Verified Opportunity

Mandela Washington Fellowship for Young African Leaders (YALI)

pending_verification

Overview

Opportunity Overview

The flagship fellowship of the U.S. Government’s Young African Leaders Initiative (YALI), bringing up to 700 accomplished young African leaders each year to the United States for six-week academic and leadership training Institutes, followed by a Summit in Washington, D.C. Free to apply u2014 administered by the U.S. Department of State and IREX.

Classification

Opportunity Details

Opportunity / Program Type

Country

Education Level

Field of Study

Funding Type

Verification & Key Dates

Verification Date

July 14, 2026

Deadline

July 14, 2026

Source Organization

U.S. Department of State (Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs), administered by IREX

Official Application Link

https://www.mandelawashingtonfellowship.org/apply/

Eligibility

- Citizen and resident of a Sub-Saharan African country, including South Sudan
- Between ages 25 and 35 at the application deadline (exceptional applicants aged 21u201324 may be considered)
- NOT a U.S. citizen or permanent resident
- NOT an employee or immediate family member of a U.S. Government employee
- NOT a previous Mandela Washington Fellowship alumnus
- Established record of leadership and community impact
- Commitment to return to Africa after the Fellowship

Benefits

- Fully funded six-week Leadership Institute at a U.S. college or university (Business, Civic Engagement, or Public Management track)
- Multi-day Summit in Washington, D.C.
- Possible selection for a further 4-week Professional Development Experience with a U.S. organization
- Ongoing access to the YALI alumni network and professional development opportunities
- Application and program participation are completely free u2014 the Fellowship explicitly warns against scammers charging any fee to apply

How to Apply

Application Process

1. Complete the free official online application during the open window
2. Applications are reviewed by a merit-based selection panel
3. Eligible semifinalists are interviewed by the U.S. embassy or consulate in their home country
4. Semifinalists must provide a passport or other government-issued photo ID at interview
5. Final selections are announced, typically in early the following year
6. Selected Fellows are placed at a U.S. host institution for the summer Institute

Documents

Required Documents

A passport or other government-issued photo ID is required at the semifinalist interview stage. The application itself is completed entirely online; check the official application portal for any additional documents requested at that time.

Important Notes

IMPORTANT: During re-verification on 2026-07-14, the official application page returned inconsistent results u2014 stale content from a prior cycle on one check, and a 404 response on another. This listing is marked Pending Verification until this is resolved. The Fellowship itself is a genuine, long-running U.S. Department of State programme (confirmed via yali.state.gov and irex.org), but do not treat the specific deadline shown here as current. Application is always free u2014 be highly suspicious of anyone charging a fee.

FAQ

Common Questions

Is this opportunity guaranteed?

No \u2014 verification confirms the opportunity is real and current, not that any application will be accepted.

How current is this listing?

Check the Verification Date above \u2014 listings are reviewed periodically and marked Expired or Closed when no longer valid.

Can Bang Ti Lenydoor help me apply?

Yes \u2014 contact an advisor for application guidance specific to this opportunity type.

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