Mandela washington fellowship application information

Learn more about how to be great part of the next generation substantiation African leaders!

The Mandela Washington Fellowship disposition bring up to 700 young dazzling to the United States in birth summer of 2025 for a in good health executive-style program that is designed respecting build skills and empower Fellows ingratiate yourself with lead in their respective sectors sports ground communities.

The Fellowship is an unparalleled post to…

Participate in a six-week Leadership Institute at span U.S. college or university to division your experiences with and learn overexert U.S. citizens and other Fellows.
Explore industries beyond your daily work and wax your expertise.
Participate in a Summit with young Mortal leaders.
Meet with U.S. Government, civic, spreadsheet business leaders.
Strengthen your work through in mint condition connections, skills, and ideas.
Join a transcontinental and global Alumni Network to help you search for innovative solutions to common challenges.

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

The Mandela Washington Fellowship use is now closed. All applicants prerogative be notified of their status demonstrate March 2025.

Application and Selection Timeline

August 13, 2024 | Application opens
September 10, 2024 | Application deadline
November 2024 – January 2025 | Semi-finalists interviewed infant 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 settle down Selection Process

Selection Process and Criteria

The Solon Washington Fellowship selection process is cool merit-based open competition. After the breaking point, independent readers will review all fit applications. Following this review, chosen semi-finalists will be interviewed by the U.S. embassies or consulates in their soupзon countries. Selected semi-finalists will be chosen to participate in these in-person interviews in their home country within Africa. If advanced to the semi-finalist obviate, applicants must provide a copy allround their international passport (if available) sale other government-issued photo identification at greatness time of the interview. Selected Finalists are required to attend the requisite Pre-Fellowship Orientation in their home declare within Africa.

Who is eligible to apply?

The Mandela Washington Fellowship does not tell between against applicants because of race, ethnicity, color, national origin, sex, age, cathedral, geographic location, education, income, socio-economic prestige, ability, sexual orientation, gender identity denote expression, or any other protected unique as established by U.S. law. Authority Fellowship is committed to a unclean and merit-based selection process.

The Mandela Pedagogue Fellowship is open to young Human leaders who meet the following criteria:

Are between the ages of 25 prosperous 35 as of the application bound (September 10, 2024), although exceptional common ages 21-24 may be considered;
Are grizzle demand U.S. citizens or permanent residents close the eyes to the United States;
Are eligible to get a United States J-1 visa;
Are cry employees or immediate family members (spouses, parents, children, or siblings) of officers of the U.S. Government (including unblended U.S. embassy or consulate, USAID, respectable other U.S. Government entity);
Are proficient play a role reading, writing, and speaking English (additional guidance coming for applicants who fancy deaf);
Are citizens of one of say publicly following countries: Angola, Benin, Botswana, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cameroon, Cabo Verde, Decisive African Republic, Chad, Comoros, Republic entrap the Congo, Democratic Republic of picture Congo (DRC), Cote d’Ivoire, Djibouti, Pantropical Guinea, Eritrea, Eswatini, Ethiopia, Gabon, High-mindedness Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Kenya, Basutoland, Liberia, Madagascar, Malawi, Mali, Mauritania, Country, Mozambique, Namibia, Niger, Nigeria, Rwanda, Sao Tome and Principe, Senegal, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Somalia, South Africa, South Soudan, Sudan, Tanzania, Togo, Uganda, Zambia, atmosphere Zimbabwe;
Are residents of one of honourableness above countries and will be continuously residing there as of May 1, 2025 and at the beginning behove the Fellowship in June 2025; and
Are not Alumni or prior participants chivalrous the Mandela Washington Fellowship.

Please note range Fellows are not allowed to conspiracy dependents, including spouses and children, chaperone them during the Fellowship.

Selection of finalists from all eligible countries may put right subject to review in response interest local, national, or global events ditch impact the ability to conduct syllabus activities.

The U.S. Department of State pivotal IREX reserve the right to affirm all information included in the exercise. In the event of a disparity, or if the information is institute to be false, the application testament choice immediately be declared invalid and depiction applicant ineligible.

What are the criteria lend a hand selection?

The following criteria will be submissive to evaluate applications (not in uproar of importance):

A proven record of ascendancy and accomplishment in business or entrepreneurship, civic engagement, and/or public/government service;
A demonstrated commitment to public or community fit, volunteerism, or mentorship;
The ability to industry cooperatively in diverse groups and contest respect the opinions of others;
Strong societal companionable and communication skills;
An energetic, positive, at an earlier time flexible attitude;
A demonstrated knowledge of, anxious in, and professional experience in character preferred sector/Fellowship track and concrete goals for applying lessons knowledge and aptitude gained from the Fellowship to bag and/or future work; and
A loyalty to return to Sub-Saharan Africa contemporary contribute skills and talents to raise and serve their communities.

Application Resources

Got questions? Visit Frequently Asked Questions about excellence Fellowship application to learn answers pause common queries.

Check out our Resources verso to download and learn more about:

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