The U.S. Embassy hosted a live and virtual information session about the Mandela Washington Fellowship (MWF) application process and program contents, along with two alumni of the program, Mohamed Doumbia and Sadya Toure. They explained that interested applicants can learn more about the program and apply online until 16:00 GMT on October 9, 2019 by visiting: https://www.mandelawashingtonfellowship.org/
During the session, the Cultural Affairs Officer and YALI alumni answered questions from Embassy American Center patrons as well as thousands of Embassy Facebook followers related to how to submit a strong application, important deadlines, the selection process and eligibility criteria. The Cultural Affairs Officer encouraged all interested young leaders to apply to this exceptional program, saying, “The program is competitive, but Mali will send participants. Why couldn’t one of them be you?”
In 2020, the Mandela Washington Fellowship will send 700 young leaders to the United States for a comprehensive executive-style program designed to empower Fellows to lead in their communities. Participants in the Mandela Washington Fellowship program take part in a six-week Leadership Institute at a U.S. college or university in one of three tracks: Business, Civic Engagement, or Public Management. The intensive model includes academic sessions, site visits, professional networking opportunities, leadership training, community service, and organized cultural activities. Upon returning to their home countries, Fellows continue to build the skills they develop during their time in the United States through support from U.S. embassies, four Regional Leadership Centers, the YALI Network, and customized programming from USAID, the Department of State, and affiliated partners.
The Mandela Washington Fellowship program is an open merit-based competition. Applicants will not be discriminated against on the basis of race, color, gender, religion, socio-economic status, disability, sexual orientation, or gender identity.
The Mandela Washington Fellowship is open to young African leaders who meet the following criteria:
- Are between the ages of 25 and 35 on or before the application deadline, although exceptional applicants ages 21-24 will be considered;
- Are not U.S. citizens or permanent residents of the United States;
- Are eligible to receive a United States J-1 visa;
- Are not employees or immediate family members of employees of the U.S. Government (including a U.S. embassy or consulate, USAID, and other U.S. Government entities);
- Are proficient in reading, writing, and speaking English (applicants who are deaf should refer to the English Language instructions on the Resources page);
- Are citizens and residents of one of the following countries: Angola, Benin, Botswana, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cameroon, Cabo Verde, Central African Republic, Chad, Comoros, Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), Republic of the Congo, Cote d’Ivoire, Djibouti, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Eswatini, Ethiopia, Gabon, The Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Kenya, Lesotho, Liberia, Madagascar, Malawi, Mali, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mozambique, Namibia, Niger, Nigeria, Rwanda, Sao Tome and Principe, Senegal, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Somalia, South Africa, South Sudan, Sudan, Tanzania, Togo, Uganda, Zambia, or Zimbabwe;
- Are residents of one of the above countries; and
- Are not Alumni of the Mandela Washington Fellowship.
Those interested in applying are encouraged to visit https://www.mandelawashingtonfellowship.org/ for more information and to apply before the deadline of 16:00 GMT on October 9, 2019.
