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2016 YALI Regional Leadership Center East Africa 12 Weeks Leadership Program Cohort 7, Nairobi Kenya (Fully Funded)

by OFA
written by OFA

Application Deadline: 5:00pm (EAT) Monday January 25th, 2016.

Cohort 7 will run from April 4th, 2016 – June 25th, 2016.

The YALI Regional Leadership Center East Africa is looking for young men and women between the ages of 18 and 35 from Burundi, Central African Republic, Congo, DRC, Djibouti, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Kenya, Rwanda, Tanzania, Somalia, South Sudan, Sudan, and Uganda who are ready to embrace leadership and work hard to transform their countries.

The Young African Leaders Initiative (YALI) was launched by President of the United States Barack Obama as a signature effort to invest in the next generation of African leaders. The need to invest in grooming strong, results-oriented leaders comes out of the statistics: nearly 1 in 3 Africans are between the ages of 10 and 24, and approximately 60% of Africa’s total population is below the age of 35.

Selected participants aged 18-35 years, drawn from 14 countries in East and Central Africa; namely Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Rwanda, Burundi, Somalia, Sudan, Ethiopia, Eritrea, Djibouti, Democratic Republic of Congo, Central Africa Republic, South Sudan, and Congo, engage in innovative leadership training across three tracks of study of (1) Business and Entrepreneurship, (2) Civic Leadership, and (3) Public Management.

Located at Kenyatta University, in Nairobi, Kenya, the Center is more than a location for learning or a venue for collaboration; it is a philosophy, a forward-leaning culture of diversity that invites dreaming and thinking differently to define and realize one’s potential. The program is inclusive, embracing future leaders regardless of religion, ethnicity, socio-economic status, gender, or disability.

The YALI Regional Leadership Center East Africa is supported by the American people through the United States Agency for International Development (USAID).

Eligibility:

Competition for the YALI Regional Leadership Center East Africa is merit-based and open to young East African leaders who meet the following criteria:

  • Are 18 to 35 years of age at the time of application submission,
  • Are citizens and residents of one of the following countries: Burundi, Central African Republic. Republic of the Congo, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Djibouti, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Kenya, Rwanda, Somalia, South Sudan, Sudan, Tanzania, Uganda,
  • Are not U.S. citizens or permanent residents of the U.S.
  • Are eligible to receive any necessary visa to Kenya, and
  • Are proficient in reading, writing, listening and speaking English.

yali-east-leadership-programme

Study Tracks:

  • Business and Entrepreneurship
  • Civic Leadership
  • Public Management

Selection Criteria

Selection for participation in the YALI Regional Leadership Center East Africa will be conducted as a merit-based, open competition. All eligible applications will be reviewed by a selection panel. Chosen semi-finalists will then be interviewed before a final selection is made and an invitation to join the program is issued.

Selection panels will use the following criteria to evaluate applications:

  • A demonstrated leadership in public service, business and entrepreneurship, or civic engagement.
  • Active engagement in public or community service, volunteerism, or mentorship.
  • The ability to work cooperatively in diverse groups and respect the opinions of others.
  • Strong social and communication skills.
  • An energetic, positive attitude.
  • A demonstrated knowledge, interest, and professional experience in the sector/track selected, and
  • A commitment to apply leadership skills and training to benefit your country and/or community after the program.

Applicants will not be discriminated against on the basis of race, ethnicity, color, gender, religion, socio-economic status, disability, sexual orientation, or gender identity.

Benefits:
  • The participants immerse themselves in a 12-week course of study, three weeks of residential learning on-site at the Center in Nairobi;
  • Eight weeks of virtual distance learning via technology from their home countries; and a final week on-site at the Center in Nairobi for wrap-up and presentations.
  • The Center benefits the participants by linking them to a network of other young leaders from East Africa empowering them by enhancing their skills and confidence to lead; providing guidance from some of the best business and leadership minds in Africa; and opportunities for internships, among other benefits.

