Physical Address
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Dorchester Center, MA 02124
Deadline: September 19, 2025
The Mandela Washington Fellowship (MWF) Reciprocal Exchange Component 2026 is a unique initiative under the Young African Leaders Initiative (YALI) designed to strengthen collaboration between U.S. professionals and African leaders. This program provides U.S. citizens the opportunity to travel to Africa to work alongside Mandela Washington Fellowship Alumni on projects that promote mutual growth, cultural exchange, and sustainable development.
The component emphasizes co-creation of solutions to address pressing challenges in Africa across fields such as entrepreneurship, education, governance, public health, energy, and civic engagement. It also enhances U.S.–Africa partnerships by fostering professional networks and long-term collaborations.
Financial Provision
- Maximum Hybrid Grant Award: $3,000 per project
- Maximum In-Person Grant Award: $5,000 per selected Participant (up to four U.S. Participants)
Award Objectives
- 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.
SEE ALSO: Queen Elizabeth II Commonwealth Trust’s 100 Young Leaders Awards 2026 for Inspirational Young Leaders
Eligibility Criteria
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.
Eligible applications will be reviewed using the following selection criteria:
- Demonstrates impact on the Fellowship Alumni Collaborator’s home organization, community, and/or country;
- Demonstrates impact and concrete benefit to U.S. companies, communities, or organizations;
- Demonstrates joint engagement between the Fellowship Alumni Collaborator and U.S. professional in project design and implementation (i.e., it should be clear to application reviewers that each applicant contributed equally to the overall application);
- Proposes a clear and realistic project implementation plan;
- Provides measurable goals and specific project activities during implementation; and
- Demonstrates continued impact of the project after implementation.
Application Process and Documents Required
The application process involves:
- Completing the online application form via the Mandela Washington Fellowship portal.
- Submitting a joint project proposal co-designed with an MWF alumnus.
- Providing a current CV/resume highlighting relevant expertise.
- Uploading a statement of interest describing expected outcomes and impact.
- Letters of support or references (optional but strongly encouraged).
