Mandela Washington Fellowship 2025 – Apply for US Exchange Program. The Mandela Washington Fellowship is the flagship program of the U.S. Government’s Young African Leaders Initiative (YALI). This highly competitive program brings young African leaders to the United States for a six-week academic and leadership exchange, where they can hone their skills and connect with U.S. professionals. While the core application for the 2025 program is now closed, there are still opportunities for alumni and other components, so it’s a good time to prepare for future cycles.
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Background & Program Description
Each year, the fellowship provides up to 700 outstanding young leaders from Sub-Saharan Africa with the opportunity to develop their leadership skills and build lasting connections with U.S. professionals. The program includes six-week Leadership Institutes hosted at U.S. colleges and universities, followed by a summit in Washington, D.C. There are three tracks to choose from: Leadership in Business, Civic Engagement, or Public Management.
Mandela Washington Fellowship 2025 – Apply for US Exchange Program
Key Program Components
- Leadership Institutes: Six weeks of academic and leadership training at a U.S. university or college.
- Professional Development Experience (PDE): A competitively selected group of up to 100 Fellows participate in a four-week professional development experience with a U.S. business, civil society organization, or public agency.
- Reciprocal Exchange: U.S. citizens can apply to travel to Africa to collaborate on projects with Fellowship Alumni.
Qualifications
Eligibility
- Age: Between 25 and 35 years old by the application deadline, though exceptional applicants aged 21-24 may be considered.
- Citizenship: A citizen and resident of a Sub-Saharan African country.
- Language: Proficient in reading, writing, and speaking English.
- Other: Must be eligible for a U.S. J-1 visa and cannot be an employee or immediate family member of an employee of the U.S. Government.
Additional Information
The application for the main 2025 Fellowship program closed in September 2024. The 2025 Fellows arrived in the United States in June 2025. However, there are new opportunities for alumni. The application for the Alumni Professional Development Experience (PDE) for 2026 is currently open, with a deadline of September 3, 2025. The application for the Reciprocal Exchange Component for 2025 has also closed. It is essential to check the official website for the most current information.
APPLY HERE
- Mandela Washington Fellowship Official Site: https://www.mandelawashingtonfellowship.org/
- Apply for Alumni PDEs: https://www.mandelawashingtonfellowship.org/2025/08/13/applications-for-alumni-pdes-now-open/
Mandela Washington Fellowship, YALI, young African leaders, US exchange program, leadership program, professional development, US-Africa relations, international scholarship, alumni network, reciprocal exchange.
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