Apply Now for the 2016 YALI Regional Leadership Center East Africa

For More Information:

Visit the Official Webpage of the 2016 YALI Regional Leadership Center East Africa Cohort 7

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Call for Application: YALI Regional Leadership Center Fellowship Program for Southern Africa, Pretoria (Fully Funded)

by OFA
written by OFA

Application Deadline: December 18th 2015

The Regional Leadership Centre Southern Africa is part of the Young African Leaders Initiative launched by President of the United States Barack Obama as a signature effort to invest in the next generation of African leaders.

The program offers quality leadership training across the public, private and civil sectors. RLC SA graduates will be exposed to high level theory from experienced professors and offered an opportunity.

A graduate of the RLC SA is expected to be well rounded because they will be exposed to a multi-disciplinary approach to training. They will be exposed to high level theory, application and practice from experienced professors. At the same time, they will be offered an opportunity for industry placement and experiential learning in different RLC partner organisations.

The program offers quality leadership training across the public, private and civil sectors.

Foundational electives

In line with program requirements, participants will be required to select a foundational elective based on areas of practice and interest.

  1. Public Management and Governance
    The objective of this course is to prepare the next generation of Southern Africa’s public service professionals with the knowledge, skills and abilities to successfully address problems of democratic governance in public administration at the local, provincial, and national levels. There will also be a focus on the development of leadership in the public sector, including a clear understanding of the role and purpose of the state to enhance good governance and service delivery; a clear and workable knowledge of management principles in the implementation of programs and projects; public finance; and the management of human resources.
    Implementing partners: The University of Pretoria
  2. Business and Entrepreneurship Development
    The objective of the course is for participants to gain the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to apply the principles, tools and systems of innovation and entrepreneurship in pursuing their career and business goals.Implementing partners: The Innovation Hub, Unisa Centre for Business Management and LifeCo UnLtd
  3. Civic Leadership
    The civic leadership course will expose participants to the practical knowledge of the administrative, financial, and organizational aspects of non-profit organizations and civil society projects. The course is aimed at graduates, professionals and participants working in or interested in community-based NGOs, projects including interest groups, youth groups and development agencies who want to be effective leaders and agents of change.Implementing partners: The Thabo Mbeki African Leadership Institute  and the Southern Africa Trust.

Eligibility Requirements:

The program is open to young African leaders aged 18 – 35 years old depending on their level of experience and track record in their chosen sector.

Participants must meet the following criteria:

  • Age (18-35)
  • English language proficiency
  • Portuguese speaking participants will be accommodated in the Mozambique Hub at UEM
  • A commitment to positively impact Africa, their own countries as well as communities
  • Demonstrated leadership capabilities and interest in Public Management, Entrepreneurship Development and Civic Leadership
  • Commitment to serve the development agenda of the African continent

Young leaders from the following countries are eligible to participate in the programme:
Angola, Botswana, Comoros, Lesotho, Malawi, Madagascar, Mauritius, Mozambique, Namibia, Seychelles, South Africa, Swaziland, Zambia and Zimbabwe.

Selection Requirements:

Requirements:

  • A proven record of leadership in public service, business and entrepreneurship, or civic engagement. They can be new entrants in public and private service institutions looking to develop their leadership abilities.
  • Proven record of knowledge, interest, and professional experience in the sector/track selected.
  • Proven record of active engagement in public or community service, volunteerism, or mentorship.
  • Selected participants applying for the contact session must be willing to travel to the RLC SA in Midrand, Johannesburg or Maputo for the duration of the program.
  • A commitment to apply leadership skills and training to benefit your country and/or community after the program.

Skills:

  • Good interpersonal and communications skills
  • Knowledge of youth leadership and development issues
  • Ability to work independently with minimal supervision
  • Demonstrate the ability to work in a small or large team setting
  • Proven computer skills
  • Cultural sensitivity
  • Positive attitude
  • Dedication, responsibility and reliability

Apply Now for the Regional Leadership Centre Southern Africa 

For More Information:

Visit the Official Webpage of the YALI Regional Leadership Center for Southern Africa.

