2023 YALI Mandela Washington Fellowship

Application Period: August 16 – September 13, 2022

Online Application: mwfellows.info/apply or apply.mandelawashingtonfellowship.org

Applications will not be accepted in hard copy, nor via email.

Selection Process and Criteria

The The Mandela Washington Fellowship for Young African Leaders is the flagship program of the U.S. Government’s Young African Leaders Initiative (YALI). Since 2014, nearly 5,100 young leaders from every country in Sub-Saharan Africa have participated in the Fellowship. The Fellows, between the ages of 25 and 35, are accomplished leaders and have established records of promoting innovation and positive impact in their communities and countries. Each year, the Fellows participate in six-week Leadership Institutes, studying Business, Civic Engagement, or Public Management at U.S. colleges or universities. During their time on campus, Fellows connect with Americans and enrich local U.S. communities while sharing best practices. After the Institutes, Fellows convene for a multi-day Summit in Washington, D.C., where they forge connections with one another and U.S. leaders from the private, public, and non-profit sectors, setting the stage for long-term engagement between the United States and Africa.

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 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, and other U.S. Government entities);
Are proficient in reading, writing, and speaking English (applicants who are deaf should refer to the English Language instructions on the Resources page);
Are citizens 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, 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.

Please note that Fellows are not allowed to have dependents, including spouses and children, accompany them during the 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 information is found to be false, the application will immediately be declared invalid and the applicant ineligible.

What are the criteria for selection?

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 home.

Application Timeline

August 16, 2022| Application opens
September 13, 2022| Application deadline
November 2022 – January 2023| Semifinalists 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

For more information on the YALI-Mandela Washington Fellowship Program, please visit apply.mandelawashingtonfellowship.org , email: MaputoExchangePrograms@state.gov, or visit our Website at https://mz.usembassy.gov/education-culture/educational-exchange and Facebook page at http://www.facebook.com/USEmbassyMozambique.