The Mandela Washington Fellowship is the flagship program of President Obama’s Young African Leaders Initiative. The program brings young leaders to the United States each year for a six-week academic and leadership intense training program and in Business & Entrepreneurship, Civic Leadership and Public Management. Follow-on platforms in each country create unique opportunities in Africa for these young leaders to put their new skills to practical use in propelling economic growth and prosperity, and strengthening democratic institutions.
YALI Mandela Washington Fellow Tracks
- Business & Entrepreneurship – Business and Entrepreneurship Institutes caters to the range of aspiring entrepreneurs who hope to take on leadership roles within the private sector or start their own business ventures on the continent.
- Civic Leadership – Civic Leadership Institutes is oriented to young Africans who are civically engaged and serving the public through non-governmental organizations, community based organizations, or volunteerism.
- Public Management – Public Management Institutes are tailored to young Africans who work or aspire to work in all levels of government agencies, regional organizations such as the African Union, international organizations such as the United Nations, or other publicly-minded organizations or think tanks.
Application Criteria
- Be a citizen of and reside in a sub-Saharan African country, such as Zambia (persons holding U.S. citizenship or permanent residency are ineligible)
- Speak and write proficiently in English
- Be between 25 – 35 years of age at the time of application submission, although exceptional candidates younger than 25 will be considered
This program opens for applications in September through October every year.
For further questions call +260 211 357000 or email LusakaExchanges@state.gov