U.S. Department of State Grant for the Mandela Washington Fellowship for Young African Leaders

The Study of the U.S. Branch, Office of Academic Exchange Programs, Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA) of the U.S. Department of State invites proposal submissions for one cooperative agreement to design, implement, and oversee the FY 2024 Mandela Washington Fellowship for Young African Leaders (Mandela Washington Fellowship). Established in 2014, the Mandela Washington Fellowship has built and sustained a committed network of approximately 6,500 young African leaders across critical sectors to cement stronger ties between Sub-Saharan Africa and the United States and to prepare the African participants (Fellows) for leadership roles across the continent. The Mandela Washington Fellowship is the flagship program of the Young African Leaders Initiative (YALI), which aims to strengthen democratic institutions and good governance, spur economic growth and prosperity, and enhance peace and security across Africa and the United States.

The award recipient will be responsible for planning and administering all components and aspects of the Mandela Washington Fellowship including six-week Leadership Institutes at U.S. campuses for approximately 700 Fellows, a Summit for all Fellows, Professional Development Experiences (PDEs) for approximately 100 Fellows, a Reciprocal Exchange component that includes a minimum of 100 U.S. participants, and follow-on alumni activities. Under this award, the first group of Fellows would travel to the United States for the Leadership Institutes in summer 2025. The award recipient should design the Fellow application materials, develop an outreach and recruitment plan, receive and screen applications in collaboration with the U.S. Department of State, and oversee the final Fellow selection and placement process. The recipient will recruit, select, and oversee the U.S. host institutions that will each implement the Leadership Institutes in one of three tracks: Business, Civic Engagement, or Public Management.

Please see the full announcement for additional information.

The award recipient will be responsible for planning and administering all components and aspects of the Mandela Washington Fellowship including six-week Leadership Institutes at U.S. campuses for approximately 700 Fellows, a Summit for all Fellows, Professional Development Experiences (PDEs) for approximately 100 Fellows, a Reciprocal Exchange component that includes a minimum of 100 U.S. participants, and follow-on alumni activities. Under this award, the first group of Fellows would travel to the United States for the Leadership Institutes in summer 2025. The award recipient should design the Fellow application materials, develop an outreach and recruitment plan, receive and screen applications in collaboration with the U.S. Department of State, and oversee the final Fellow selection and placement process. The recipient will recruit, select, and oversee the U.S. host institutions that will each implement the Leadership Institutes in one of three tracks: Business, Civic Engagement, or Public Management.
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