Application Deadline: September 13, 2024
Applications are now open for the 2025 Young African Leaders Initiative (YALI) Reciprocal Exchange Program. The Mandela Washington Fellowship for Young African Leaders—the flagship 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 nearly 7,200 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. U.S. professionals are provided funds to implement in-person or hybrid projects in sub-Saharan African countries to continue collaborative work with Fellowship Alumni on the continent. U.S. professionals may include those met during the Fellowship through networking, the Summit, Professional Development Experiences, or other activities.
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 U.S. Participant to support travel to Sub-Saharan Africa and other program-related costs during the grant period.
- U.S. 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.
- U.S. Participants and Fellowship Alumni will expand their professional networks, gain new business opportunities, build new knowledge or skills, and expand mutual understanding during their Reciprocal Exchange project planning and implementation periods.
- U.S. 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.
Eligibility Requirements
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, USAID, or other U.S. Government entity).
Fellowship Alumni must be considered Alumni of the Fellowship 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. Fellowship Alumni must also fill out the Fellowship Alumni Outreach Campaign if they have not done so in the last year.
Financial Provisions
- Maximum Hybrid Grant Award: $3,000 per project
- Maximum In-Person Grant Award: $5,000 per selected Participant
Disbursement of Funds
Up to $3,000 per project will be provided to implement the Reciprocal Exchange and support approved program-related costs for hybrid projects. Funds may be disbursed to Fellowship Alumni Collaborators for hybrid projects only. For in-person projects with multiple U.S. Participants, the project team must select one Participant to receive the project funds.
Award funds are disbursed in two installments, contingent upon receipt of required deliverables. Participants or Fellowship Alumni Collaborators will receive funds as a wire transfer to their personal bank accounts; as such, Participants and Fellowship Alumni Collaborators will be asked to provide IREX with their bank information as well as a signed Terms and Conditions document, which will outline the terms for the award.
Award Timeline
- Application Deadline: September 13, 2024
- Notification of Award: November 2024
- Grant Period: February 1 – June 30, 2025
More Info: YALI Reciprocal Exchange Program
