US Accepting Applications for 2014 Young African Leaders Washington Fellowship

Washington, DC
December 18, 2013

The U.S. Department of State is currently seeking applications for a new exchange program for Sub-Saharan Africa, the Washington Fellowship for Young African Leaders. The Washington Fellowship for Young African Leaders, the new flagship program of President Obama’s Young African Leaders Initiative (YALI), will bring 500 young leaders ages 25 to 35 to the United States each year beginning in summer 2014 for academic coursework and leadership training and will create unique opportunities in Africa for Fellows to put new skills to practical use in leading organizations, communities, and countries. The Washington Fellowship includes:

• A 6-week Academic and Leadership Institute: Fellows are placed at U.S. colleges and universities for academic institutes. Institutes will focus on skills development in one of three areas: Business and Entrepreneurship, Civic Leadership, or Public Management.

• A Summit with President Obama in Washington, DC: At the conclusion of the academic and leadership institute, all Fellows will participate in a Presidential Summit.

• An optional 8-week U.S. Internship: As part of the Fellowship application, individuals may apply to receive practical training at a U.S. business, civil society organization, or public
agency in the United States. Approximately 100 Washington Fellows will be selected for U.S.-based internships.

• Continued Activities in Africa: Fellows will have the opportunity for continued networking opportunities, ongoing professional development, access to seed funding, and community service activities upon their return home after the Fellowship.

We invite you to reach out to any qualified young African leaders you may know and encourage them to apply for this prestigious Fellowship opportunity. The online application for the Washington Fellowship and more information can be found at http://youngafricanleaders.state.gov/washington-fellows/

Completed applications, including all supporting documents, are due by January 27, 2014. All applications must be submitted via the online application system. Any questions about the application should be emailed to washingtonfellowship@irex.org.