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Fellowships

2015 Mandela Washington Fellowship for Young African Leaders (Fully Funded Fellowship, Washington USA)

by lanredahunsi
written by lanredahunsi

Application Deadline: November 5 2014

Applications for the 2015 Mandela Washington Fellowship for Young African Leaders will open on October 7, 2014. The Mandela Washington Fellowship is the flagship program of President Obama’s Young African Leaders Initiative (YALI). President Obama launched YALI in 2010 to support young African leaders as they spur growth and prosperity, strengthen democratic governance, and enhance peace and security across Africa.

The Mandela Washington Fellowship, which began in 2014, will bring 500 young leaders to the United States in 2015 for academic coursework and leadership training and will create unique opportunities in Africa for Fellows to put new skills to practical use in leading organizations, communities, and countries.

Eligibility Criteria

Competition for the Washington Fellowship  is merit-based and open to young African leaders who meet the following criteria:

  • Are between the ages of 25 and 35 at the time of application submission, although exceptional  applicants younger than 25 will be considered;
  • Are not U.S. citizens or permanent residents of the U.S;
  • Are eligible to receive a United States J-1 visa;
  • Are proficient in reading, writing, and speaking English; and
  • Are citizens and residents of one of the following countries: Angola, Benin, Botswana, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chad, Comoros, Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), Republic of the Congo, Cote d’Ivoire, Djibouti, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Gabon, The Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Kenya, Lesotho, Liberia, Madagascar, Malawi, Mali, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mozambique, Namibia, Niger, Nigeria, Rwanda, Sao Tome and Principe, Senegal, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Somalia, South Africa, South Sudan, Sudan, Swaziland, Tanzania, Togo, Uganda, Zambia, and Zimbabwe.

What are the criteria for selection?

Selection panels will use the following criteria to evaluate applications (not in order of importance):

  • A proven record of leadership and accomplishment in public service, business and entrepreneurship, or civic engagement.
  • A demonstrated commitment to public or community service, volunteerism, or mentorship.
  • The ability to work cooperatively in diverse groups and respect the opinions of others.
  • Strong social and communication skills.
  • An energetic, positive attitude.
  • Demonstrated knowledge, interest and professional experience in the sector/track selected.
  • A commitment to return to Africa and apply leadership skills and training to benefit the applicant’s country and/or community after they return home.

mandela-washington-fellowship

FINANCIAL PROVISIONS OF THE FELLOWSHIP
There is no fee to apply to the Washington Fellowship. If you are selected, the U.S. government will cover all participant costs.

Financial provisions provided by the U.S. Government will include:

  •  J-1 visa support;
  • Round-trip travel from fellow’s home city to the U.S. and other required travel;
  • Customized academic and leadership institute;
  • Concluding Presidential Summit in Washington, DC;
  • Accident and sickness benefit plan;
  • Housing and meals; and
  • A potential eight-week internship at the conclusion of the academic and leadership institute (optional, and competitive for approximately 100 slots).

The Washington Fellowship includes:

  • A 6-week Academic and Leadership Institute: Fellows are placed at U.S. colleges and universities for  academic institutes. Institutes will focus on skills development in one of three areas: Business and  Entrepreneurship, Civic Leadership, or Public Management. Institutes will take place from mid-June  to late July 2014.
  • A Summit with President Obama in Washington, DC: At the conclusion of the academic and  leadership institute, all Fellows will participate in a Presidential Summit. The Summit will take place  in late July 2014.
  • An optional 8-week U.S. Internship: As part of the Fellowship application, individuals may apply to receive practical training at a U.S. business, civil society organization, or public agency in the United  States. Approximately 100 Washington Fellows will be selected for U.S.-based internships. The U.S.  internships will take place in August and September 2014.
  • Activities in Africa: Fellows will have the opportunity for continued networking opportunities,  ongoing professional development, access to seed funding, and community service activities upon  their return home after the Fellowship.

