The YALI Mandela Washington Fellowship will bring up to 700 young leaders to the United States in the summer of 2027 for a comprehensive executive-style program that is designed to build skills and empower Fellows to lead in their respective sectors and communities.
Application Deadline: October 13, 2026
Tell Me About The Award:
The Mandela Washington Fellowship 2027 is a programme of the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs for young African leaders.
Approximately 550 young leaders will travel to the United States in summer 2027 for a six-week executive-style programme designed to develop leadership skills, strengthen professional networks and build partnerships with American counterparts.
Fellows will participate in an institute at a U.S. college or university and engage with American experts and leaders in areas including business and trade, emerging technologies, governance and security.
Which Fields are Eligible?
The Fellowship welcomes young leaders with a proven record of accomplishment or experience in:
- Business and trade
- Emerging technologies
- Governance
- Security
- Leadership and community development
Type:
Fully funded leadership fellowship and professional development programme.
Who Can Apply?
Applicants must:
- Be 25–35 years old on or before October 13, 2026. Exceptional applicants aged 21–24 may also be considered.
- Not be a U.S. citizen or permanent resident.
- Be eligible to receive a U.S. J-1 visa.
- Not be an employee or immediate family member of an employee of the U.S. Government.
- Be proficient in reading, writing and speaking English.
- Be a citizen of one of the eligible African countries.
- Be a resident of an eligible country and permanently residing there as of February 1, 2027 and at the beginning of the Fellowship in June 2027.
- Not be a former Mandela Washington Fellowship participant or alumnus.
Applicants must also be able to attend the mandatory in-person pre-departure orientation if selected as finalists.
Fellows cannot have dependents, including spouses or children, accompany them during the Fellowship.
How Are Applicants Selected?
The selection process is a merit-based open competition.
Applications are reviewed and scored after the deadline. Selected semifinalists are interviewed by U.S. embassies and consulates in their home countries.
The selection criteria include:
- English proficiency.
- A proven record of accomplishment in business, trade, emerging technologies, governance and/or security.
- Interest in building and maintaining partnerships with American organisations and businesses.
- Commitment to return to Sub-Saharan Africa and contribute to their communities.
- Ability to work cooperatively with others.
- Strong social and communication skills.
- Adaptability and leadership ability in changing environments.
Which Countries Are Eligible?
Citizens and residents of the following countries are eligible:
Angola, Benin, Botswana, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cameroon, Cabo Verde, Central African Republic, Chad, Comoros, Republic of the Congo, Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), Côte 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.
Where Will the Award Be Taken?
The Fellowship takes place in the United States.
Fellows will participate in a six-week executive-style institute at a U.S. college or university, with additional professional and cultural activities.
How Many Awards?
Approximately 550 young leaders will be selected for the 2027 Fellowship.
What Is the Benefit of the Award?
The Fellowship provides:
- A six-week executive-style institute at a U.S. college or university.
- Opportunities to learn from U.S. experts.
- Engagement with American leaders in the public and private sectors.
- Professional networking opportunities.
- Exposure to American innovation, industry, history and culture.
- Membership in an active network of nearly 7,800 alumni.
- Opportunities to build partnerships with American organisations and businesses.
How Long Will the Award Last?
The Fellowship lasts six weeks and begins in June 2027.
Key Timeline
- September 22, 2026: Applications open
- October 13, 2026: Application deadline
- November 2026 – January 2027: Semifinalist interviews
- February/March 2027: Applicants notified of status
- March – May 2027: Visa processing and pre-departure orientations
- June 2027: Fellowship begins in the United States
How to Apply:
Applicants should complete the Mandela Washington Fellowship online application before the October 13, 2026 deadline.
If selected as a semifinalist, applicants must provide documentation verifying their age, citizenship and residency at the interview stage. A copy of an international passport, if available, or another government-issued photo ID is required for the interview.
Finalists must attend a mandatory in-person pre-departure orientation.
Visit YALI Mandela Fellowship Webpage for Details
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
I cannot afford to pay an application fee. How should I apply?
There is no fee to apply for the Mandela Washington Fellowship.
The application instructions say all answers must be my “own, original work.” What does that mean?
All answers must be your own ideas and in your own words. Be certain not to plagiarize, which is taking someone else’s work or ideas and presenting them as your own. If you use another person’s writing, ideas, words, or materials, you must credit the source. Do not cut and paste ideas from the internet or other sources.
Plagiarism
Plagiarism is strictly forbidden at many organizations and academic institutions in the United States, and those who plagiarize their application materials will be disqualified. This also includes using the wording from another applicant or Fellowship Alumni in your application. The U.S. Department of State and IREX will be checking all applications for plagiarism. For more information, please visit the Plagiarism.org website.
