The Mandela Washington Fellowship for Young African Leaders (YALI), a flagship program of the US Government’s Young African Leaders Initiative (YALI), is inviting applications for its 2026 Reciprocal Exchange component.
The program allows U.S. professionals to collaborate with Fellowship Alumni in Sub-Saharan Africa on short-term projects, either in-person or virtually, to strengthen partnerships, expand professional networks, and create business opportunities.
Under the program, grants of up to $3,000 (Ksh 387,720) per selected project will support hybrid Reciprocal Exchange programs.
Funds for hybrid projects may be disbursed to Fellowship Alumni collaborators and are released in two installments, contingent upon the receipt and approval of required deliverables.
Mandela Washington Fellowship 2026 Opens Reciprocal Exchange Component with Grants up to Ksh 646,200
Participants and collaborators will receive funds through their personal bank accounts after providing bank details and signing the Terms and Conditions document.
Additionally, grants of up to $5,000 (Ksh 646,200) per selected participant (up to four participants) are available to support travel to Sub-Saharan Africa and other program-related costs during the grant period.
The maximum grant ceiling for a project is $20,000, applicable to up to four participants. All participants must be included in the application at the time of submission.
Participants and Fellowship Alumni will implement short-term projects that directly benefit individuals in the project country. Projects should last no longer than four weeks.
During the exchange, participants will expand their professional networks, gain new business opportunities, and acquire new skills or knowledge.
After completing their projects, they are expected to share their expertise with U.S. communities, benefiting American organizations and businesses.
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Reciprocal Exchange Award Timeline
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Application Deadline: September 19, 2025
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Notification of Award: December 2025
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Grant Period: February 1 – June 30, 2026
Eligibility Requirements
U.S. professionals must be U.S. citizens residing in the United States and may not be employees or immediate family members of U.S. Government personnel, including embassy staff.
Each individual may participate in no more than two in-person Reciprocal Exchange projects.
Fellowship Alumni must be in good standing with the U.S. Department of State, reside in the proposed project country, and be present for the full project duration.
They may not be U.S. Government employees or immediate family members of such employees.
Application and other details can be found at Applications for 2026 Reciprocal Exchange Component Now Open – Mandela Washington Fellowship
Selection Criteria
Eligible applications will be reviewed based on:
- Demonstrated impact on the Fellowship Alumni collaborator’s home organization, community, or country.
- Demonstrated benefits to U.S. companies, communities, or organizations.
- Joint engagement between the U.S. professional and the Alumni collaborator in project design and implementation.
- A clear and realistic project implementation plan.
- Measurable goals and specific project activities.
- Evidence of continued impact after project completion.
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Preference will be given to applications that:
- Include activities celebrating American leadership and innovation.
- Show a history of collaboration resulting from the Mandela Washington Fellowship.
- Demonstrate professional expertise relevant to the proposed activities.
- Highlight cultural and professional exchange aspects.
- Build upon existing projects or initiatives.
- Include budget cost-sharing.
General Application Instructions
Applications must include:
- Completed Application Form: Both U.S. professional and Alumni must complete together. Responses must be in English. Include legal names, contact info, and essay responses (max 300 words each). Avoid AI-generated content.
- Completed Work Plan: Use the provided template and follow Guidelines.
- Completed Budget Form: Include all costs, in U.S. dollars, using the provided template.
- Professional Resumes: Maximum two pages, in English, demonstrating qualifications for project implementation.
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