Mandela Washington Fellowship Application Process Timeline

October 7, 2014 Application opens
November 5, 2014 Application deadline
January – February 2015 Semifinalists interviewed by local U.S. embassies and consulates
April 2015 Applicants are notified of their status
May 2015 Visa processing for finalists
Mid-to-late June 2015 Fellowship begins in the United States

 

Apply Now for the 2015 Mandela Washington Fellowship

Read the Mandela Fellowship Application Instructions

For More Information:

Visit the Official Webpage of the Mandela Washington Fellowship for Young African Leaders 

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2014 Washington Mandela Fellowship
BlogFellowships

2014 Mandela Washington Fellowship for Young African Leaders: Meet the Fellows.

by lanredahunsi
written by lanredahunsi

On July 28, 2014, in front of 500 exceptional young leaders, President Obama announced the renaming of the Washington Fellowship for Young African Leaders in honor of Nelson Mandela. He also announced that the United States intends to double the number of annual participants in the Mandela Washington Fellowship to 1000 by the summer of 2016.

The Mandela Washington Fellowship is the flagship program of the President’s Young African Leaders Initiative (YALI) and embodies President Obama’s commitment to invest in the future of Africa.

2014 Mandela Washington Fellowship

The first class of Mandela Washington Fellows arrived in June 2014 for six weeks of intensive executive leadership training, networking, and skills building, followed by a Presidential Summit in Washington, DC.  Through this initiative, young African leaders are gaining the skills and connections they need to accelerate their own career trajectories and contribute more robustly to strengthening democratic institutions, spurring economic growth, and enhancing peace and security in Africa.

 

The 2014 Class of the Washington Fellowship for Young African Leaders.

  • Selected from nearly 50,000 applications, the 500 Mandela Washington Fellows represent the extraordinary promise of an emerging generation of entrepreneurs, activists, and public officials.
  • Mandela Washington Fellows are between 25 and 35 years old; have proven track records of leadership in a public, private, or civic organization; and demonstrate a strong commitment to contributing their skills and talents to building and serving their communities.
  • The first class of Fellows represents all 49 countries in sub-Saharan Africa and includes equal numbers of men and women.
  • Despite their youth, more than 75 percent of Fellows already hold a mid-level or executive position, and 48 percent have a graduate degree.
  •  Twenty-five percent of Fellows currently work in a non-governmental institution and 39 percent of them operate their own business.
  • Nearly all Fellows are the first in their families to visit the United States.

Download the Biography of the Mandela Washington Fellowship for Young African Leaders.

Source: YALI

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yali
Call for Applications

Young African Leaders Initiative Expression of Interest Request for Partners.

by lanredahunsi
written by lanredahunsi

Subsmission Deadline: May 30, 2014.

The Washington Fellowship for Young African Leaders is the flagship program of President Obama’s Young African Leaders Initiative (YALI) . Launched in 2014, the program brings 500 young leaders aged 25-35 to the United States each year for academic coursework and leadership training.

Upon completion of the Fellows’ U.S.- based programming, IREX will support and coordinate a range of interconnected Africa- based networking and professional development activities under the USAID- funded Washington Fellowship for Young African Leaders program.
IREX invites interested local organizations to submit an Expression of Interest
statement to partner with IREX in implementing Africa-based activities for the Washington Fellowship Program.

It is anticipated that IREX will select implementing partners in the following locations:
Accra, Ghana
Dakar, Senegal
Maputo, Mozambique
Nairobi, Kenya
Pretoria or Johannesburg, South Africa

Each selected local Implementing Partner organization will engage Washington Fellowship alumni in Africa by playing a key role in developing and implementing youth programming.

IREX will provide capacity building support to each Implementing Partner based on needs identified by the Partner and IREX.

IREX will provide subawards to support local partner staffing and associated costs for the implementation of YALI.

IREX intends to renew the grants for up to 4 years if the partnerships prove effective.
Submission Guidelines:

Please submit your complete Expression of Interest form via email to [email protected] no later than May 30, 2014.

