2023 Mandela Washington Fellowship for Young African Leaders

The Mandela Washington Fellowship will bring up to 700 young leaders to the United States in the summer of 2023 for a comprehensive executive-style program that is designed to build skills and empower Fellows to lead in their respective sectors and communities.

Host: Mandela Washington Fellowship
Benefits: U.S J-1 Visa • Funded Six-week leadership course in the US
Eligibility: Aged 21 - 35 | Non US Citizens | Proficient in reading & writing
Eligible Countries: About 49 African Countries
Deadline: September 13, 2022

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 and explore industries beyond your daily work and expand your expertise.

Application Timeline

• August 16, 2022 | Application opens
• September 13, 2022 | Application deadline
• November 2022 – January 2023 | Semi-finalists interviewed by local U.S. embassies and consulates
• March 2023 | Applicants are notified of their status
• May 2023 | Visa processing and Pre-Departure Orientations for Finalists
• June 2023 | Fellowship begins in the United States

Selection Process

The Mandela Washington Fellowship selection process is a merit-based open competition. After the deadline, all eligible applications will be reviewed by independent readers.

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 within 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-Departure Orientation in their home country within Africa.

Eligibility:

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;
• 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.

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.

Selection Criteria

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

• A proven record of leadership and accomplishment in business, civic engagement, or public 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 attitude;

• A demonstrated knowledge of, interest in, and professional experience in the preferred sector/track; and
• A commitment to return to Africa and apply leadership skills and training to benefit the applicant’s country and/or community after they return.

APPLICATION LINK HERE

The Application for the 2023 Mandela Washington Fellowship
will officially open on Tuesday, August 16, 2022.

Deadline:

September 13, 2022