US Fellowship: Mandela Washington Fully Funded YALI Fellowship For Young African Leaders 2024

YALI Mandela Washington Fully Funded Fellowship

Mandela Washington Fellowship: Here is a fully funded opportunity to travel to the United States. The application is open for the 2024 Mandela Washington Fellowship. Eligible and suitable candidates are invited to apply for the 2024 Mandela Washington Fully Funded YALI Fellowship for Young African Leaders.

In the summer of 2024, the Mandela Washington Fellowship will bring up to 700 young leaders to the United States for a complete executive-style program aimed to improve skills and empower Fellows to lead in their respective industries and communities.

Table of Contents

• About the YALI Fellowship
• Brief Program Details
• Benefits of the Mandela Washington YALI Fellowship
• Requirements for the YALI Fellowship
• Selection Process and Criteria
• Application Procedure

About the Mandela Washington YALI Fellowship

The Mandela Washington Fellowship for Young African Leaders (YALI) is a flagship initiative of the US government. Through academic coursework, leadership training, and networking opportunities, it strives to empower young African leaders. The Nelson Mandela Fellowship improves leadership skills, encourages collaboration, and assists young Africans in achieving positive change in their individual nations.

Brief Program Details

Sponsor: United States Government

Type: Fellowship

Eligible Qualification: All levels of qualification

Benefits: Full Sponsorship | Travel Allowance | Training | and More

Eligible Country: African Countries

Application Deadline: 12 September 2023.

Benefits of the Mandela Washington YALI Fellowship

The Fellowship is an unparalleled opportunity to:

• Participate in a six-week Leadership Institute at a U.S. college or university to share your experiences with and learn from U.S. citizens and other Fellows.
• Explore industries beyond your daily work and expand your expertise.
• Participate in a Summit with young African leaders.
• Meet with U.S. Government, civic, and business leaders.
• Strengthen your work through new connections, skills, and ideas.
• Join a continental and global Alumni Network to help you seek innovative solutions to common challenges.

Also, this fellowship offers:

• Travel Allowances
• Accommodation
• Living Allowances
• Financial Support

Requirements for YALI Mandela Washington Fellowship

Applicants will not be discriminated against on the basis of race, color, gender, religion, socioeconomic 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, or other U.S. Government entity);
• Are proficient in reading, writing, and speaking English (additional guidance coming for applicants who are deaf);

• Are citizens of one of the following countries: Angola, Benin, Botswana, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cameroon, Cabo Verde, Central African Republic, Chad, Comoros, Republic of the Congo, Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), 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, or Zimbabwe;
• Are residents of one of the above countries; and
• Are not Alumni of the Mandela Washington Fellowship.

NOTE: Fellows are not allowed to have dependents, including spouses and children, accompany them during the Fellowship.

Required Skills

The following criteria will be used to evaluate applications (not in order of importance):

• A proven record of leadership and accomplishment in business or entrepreneurship, civic engagement, and/or public/government service;
• A demonstrated commitment to public or community service, volunteerism, or mentorship;
• The ability to work cooperatively in diverse groups and to respect the opinions of others;
• Strong social and communication skills;

• An energetic, positive, and flexible attitude;
• A demonstrated knowledge of, interest in, and professional experience in the preferred sector/Fellowship track and concrete goals for applying lessons knowledge and skills gained from the Fellowship to current and/or future work; and
• A commitment to return to Sub-Saharan Africa and contribute skills and talents to build and serve their communities.

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Application and Selection Timeline

• August 15, 2023 | Application opens
• September 12, 2023 | Application deadline
• November 2023 – January 2024 | Semi-finalists interviewed by local U.S. embassies and consulates
• March 2024 | Applicants notified of their status
• May 2024 | Visa processing and Pre-Departure Orientations for Finalists
• June 2024 | Fellowship begins in the United States

Selection Process and Criteria

The Mandela Washington Fellowship selection process is a merit-based open competition.  After the deadline, independent readers will review all eligible applications.  Following this review, chosen semi-finalists will be interviewed by the U.S. embassies or consulates in their home countries.  Selected semi-finalists will be required to participate in these in-person interviews in their home country in Africa.

If advanced to the semi-finalist round, applicants must provide a copy of their international passport (if available) or other government-issued photo identification at the time of the interview.  Selected Finalists are required to attend the mandatory Pre-Fellowship Orientation in their home country in Africa. Selection of finalists from all eligible countries may be subject to review in response to local, national, or global events that impact the ability to conduct program activities.

The U.S. Department of State and IREX reserve the right to verify all information included in the application.  In the event of a discrepancy, or if the information is found to be false, the application will immediately be declared invalid and the applicant ineligible.

Application Procedure

Interested and qualified candidates should apply via the Apply Button below.

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

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

• Instructions for the 2024 Fellowship Application
• Information for Prospective Fellows with Disabilities
• Information for Prospective Fellows Who Are or May Become Pregnant

Click Here to Apply

Visit the Mandela Washington Fellowship Official Website for More Information