FY 2026 Mandela Washington Fellowship for Young African Leaders (YALI Fellowship)
Grant Opportunity Analysis
The U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs is seeking one cooperative agreement to design, implement, and oversee the FY 2026 Mandela Washington Fellowship for Young African Leaders. The recipient will manage application materials, outreach and recruitment, application screening with the Department of State, fellow selection and placement, and subawards to about 22 U.S. colleges, universities, or nonprofit organizations that will run the program’s components. The fellowship includes six-week institutes on accredited U.S. campuses for about 550 Fellows across Business and Trade, Emerging Technologies, or Governance and Security, along with Professional Development Experiences for about 50 Fellows, a reciprocal exchange for about 80 U.S. participants, and follow-on alumni activities. The anticipated award is approximately $15 million for one recipient, with no cost sharing requirement, and applications are due May 26, 2026.
Eligible Applicants
Please see announcement.