A programme of the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs, the Mandela Washington Fellowship will bring approximately 550 young African leaders to the United States in summer 2027.

Fellows will participate in an executive-style programme at a U.S. college or university, engage with American experts and leaders, develop professional connections, and join a network of nearly 7,800 alumni.

The 2027 Mandela Washington Fellowship application opens September 22, 2026, and closes October 13, 2026.

YALI Mandela Washington Fellowship 2027 Overview

What Is the Mandela Washington Fellowship?

The Mandela Washington Fellowship is the flagship programme of the Young African Leaders Initiative (YALI).

The programme provides young African leaders with opportunities to strengthen their leadership and professional skills while building relationships with American professionals and organisations.

For the 2027 cohort, Fellows will take part in a six-week executive-style institute at a U.S. college or university.

The programme focuses on professional development, leadership, networking and collaboration.

Benefits of the Mandela Washington Fellowship

Selected Fellows will have the opportunity to:

• Participate in a six-week programme at a U.S. college or university.
• Learn from American experts and professionals.
• Engage with leaders from the U.S. public and private sectors.
• Build professional relationships with American counterparts.
• Explore American innovation, industry, history and culture.
• Develop skills that can be applied to their work and communities.
• Join the Mandela Washington Fellowship alumni network.

The Fellowship also provides opportunities for Fellows to engage with professionals in areas including business and trade, emerging technologies, governance and security.

Who Can Apply for the Mandela Washington Fellowship 2027?

Applicants must meet the programme’s technical eligibility requirements.

You must:

• Be between 25 and 35 years old on or before the application deadline.
• Exceptional applicants aged 21–24 may also be considered.
• Be a citizen of an eligible Sub-Saharan African country.
• Be a resident of an eligible country.
• Be permanently residing in an eligible country as of February 1, 2027, and at the beginning of the Fellowship in June 2027.
• Be eligible to receive a U.S. J-1 visa.
• Be proficient in reading, writing and speaking English.
• Not be a U.S. citizen or permanent resident.
• Not be an employee or immediate family member of an employee of the U.S. Government.
• Not have previously participated in the Mandela Washington Fellowship.

Applicants must also demonstrate leadership and professional experience relevant to the Fellowship’s selection criteria.

Eligible Countries for the Mandela Washington Fellowship 2027

Citizens of the following countries are eligible to apply:

Angola, Benin, Botswana, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cameroon, Cabo Verde, Central African Republic, Chad, Comoros, Republic of the Congo, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Côte 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, São Tomé and Príncipe, Senegal, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Somalia, South Africa, South Sudan, Sudan, Tanzania, Togo, Uganda, Zambia and Zimbabwe.

Citizenship alone is not sufficient. Applicants must also meet the Fellowship’s residency requirements.

For example, the official FAQ states that someone who is a citizen of Ghana but currently lives in another eligible Sub-Saharan African country, such as South Africa, may apply if the other requirements are met. However, someone living outside the eligible region is not eligible to apply.

Is a University Degree Required?

No. The official 2027 application FAQ states that applicants do not need to have attended university or hold a university degree.

Formal education may contribute to an applicant’s overall application, but the absence of a degree does not automatically make an applicant ineligible.

Is English Required?

Yes. The Mandela Washington Fellowship is conducted entirely in English, and applicants must demonstrate a high level of written and spoken English.

English ability is assessed through the application and, for selected semifinalists, during the interview.

TOEFL scores are not required.

All application components must be submitted in English.

What Are the Selection Criteria?

The Mandela Washington Fellowship is a merit-based open competition.

Applications are evaluated using criteria that include:

• English proficiency.
• A proven record of accomplishment in business, trade, emerging technologies, governance and/or security.
• Interest in developing partnerships with American organisations and businesses.
• Commitment to return to Sub-Saharan Africa and contribute to local communities.
• Ability to work cooperatively with others.
• Strong social and communication skills.
• Adaptability and effective leadership in different environments.

These criteria are not listed by order of importance by the Fellowship.

Mandela Washington Fellowship Application Timeline 2027

Applicants should take note of the following dates:

How to Apply for the Mandela Washington Fellowship 2027

Applications are submitted online through the official Mandela Washington Fellowship application system.

