The Mandela
Washington Fellowship for Young African Leaders is the flagship program of the
Young African Leaders Initiative (YALI) that empowers young people through
academic coursework, leadership training, and networking.
In 2018, the
Fellowship will provide up to 700 outstanding young leaders from Sub-Saharan
Africa with the opportunity to hone their skills at a U.S. higher education
institution with support for professional development after they return home.
Institutes focus on leadership and skills development in one of three tracks:
Business and Entrepreneurship, Civic Leadership, or Public Management.
Applications
for the 2018 Mandela Washington Fellowship are open from September 13, 2017,
through October 11, 2017.
PROGRAM LENGTH
Six-week
program at an Academic and Leadership Institute then an opportunity for up to
100 Mandela Washington Fellows to participate in a six-week Professional
Development Experience with a U.S. business, civil society organization, or
public agency
Selection Process
The Mandela
Washington Fellowship is conducted as a merit-based open competition. After the
deadline, all eligible applications will be reviewed by a selection panel.
Chosen semifinalists will be interviewed by the U.S. embassies or consulates in
their home countries. If selected for an interview, applicants must provide a
copy of their passport (if available) or other government-issued photo
identification to verify eligibility.
Who is eligible to apply?
Applicants
will not be discriminated against on the basis of race, color, gender,
religion, socio-economic 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 at the time of application submission, although
exceptional applicants younger than 25 will be considered.
Are not U.S.
citizens or permanent residents of the U.S.
Are eligible
to receive a United States J-1 visa.
Are
proficient in reading, writing, and speaking English.
Are citizens
and residents of one of the following countries: Angola, Benin, Botswana,
Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cameroon, Cabo Verde, Central African Republic, Chad,
Comoros, Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), Republic of the Congo, Cote
d’Ivoire, Djibouti, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, 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, Swaziland, Tanzania, Togo, Uganda, Zambia, and Zimbabwe.
The U.S.
Department of State and IREX reserve the right to verify all of the information
included in the application. In the event that there is a discrepancy, or
information is found to be false, the application will immediately be declared
invalid and the applicant ineligible.
Applications
not meeting the above technical eligibility requirements will not be forwarded
to the selection committee. If you do not meet the technical eligibility
requirements for this program, we invite you to visit exchanges.state.gov for
information on other U.S. Department of State exchange opportunities.
What are the criteria for selection?
Selection
panels will use the following criteria to evaluate applications (not in order
of importance):
A proven
record of leadership and accomplishment in public service, business and
entrepreneurship, or civic engagement.
A
demonstrated commitment to public or community service, volunteerism, or
mentorship.
The ability
to work cooperatively in diverse groups and respect the opinions of others.
Strong
social and communication skills.
An
energetic, positive attitude.
Demonstrated
knowledge, interest and professional experience in the sector/track selected.
A commitment
to return to Africa and apply leadership skills and training to benefit the
applicant’s country and/or community after they return home.
Application Information
The
application will collect basic information and will include questions regarding
the applicant’s professional and academic experience, including educational
background; honors and awards received; extracurricular and volunteer
activities; and English language proficiency. We will also request a résumé
(with dated educational and professional background), and personal information
(name, address, phone, email, country of citizenship). Additional elements,
such as letters of recommendation or university transcripts, are OPTIONAL and
may supplement your application.
Applications
for the 2018 Mandela Washington Fellowship are open from September 13, 2017,
through October 11, 2017.
Applicants
can access the application and instructions here!
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