Questions regarding this Expression of Interest request can also be sent to this email address for response.

visit the Expression of Interest form and Application Guideline

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young-african-lxeaders-initiative-network
BlogCall for Applications

President Obama launches the THE YOUNG AFRICAN LEADERS INITIATIVE NETWORK.

by lanredahunsi
written by lanredahunsi

join the Young African Leaders Initiative Network to receive updates and other opportunities available for young Africans from the United States Government.

President Obama announces the Young African Leaders Initiative Network – or YALI Network, a virtual community that connects young African leaders with resources from the U.S. government and to one another.

The Obama Administration’s Young African Leaders Initiative (YALI) is a long-term effort to invest in the next generation of African leaders and strengthen partnerships between the United States and Africa.

Watch the video to learn more about the inspiration behind this exciting new network and how you can get involved.

Join the YALI Network to receive updates and other opportunities available for young African leaders from the U.S. government.

In a video message, President Obama says that he believes the future of Africa will be defined by extraordinary young people, and that the United States wants partner with them for decades to come.

Here is a full transcript of presidents’ obamas’ message:

Hello! And thank you for reaching out to be a part of our Young African Leaders Initiative. I launched this effort because I believe that the future of Africa will be defined by extraordinary young people like you, and the United States wants to be your partner. At our town halls at the White House and in Soweto, and in my meetings with young people across Africa, you’ve shown me that you have the talent, the drive, and the determination to become the next generation of African leaders.

That’s the spirit behind our Washington Fellowship program, which gives young Africans the opportunity to come to America and develop new skills and partnerships. To all of you—the nearly 50,000 who applied—I want you to know that I’ve heard you. Your applications were extraordinary. Your experiences, and your vision for your communities and your countries, are an inspiration. And as we go forward, we’re going to ensure that although we couldn’t accept everybody into the Fellowship there will be opportunities for each and every one of you to somehow be involved.

That’s why today I’m excited to announce the newest part of our effort—the Young African Leaders Initiative Network. And I’m asking each of you to help lead the way. Because we’re already connected with you, and we want to build our relationship with you into a network of young people across Africa—to share new ideas and forge new collaborations. Working together, we can build the tools, training and technology you need to become the next generation of leaders in civil society, business and government.

I want to hear from you on how we can build this network. In the coming months, I’ll engage with you directly—online and through social media—to hear your ideas and answer your questions. To learn more about how to participate, just go to YALI.state.gov. I hope every single one of you will join us. Because your countries need you. The world needs you. We need your imagination, your optimism, and your idealism. And with this new network, I know we can be partners for decades to come.

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Blog

President Obama Announces the Washington Fellowship for Young African Leaders.

by lanredahunsi
written by lanredahunsi

On the 29th of June 2013, President  Barack Obama in front of an audience of more than 600 dynamic young leaders from South Africa, Kenya, Nigeria, and Uganda,  announced the Washington Fellowship for Young African Leaders, the new flagship program of the President’s Young African Leaders Initiative (YALI).  Beginning in 2014, the program will bring more than 500 young African leaders to the United States each year for leadership training and mentoring.  It will also create unique opportunities in Africa for Fellows to use their new skills to propel economic growth and prosperity, and strengthen democratic institutions.

The Washington Fellowship will:

  • Invest in a new generation of young African leaders who are shaping the continent’s future.
  • Respond to the strong demand by young African leaders for practical skills that can help them take their work to the next level in the fields of public service and business.
  • Deepen partnerships and connections between the United States and Africa.
  • Build a prestigious network of young African leaders who are at the forefront of change and innovation in their respective sectors.

Washington Fellows will primarily be between 25 and 35 years old, have a proven track record of leadership in a public, private, or civic organization, and demonstrate a strong commitment to contributing their skills and talents to building and serving their communities.

washington-fellowship-for-young-african-leaders

 

Welcoming Promising Leaders to the United States

Beginning in 2014, each year the United States will bring 500 of Africa’s most promising young leaders to U.S. universities for training in public management and administration; business and entrepreneurship; and civic leadership.  Training in each of these sectors will focus on the skills young African leaders need to run better ministries, start and grow businesses, and serve their communities.  Within the next five years, theinitiative aims to grow to 1000 young leaders each year.