Step 1: Check your eligibility

Confirm that you meet the age, citizenship, residency, English-language and other technical requirements before starting the application.

Step 2: Create an application account

You need to create a separate account in the Mandela Washington Fellowship application system.

Previous applications are not carried over to the 2027 application, so previous applicants must register again.

Step 3: Complete the application

Provide the required information and answer the application questions carefully.

Your responses must reflect your own experiences, ideas and words. The official FAQ allows technology such as grammar tools and translation applications for language support, but applicants remain responsible for the substance of their answers and must disclose AI use where the application asks for it.

Step 4: Review your application

Check your answers carefully before submitting.

Once submitted, the application is considered final and applicants cannot add documents or make changes afterward.

Step 5: Submit before the deadline

Submit your application online no later than: October 13, 2026 There is no application fee.

Official Application Link

Apply for the 2027 Mandela Washington Fellowship: Official Mandela Washington Fellowship Application

Read the 2027 Application Instructions: 2027 Mandela Washington Fellowship Application Instructions

Read the official Application FAQs: Mandela Washington Fellowship 2027 Application FAQs

What Happens After You Apply?

After the application deadline, eligible applications are reviewed and scored.

Selected semifinalists are interviewed by U.S. embassies and consulates in their home countries.

If selected as a semifinalist, applicants may be required to provide documentation verifying information such as:

• Age
• Citizenship
• Residency

Finalists must participate in a mandatory in-person pre-departure orientation before travelling to the United States.

Do You Need a Passport to Apply?

A passport is not required to submit the application. However, selected Fellows will need a passport that meets the Fellowship’s validity requirements before participating in the programme. The current FAQ states that the passport must generally be valid through at least February 28, 2028, or March 31, 2028 for those selected for the Professional Development Experience.

Can You Bring Your Family to the United States?

No. Fellows are not permitted to bring dependents or other family members to the United States during the Fellowship. The programme does not issue dependent visas for Fellows’ family members.

Can Students Apply?

Yes, provided they meet the programme’s technical eligibility requirements.

However, applicants who are currently living in a country outside the eligible Sub-Saharan African countries cannot apply simply because they are citizens of an eligible African country.

The official FAQ specifically states that African students temporarily studying in countries such as France or other non-eligible countries are not eligible while residing there.

Can Military and Police Officers Apply?

Yes. The official 2027 FAQ states that applicants currently serving in the military, defence ministry, police or other law-enforcement organisations are eligible to apply, provided they meet the other requirements.

Is There an Application Fee?

No. The Mandela Washington Fellowship application is free.

Applicants should be careful of anyone asking for money in exchange for access to the official application.

Important Application Tips

Before submitting your application:

1. Read the official 2027 application instructions.
2. Confirm that you meet the age and residency requirements.
3. Clearly explain your leadership and professional experience.
4. Use real examples from your work and community.
5. Explain how your experience connects to the Fellowship.
6. Show how you intend to contribute to your community.
7. Make sure your application is written in English.
8. Review your answers carefully before submission.
9. Do not copy answers from previous applicants or online sources.
10. Submit before October 13, 2026.

The official Fellowship specifically warns applicants against plagiarism and copying content from other applicants or sources.

Mandela Washington Fellowship 2027 Deadline

The application deadline for the YALI Mandela Washington Fellowship 2027 is: October 13, 2026

The application opens on September 22, 2026. The Fellowship is scheduled to begin in the United States in June 2027.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the YALI Mandela Washington Fellowship?

It is a U.S. Department of State programme that brings young African leaders to the United States for an intensive professional and leadership development programme.

How long is the Mandela Washington Fellowship?

The main Fellowship programme is six weeks and takes place at a U.S. college or university.

How old do you have to be for the Mandela Washington Fellowship?

Applicants must generally be 25 to 35 years old by the October 13, 2026 application deadline. Exceptional applicants aged 21–24 may be considered. Applicants older than 35 are not eligible.

How much does it cost to apply?

There is no application fee for the Mandela Washington Fellowship.

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