The U.S. Department of State and the International Research & Exchanges Board (IREX), an international, non-profit organisation that specialises in global education and development, have offered admissions to the 2022 cohort of the ‘Mandela Washington Fellowship for Young African Leaders’ in the United States.
The Mandela Washington Fellowship is funded by the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs, and administered in partnership with IREX. The fellowship creates stronger ties between 49 sub-Saharan African countries and the United States with the goal of strengthening democratic institutions, spurring economic growth, and enhancing peace and security on the continent.
Accomplished in their careers and dedicated to serving their communities, the 2022 Mandela Washington Fellows represent the geographic, cultural, and racial diversity of Africa. The participants come from a variety of socio-economic backgrounds including small business owners, public sector leaders, and non-profit professionals; represent equal numbers of women and men; and include individuals with disabilities.
This year the selection was from a pool of more than 38,000 applicants. The 700 fellows are leaders in agriculture, civil society, education, healthcare, and other fields with different backgrounds. The fellows, between the ages of 25 and 35, are accomplished innovators and leaders in their communities and countries.
*The fellows participate in six-week leadership institutes, studying Business, Civic Engagement, or Public Management hosted by U.S. colleges or universities. Throughout the institutes, fellows enrich local U.S. communities while sharing best practices.
*After the institutes, fellows convene for a summit 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.
*Professional Development Experiences (PDEs). Up to 100 competitively-selected fellows work with private, public, and non-profit organisations for six weeks. Both fellows and hosts benefit from discussing shared issues and challenges in their sectors, broadening their perspectives, and positioning U.S. organisations for international engagement.
*Reciprocal exchanges. The U.S. citizens have the opportunity to apply to travel to Africa to collaborate on projects with fellows, building upon connections initiated during the programme. These partnerships and professional connections are intended to form lasting relationships, expand markets and networks, and increase mutual understanding.
*Opportunities for alumni. The Fellowship Alumni continue to build the skills and connections developed during the programme through access to ongoing professional development, networking, and collaboration opportunities with support from the U.S. Department of State and affiliated partners.
*Virtual programming. The fellows watch presentations in a classroom at Syracuse University during their Mandela Washington Fellowship Leadership Institute. Then participate in a session with Dean James Steinberg at Syracuse University.
The fellowship leverages stakeholder expertise to deliver a suite of virtual programming for selected candidates and Fellowship Alumni to support their continued leadership development and strengthen their access to networks and resources.
For six weeks, the fellows participate in leadership institutes at 27 U.S. educational institutions in 20 states across the United States. Throughout the programme, they will develop lasting connections with Americans and enrich local communities while enhancing their skills through leadership training, experiential learning, and networking.
They develop innovative solutions to pressing challenges in their home countries and collaborate with their peers from both the United States and Africa. Additionally, the fellows give back to their U.S. host communities – since 2014, fellows have contributed to community service and worked with different organisations across the United States.
The fellows connect with one another and U.S. professionals, setting the stage for continued collaboration when they return home. These substantive, short-term placements allow fellows to contribute their skills and insights to U.S. organisations and grow as early-career professionals.
The fellows continue to build on their skills and connections developed during their time in the United States through access to ongoing professional development, networking, and collaboration opportunities for alumni. The fellows may also apply for their U.S. colleagues to travel to Africa to continue project-based collaboration through the Reciprocal exchange component.
Launched in 2014, the Mandela Washington Fellowship is the flagship programme of the Young African Leaders Initiative (YALI), and embodies the U.S. commitment to invest in the future of Africa.
YALI was created in 2010 and supports young Africans as they spur economic growth and prosperity, strengthen democratic governance, and enhance peace and security across Africa. Since 2014, nearly 5,100 young leaders from every country in sub-Saharan Africa have participated in the Mandela Washington Fellowship.
