Mandela Washington Fellowship

The Mandela Washington Fellowship for Young African Leaders is the flagship program of the U.S. Government’s Young African Leaders Initiative (YALI). Established in 2014, the Fellowship is celebrating its tenth anniversary in 2024. The Fellows, between the ages of 25 and 35, are accomplished innovators and leaders in their communities and countries. The Mandela Washington Fellowship is a leadership program for emerging African leaders designed to advance their work in public management across their communities. The Institute creates connections through experiential workshops, practical training, community service, personal mentoring, and cross-cultural exploration networking. Our goal is to empower a prestigious network of young African leaders who are at the forefront of change and innovation in their respective sector.

The Young African Leaders Initiative (YALI) is a signature effort by the State Department’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs to invest in the next generation of African leaders. Nearly 1 in 3 Africans are between the ages of 10 and 24, and approximately 60 percent of Africa’s total population is below the age of 35. YALI is designed to support young African leaders as they strengthen democracy and spur growth and prosperity.