents of one of the following countries: Angola, Benin, Botswana, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cameroon, Cabo Verde, Central African Republic, Chad, Comoros, Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), Republic of the Congo, Cote d’Ivoire, Djibouti, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Eswatini, Ethiopia, Gabon, The 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, and Zimbabwe.
    • Are not alumni of the Mandela Washington Fellowship

    The U.S. Department of State and IREX reserve the right to verify all of the information included in the application. In the event that there is a discrepancy, or information is found to be false, the application will immediately be declared invalid and the applicant ineligible. Applications not meeting the above technical eligibility requirements will not be forwarded to the selection committee. If you do not meet the technical eligibility requirements for this program, we invite you to visit exchanges.state.gov for information on other U.S. Department of State exchange opportunities.

  • English Language Requirements: Applicants from outside the home country will often need to meet specific English language/other language requirements in order to be able to study there.

Africa Scholarships

Application Procedure:

How to Apply: The application will collect basic information and will include questions regarding the applicant’s professional and academic experience, including educational background; honours and awards received; extracurricular and volunteer activities; and English language proficiency.

They will also request a résumé (with dated educational and professional background) and personal information (name, address, phone, email, country of citizenship). Additional elements, such as letters of recommendation or university transcripts, are OPTIONAL and may supplement your application.

Online Application

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