2024 Mandela Washington Fellows Arrive in the United States
Selected from a pool of over 50,000 applicants, the 700 Fellows are leaders in agriculture, civil society, education, healthcare, and other fields.
Learn MoreNurturing Resilience: Sustainable Agriculture in Comoros and Rwanda
In the fight against climate change, two collaborative initiatives in Comoros and Rwanda exemplify the power of knowledge, collaboration, and innovation in transforming agricultural practices.
Learn MoreMeet the 2024 Catalyst Grant Winners
Congratulations to the 2024 Mandela Washington Fellowship Catalyst Grant award recipients Amara Chineme, Akusoa Osei-Appaw, and Bojosi Ncube
Learn MoreEmpowering Women with Disabilities in Lesotho
Since her Fellowship, Refiloehape Sesinyi hasn’t just empowered other people with disabilities in her community – she’s also empowering herself.
Learn MoreBridging the Gender Gap Through Entrepreneurship Training
Fellowship Alumni are empowering female entrepreneurs, giving them a seat at the table and building the broader entrepreneurship ecosystem.
Learn MoreABOUT US
The Mandela Washington Fellowship for Young African Leaders is the flagship program of the U.S. Government’s Young African Leaders Initiative (YALI). Established in 2014, the Fellowship is celebrating its tenth anniversary in 2024 and has brought nearly 6,500 young leaders from every country in Sub-Saharan Africa to the United States for academic and leadership training. The Fellows, between the ages of 25 and 35, are accomplished innovators and leaders in their communities and countries.
Learn MoreBUREAU OF EDUCATIONAL AND CULTURAL AFFAIRS
The Mandela Washington Fellowship for Young African Leaders is a program of the U.S. Department of State with funding provided by the U.S. Government and administered by IREX.
Program Impact
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49
?Sub-Saharan African CountriesFellows have come from all 49 countries in Sub-Saharan Africa. -
6,500
?Mandela Washington Fellowship Alumni NetworkSince 2014, nearly 6,500 Fellowship Alumni have completed the program. -
78,000
?Hours of Support Dedicated to U.S. CommunitiesSince 2014, Fellows have dedicated more than 78,000 hours to support U.S. communities during their Leadership Institutes. -
2,400
?Companies and Organizations EngagedSince 2014, the Fellowship has engaged approximately 2,400 institutions from the private, nonprofit, governmental, and multilateral sectors across the United States during Institutes, PDEs, Reciprocal Exchanges, and the Summit.
Stories
An agricultural startup founded by Purdue University alumni is addressing international food insecurity in the Kingdom of Lesotho and rural southern Indiana, with a goal to expand domestically and internationally.
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News
Seeking Readers for 2025 Fellowship Applications
May 30, 2024
News
U.S. Educational Institutions to Host Mandela Washington Fellows
January 31, 2024
Learn more about the 2024 Mandela Washington Fellowship!
“I believe that the Mandela Washington Fellowship has made me a stronger and better leader and has challenged me to think outside the box… There can only be more, bigger, and better to come from me, my fellow Fellows, and the continent of Africa as a whole.”
– Mandela Washington Fellowship Alumna
Learn more about the 2024 Fellowship selection timeline and process, eligibility information, and more. We can't wait to meet the next Mandela Washington Fellows!
Learn more-
September 13, 2023
Application Deadline
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Nov 2023-Jan 2024
Semifinalists interviewed by local U.S. embassies and consulates
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March 2024
Applicants are notified of their status
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May 2024
Finalist visa processing and Pre-Fellowship Orientations
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June 2024
Fellowship begins in the United States
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July 2024
Summit takes place in Washington, D.C.
Fellowship Directory
Including Fellows, Reciprocal Exchange Participants, and U.S. Partners
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