Washington Fellows will spend six weeks at top American universities and colleges that will provide tailored training in the sectors above, leveraging top faculty, cutting-edge curricula, and local opportunities to impart practical professional and leadership training.  Formal university training will be augmented by workshops, mentoring, and networking opportunities with leaders in each field, as well as internships across the United States.

For example, U.S. agencies such as the Overseas Private Investment Corporation and the Export-Import Bank will host Washington Fellows as interns to expose them to the U.S. workplace and practices, and build their technical skills.  Washington Fellows will also benefit from partnerships with American companies like Boeing, which will provide leadership training at the Boeing Leadership Center in St. Louis to extend Fellows’ campus-based training.  The Fellows will also have the chance to interact with President Obama during an annual Summit in Washington, D.C., along with other senior U.S. government, business, and civic leaders.

[embedplusvideo height=”298″ width=”480″ editlink=”http://bit.ly/1b2p9iU” standard=”http://www.youtube.com/v/oINDnuDHKbc?fs=1″ vars=”ytid=oINDnuDHKbc&width=480&height=298&start=&stop=&rs=w&hd=0&autoplay=0&react=1&chapters=&notes=” id=”ep9998″ /]

Investing in Opportunities on the Continent

The U.S.-based training Washington Fellows will receive is only the beginning of the long term investment the United States will make in these young leaders.  To ensure that participants can put their newly-acquired skills and experiences to use, the U.S. Government is working with businesses, governments, and institutions to create meaningful opportunities to allow them to put their skills to practice in Africa.

The Washington Fellowship will offer participants valuable access to internships and job opportunities in the private and public sectors.  We are establishing partnerships with companies, government ministries, research institutions, regional organizations, and non-profit and community-based organizations across the region to provide meaningful career opportunities for these young leaders.  For example, Microsoft will connect Washington Fellows with internships in their offices across Africa, including in Cairo, Tunis, Casablanca, Abidjan, Dakar, Accra, Lagos, Abuja, Luanda, Johannesburg, and Nairobi.  Ethiopian Airlines will offer participants the opportunity to train at their business management and corporate governance platforms at its hubs around the world.

Washington Fellows will have access to dedicated funding opportunities to support their ideas, businesses, and organizations.  More than $5 million in small grants will be awarded in the first three years by the U.S. African Development Foundation to Washington Fellows seeking to start their own businesses or social enterprises.  The U.S. Department of State will invest an additional $5 million over the course of the program to help alumni establish or grow non-governmental organizations, undertake a project to improve their community, or work collaboratively to build the network of young African leaders, including reaching into underserved areas.  USAID will establish regional hubs and coordinators to connect Washington Fellows to these opportunities and leverage over $200 million in ongoing youth programs and initiatives on the continent.

Sustaining a Strong Alumni Network

Washington Fellows will be a part of a vibrant network that will continue to connect them to new opportunities in Africa and to each other.  Regular local and regional events and networking opportunities will sustain strong ties over the years as program participants assume leadership positions in their respective sectors.  Participants will be required to mentor other promising young leaders, enhancing the impact and sustainability of the initiative, and growing the network to encompass other leaders, especially in disadvantaged communities.

APPLICATIONS WILL BE ACCEPTED STARTING LATE 2013

CRITERIA FOR APPLICANTS:

  • Be a citizen of and reside in a sub-Saharan African country. Persons holding U.S. citizenship or permanent residency are ineligible.
  • Speak and write proficiently in English.
  • Be between 25-35 years of age at the time of application submission, although exceptional candidates younger than 25 will be considered.
  • Have a proven record of leadership and accomplishment in public service, business or entrepreneurship, or civic engagement.
  • Demonstrate a commitment to public or community service, volunteerism, or mentorship.
  • Be committed to return to Africa and contribute their skills and talents to build and serve their communities.

For More Information:

Visit the Young African Leaders Initiative Webpage

Source: White House Press Office

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