Applications are now open for the Mandela Washington Fellowship 2026 Reciprocal Exchange Component. The Mandela Washington Fellowship for Young African Leaders—the flagship exchange program of the U.S. Government’s Young African Leaders Initiative (YALI)—was created to invest in the next generation of African leaders. Established in 2014, the Fellowship has supported Alumni from across Sub-Saharan Africa to develop their leadership skills and foster connections and collaboration with U.S. professionals. The Mandela Washington Fellowship is a program of the U.S. Department of State with funding provided by the U.S. Government and administered by IREX. The Fellowship’s Reciprocal Exchange component provides U.S. professionals with the opportunity to build upon strategic partnerships and professional connections developed during the Mandela Washington Fellowship.
WORTH
- The Mandela Washington Fellowship will provide grants of up to $3,000 per selected project to support hybrid Reciprocal Exchange programs or grants of up to $5,000 per selected Participant (up to four Participants) to support travel to Sub-Saharan Africa and other program-related costs during the grant period.
- Participants and Fellowship Alumni will implement a short-term project that directly benefits individuals in the project country during implementation. Projects should be no longer than four weeks.
- Participants and Fellowship Alumni will expand their professional networks, gain new business opportunities, and build new knowledge or skills during their Reciprocal Exchange project planning and implementation periods.
- Participants will actively share skills and knowledge gained during their Reciprocal Exchange with other U.S. citizens in their home communities after implementing their Reciprocal Exchange to benefit American organizations and businesses.
ELIGIBILITY
- U.S. professionals participating in the Reciprocal Exchange must be U.S. citizens currently living in the United States. U.S. professionals may not be employees or immediate family members of employees of the U.S. Government (including a U.S. Embassy or other U.S. Government entity). Any one individual can complete no more than two in-person Reciprocal Exchange projects.
- Fellowship Alumni must be considered Alumni of the Fellowship in good standing by the U.S. Department of State. They may not be employees or immediate family members of employees of the U.S. Government. Fellowship Alumni must reside in the proposed project country and be present for the full duration of the project’s implementation.
DEADLINE: September 19, 2025
To apply and for more information, Visit here