Application Deadline: February 7th, 2025
Applications are now open for the 2025 Acumen East Africa Fellows Program. The East Africa Acumen Fellowship is a transformative program that brings together a cohort of extraordinary individuals with an entrepreneurial mindset and a commitment to solve problems of poverty. We equip them with the tools and community to strengthen their leadership, scale their impact, and create meaningful change in East Africa.
Through the program curriculum and a supportive cohort, participants peel back notions of themselves as leaders and build greater self-awareness. They hone their skills to become better team leaders, authentic storytellers, and navigate values in tension. They leave the program with the ability to negotiate across differences, motivate themselves and others, challenge traditional ways of working, and reshape the people, organizations, and systems around them.
Program Structure
Fellows remain in their jobs and participate in a 6-month hybrid program consisting of virtual sessions, in-person immersives, and self-paced learning.
This is a high-level program overview:
- One 3-day virtual Orientation
- Two 5-day full-time in-person immersives (8 hours of assignments for each immersive consisting of self-paced learning and group calls)
- Three Learning Labs (4 hours each along with assignments)
Eligibility Requirements
- You are a social entrepreneur or senior decision-maker solving problems of poverty.
- You have 5 years of work experience (minimum) and are able to demonstrate commitment towards solving issues of poverty. On average Fellows have 10-15 years of work experience with 10 years working on problems of poverty.
- You have a reliable internet connection and will be fully available to participate throughout the entirety of the program.
- Women and individuals who identify as or who serve Forcibly Displaced Persons (FDP) are encouraged to apply.
- East Africa (Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Rwanda, Ethiopia, Burundi, South Sudan, Somalia)
Benefits
- Once you are selected as an Acumen Fellow Candidate, Acumen covers all program-related expenses during the Fellowship. This includes all costs associated with the immersives including lodging and food. Reimbursements are available for travel to immersives if the participants wish to claim them.
Application Process
- Read the Applicant Toolkit
- Prepare for your application – Please read the Application Toolkit to prepare your application.
- Submit the Online Application: January 7th, 2025
The application has been designed to understand more about you, your work and impact, as well as your program readiness. Acumen encourage you to start the application early.
- Participate in the Selection Conference: April 10th & 11th, 2025
Shortlisted applicants are invited to participate in the Selection Conference, either in person or virtually.
- Start your Fellowship Journey: May 14th, 2025
The team will notify selected applicants, and support them as they start their Fellowship journey.
For More Information:
Visit the Official Webpage of the Acumen East Africa Fellows Program
