Mandela Washington Fellowship 2027 – Fully Funded Leadership Programme in the USA
Closes in 1 day
- Business
- Leadership
- Tech
Programme details
Fellows spend six weeks at an American college or university in a group of approximately 25 participants. The programme offers three learning tracks: Business and Trade, Emerging Technologies, and Governance and Security. Depending on their placement, participants explore subjects such as entrepreneurship, international trade, artificial intelligence, innovation, public policy and institutional leadership. Learning takes place through academic sessions, practical workshops, professional visits and discussions with American experts.
Fellows also participate in community activities and meet professionals from businesses, public institutions and local organisations. Each university develops its own programme, giving participants different opportunities to explore American approaches to leadership and problem-solving. Those interested in gaining further professional experience can apply for an additional four-week placement at a US organisation. The experience encourages participants to examine challenges in their own communities and consider new approaches they can put into practice when they return home.
Important dates
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Applications open
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Application deadline - 4:00 PM GMT
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Required residency confirmation date
Required documents
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Résumé/CV information
Complete the Résumé/CV section in the online application. Provide details of professional positions, education, training, volunteer work, achievements, professional skills and relevant publications or presentations. A separate CV file upload is not specified in the official application instructions.
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Personal statement responses
Complete the required essays in English through the online application system. The application includes one 200-word track preference response and five longer personal statement questions. Each response has its own word limit.
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Professional Development Experience essays Optional
Applicants who wish to be considered for the optional four-week Professional Development Experience must complete three additional written responses about their professional background, learning goals and potential contribution to a US host organisation.
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Passport or government-issued photo identification Optional
Not required to submit the initial application. Applicants selected as semifinalists must present their passport, if available, or another government-issued photo identification document during their interview. Finalists must obtain a valid passport from an eligible country.
Essay questions
Showing question 1 of 9
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Question 1
Explain why your first-choice institute track is the most suitable for your current professional work and future goals.
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Question 2
Describe a significant professional achievement from the past 24 months that demonstrates your leadership. Explain the circumstances, your responsibilities, the actions you took and the results of your work. Include measurable outcomes where possible.
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Question 3
Describe a specific challenge in your professional sector and explain what you are doing to address it. Why is this challenge important in your context? What skills, knowledge or perspectives would you like to develop through the Fellowship to address it more effectively?
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Question 4
Explain how you plan to establish or strengthen a partnership with a US organisation, business or professional network after the Fellowship. Identify the shared goal, your contribution and one realistic step you could take within six months of returning to Sub-Saharan Africa.
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Question 5
Describe how you intend to use the skills, professional connections and perspectives gained during the Fellowship after returning to Sub-Saharan Africa. Identify a specific initiative, responsibility or goal you plan to pursue within 12 months and explain who would benefit.
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Question 6
Describe a professional situation in which you had to make a difficult or unpopular decision. Explain the factors you considered and how you managed the outcome.
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Question 7
Optional Professional Development Experience: Summarise your current professional responsibilities and your long-term career goals. This information may be shared with potential US host organisations.
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Question 8
Optional Professional Development Experience: Identify two or three transferable professional skills you want to strengthen during the placement. Explain why they matter to your work and how you would use them after returning to Sub-Saharan Africa.
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Question 9
Optional Professional Development Experience: Explain how a US host organisation could benefit from your participation. Describe the perspectives or skills you would contribute and how the experience could support future professional relationships with US institutions or businesses.
