Mandela Washington Fellowship 2027 for Young African Leaders | Programme costs, travel, housing and meals covered

The Mandela Washington Fellowship 2027 is open to young African leaders for a six-week leadership programme in the United States. The fellowship covers programme costs, travel, housing and meals, with up to 550 leaders expected to participate in the 2027 cohort.

The fellowship brings selected young African leaders to U.S. educational institutions for a six-week leadership institute between mid-June and early August 2027.

The programme combines academic sessions, professional visits, networking, community service and cultural activities.

An optional four-week Professional Development Experience is also available for up to 50 selected Fellows.

What Does the Fellowship Cover?

For selected Fellows, the U.S. Government covers the stated programme costs, including:

Required J-1 visa support
Round-trip travel from the home city to the United States
Required domestic U.S. travel
Six-week leadership institute
Housing and meals during the programme
Limited accident and sickness benefit plan
Support for the optional professional placement, if selected.

The fellowship does not replace salary lost during participation or cover personal purchases. Dependants cannot accompany Fellows during the programme.

Who Can Apply?

Applicants generally must:

Be 25–35 years old on 13 October 2026, although exceptional applicants aged 21–24 may be considered.
Be a citizen and resident of an eligible Sub-Saharan African country.
Have strong English reading, writing and speaking skills.
Be eligible for a U.S. J-1 visa.
Have not previously participated in the Mandela Washington Fellowship.

Eligible countries include Zimbabwe, South Africa, Zambia, Botswana, Ghana, Kenya, Nigeria, Uganda, Tanzania, Malawi, Mozambique, Rwanda and other listed African countries.

Mandela Washington Fellowship Tracks

Applicants rank all three tracks and explain why their first choice matches their work:

Business and Trade — for leaders working in entrepreneurship, private-sector development, trade or workforce development.

Emerging Technologies — for professionals using areas such as AI, biotechnology, robotics or advanced computing to address challenges.

Governance and Security — for leaders working on public institutions, accountability, policy, stability or security.

First-choice placement is not guaranteed.

How to Apply

Applications must be completed through the official online application system. Email applications are not accepted.

Applicants should check their eligibility, create an account, provide their education and professional experience, describe their leadership record, rank the three tracks and complete the required personal statements.

The application asks candidates to provide specific examples of leadership achievements, sector challenges, potential U.S. partnerships, plans after returning home and difficult professional decisions.

Strong Application Call

Do not wait until the final day to submit your Mandela Washington Fellowship application. Check your citizenship, residence and age eligibility first, then prepare your leadership examples and personal statements using specific evidence of what you have achieved and the results you have created.

Complete every section in the online application, review your answers carefully and click “Submit Application.” A saved draft is not considered a submitted application. All responses must be in English and in your own words.

Application deadline: 13 October 2026 at 4:00 p.m. GMT.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the Mandela Washington Fellowship fully funded?

The programme covers stated programme costs, travel, housing and meals, as well as J-1 visa support and other listed programme benefits.

How long is the fellowship?

The main leadership institute lasts six weeks during summer 2027.

Can Zimbabweans apply?

Yes. Zimbabwe is included among the eligible countries listed in the 2027 application information, subject to meeting the other eligibility requirements.