iLEAD Fellowship Cohort 13 Opens for Young Leaders Across East Africa

The iLEAD Fellowship Cohort 13 is inviting young African leaders aged 18–35 to join a six-month leadership development and mentorship programme focused on values-based leadership, civic engagement, policy, communication and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Although the opportunity is promoted as a programme for young leaders across East Africa, the official ELF-Africa information states that applications are open to citizens of all 54 African countries, including Africans living in the diaspora. The fellowship is offered at no cost to participants.

The iLEAD Fellowship is a leadership development and mentorship initiative delivered by the Emerging Leaders Foundation-Africa (ELF-Africa). The programme is built around the organisation’s belief that strong, values-based leadership can contribute to social, economic and political transformation across Africa.

The fellowship is designed for young Africans who are already demonstrating leadership in their professions, educational institutions, communities or wider society. Rather than focusing only on academic qualifications, the programme seeks participants who are passionate about creating positive change and addressing important development challenges.

According to the programme information, iLEAD focuses on several Sustainable Development Goals, including No Poverty, Quality Education, Decent Work and Economic Growth, Climate Action, and Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions.

The programme uses a three-part approach combining training, mentorship and coaching to help participants strengthen their leadership capabilities, develop practical life skills, increase civic consciousness and gain exposure to policy-related work.

Fellowship Programme

The iLEAD Fellowship runs for six months and consists of seven modular training sessions delivered through a combination of in-person and virtual learning.

The programme structure includes approximately four months of modular training followed by two months dedicated to community service and graduation.

Training sessions are scheduled twice each month, generally on the second and fourth Saturday, from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

Participants will take part in interactive workshops, practical case studies and collaborative projects designed to connect leadership theory with real-world challenges.

Key learning areas include:

Ethical Leadership

Participants explore values-based leadership and how ethical principles can guide decision-making and leadership practice.

Decision-Making

The fellowship provides opportunities for young leaders to strengthen their ability to assess challenges and make effective decisions.

Policy Development

Participants gain exposure to policy-related work and learn how leadership can contribute to broader institutional and social change.

Personal Branding

The programme addresses personal positioning and professional development, helping participants better communicate their leadership identity.

Effective Communication

Communication skills form an important component of the fellowship, supporting participants in working effectively with communities, institutions and professional networks.

Networking, Mentorship and Community Engagement

The iLEAD Fellowship extends beyond classroom-style training. Participants also engage in networking forums, industry-specific workshops and community service activities.

The mentorship and coaching components are intended to give participants access to guidance and practical support as they develop their leadership capabilities.

Community service provides fellows with an opportunity to apply what they learn while contributing to initiatives that have a positive impact within their communities.

Successful participants who complete the fellowship receive a certificate of completion.

Qualifications and Eligibility

Education and Certification

The supplied programme information does not specify a particular academic degree, diploma or professional qualification as a requirement.

Instead, applicants are assessed primarily around their leadership experience, commitment and suitability for the programme.

The fellowship is open to individuals from different educational and professional backgrounds.

Experience

Applicants should meet the following criteria:

Be a young African aged 18–35 years.
Demonstrate leadership in a chosen profession, educational institution, community or wider society.
Be a citizen of an African country, whether currently living in Africa or in the diaspora.
Be proficient in reading, writing and speaking English.

Importantly, the official ELF-Africa information states that the programme is open across the entire African continent, covering all 54 African countries.

The organisation also emphasizes diversity, equity and inclusion and welcomes applications regardless of factors such as gender, religion, socioeconomic status, disability or other personal characteristics.

Additional Information

Is There an Application Fee?

No. The iLEAD Fellowship is offered at no cost to participants, and there is no charge to apply.

Accessibility

Applicants with disabilities are encouraged to apply. ELF-Africa states that it is committed to making reasonable accommodations to help participants fully engage with the programme.

Applicants can share their accessibility needs during the application process so that appropriate arrangements can be considered.

Application Process

Interested candidates are expected to apply through the ELF-Africa website by completing the application form and submitting the required documents, including a personal statement.

Applicants should ensure that the information they provide clearly demonstrates their leadership experience, community involvement, motivation and interest in contributing to positive change.

Application Updates

ELF-Africa states that updates throughout the application cycle will be communicated through its social media channels, including LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, X and TikTok. Successful candidates will receive notification by email.

Candidates are therefore encouraged to monitor the organisation’s official communication channels after submitting an application.

How to Apply

Interested young African leaders can learn more and begin the application process through the official ELF-Africa iLEAD Fellowship page:

Official Programme Page:
https://elfafrica.org/ilead/

Applicants should review the programme requirements carefully and prepare the requested personal statement and supporting information before submitting the application.

Important: While the headline refers to young leaders across East Africa, the official programme information supplied here says that iLEAD is open to citizens of all 54 African countries, including applicants living in the African diaspora.

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