FY 2026 Mandela Washington Fellowship for Young African Leaders (YALI Fellowship)
Can you apply?
This grant is for one U.S. nonprofit organization (or consortium) to administer the YALI Fellowship program. Eligible applicants are 501(c)(3) nonprofits, consortia of organizations, or accredited post-secondary U.S. education institutions. The recipient will oversee all fellowship components including recruitment, institutes, professional development placements, and reciprocal exchanges. Award recipients must have capacity to manage partnerships with approximately 22 U.S. colleges and universities and oversee approximately 550 African fellows and 80 U.S. reciprocal participants.
The fellowship targets young African leaders aged 25-35 from Sub-Saharan Africa in three tracks: Business and Trade, Emerging Technologies, and Governance and Security. Programs take place on U.S. college campuses and include six-week institutes, professional development experiences at U.S. organizations, and reciprocal exchanges for U.S. citizens to Africa.
This is a highly competitive program for organizations with substantial international education program experience and infrastructure.
Program description
The U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs, Office of Academic Exchange Programs, Study of the U.S. Branch invites proposal submissions for one cooperative agreement to design, implement, and oversee the FY 2026 YALI Fellowship. Established in 2014 the YALI Fellowship has built and maintained a network of approximately 7,800 young African leaders across sectors critical to U.S. interests and foreign policy priorities in Sub-Saharan Africa.
The award recipient will be responsible for planning and administering all components and aspects of the YALI Fellowship including short-term academic residencies (“institutes”) on U.S. college and university campuses for approximately 550 Fellows, Professional Development Experiences (PDEs) for approximately 50 Fellows, a Reciprocal Exchange component that includes approximately 80 U.S. participants, and follow-on alumni activities. Under this award, the first group of Fellows would travel to the United States for the institutes in summer 2027. The award recipient will design the Fellowship application materials, develop an outreach and recruitment plan, receive and screen applications in collaboration with the U.S. Department of State, and oversee the final Fellow selection and placement process. The recipient will recruit, select, and oversee subawards to approximately 22 U.S. educational institutions that will each implement a six-week long institute in one of three tracks: Business and Trade, Emerging Technologies, or Governance and Security.
Each institute should take place on an accredited U.S. college or university campus and provide a group of approximately 25 accomplished African innovators and professionals aged 25 to 35 with rigorous academic and practical coursework, showcasing American excellence in relevant fields. Institutes should also provide structured networking and professional opportunities for Fellows to build relationships with American businesses and industry leaders.
The PDEs are professional placements for a subset of Fellows at relevant U.S. public, private, and non-profit organizations and should take place immediately following the institutes.
The Reciprocal Exchange component should support approximately 80 U.S. citizens to travel to Sub-Saharan Africa to build upon strategic partnerships and business connections developed through the YALI Fellowship.
ECA will award one cooperative agreement to administer all program components. The anticipated total amount of funding available for this cooperative agreement will be approximately $15,000,000, pending the availability of FY 2026 funds. Of this total amount, the recipient should be prepared to transfer approximately $250,000 to each U.S. college, university, or non-governmental organization selected to administer an Institute under sub-award agreements.
ECA welcomes applications from U.S. public and private non-profit organizations, consortia of organizations, and accredited post-secondary U.S. education institutions meeting the provisions described in Internal Revenue Code section 26 USC 501(c)(3).
Please see the announcement for additional information.
Who can apply
Eligible applicants
Demographic focus
How to apply
Application links
Key dates & requirements
Required documents
- Cooperative Agreement Application (SF-424 or agency-specific form)
- Program Narrative
- Detailed Budget and Budget Narrative
- Organizational Capacity Statement
- Letters of Commitment from Partner U.S. Institutions
- Recruitment and Screening Plan
- Subaward Management Plan
- Monitoring and Evaluation Plan
Program contact
- 👤 Bureau Of Educational and Cultural Affairs
- 📧 SpencerNR@state.gov
- 📞 202-890-9795
Funding track record
Recent awards under CFDA 19.009 from the last 3 years — real organizations that won funding through this same program.
Top 10 Largest Recent Awards
-
$50,850,000
-
$38,718,862
-
$18,128,129
-
$17,885,000
-
$16,599,995
-
$10,000,000
-
$9,000,000
-
$8,990,000
-
$8,990,000
-
$8,990,000
Source: USAspending.gov — federal spending transparency. Data covers last 3 years.
Funding history
Annual funding for this program — Federal obligations (CFDA 19.009). How funding has trended year over year.
| 2024 | $58,261,585 | |
| 2025 | $58,261,585 | |
| 2026 est. | $58,261,585 |
FAQ
Who can apply for this grant?
501(c)(3) nonprofits, consortia of organizations, and accredited U.S. post-secondary institutions. You must have capacity to manage complex international fellowship programming.
What is the funding amount?
Approximately $15,000,000 for the entire cooperative agreement period. Recipients distribute approximately $250,000 per subaward to participating U.S. colleges and universities.
What are the main program activities?
Design and administer six-week institutes for 550 African fellows on U.S. campuses, professional development placements, reciprocal exchanges for 80 U.S. citizens to Africa, and alumni engagement activities.
When do fellows travel to the U.S.?
The first cohort travels summer 2027 for institutes. Professional development experiences follow immediately after the institutes.
What expertise do successful applicants have?
Strong track records managing international education programs, partnerships with accredited U.S. universities, recruitment and screening capacity, and experience with exchange programs.
💡 Tips for applicants
- Demonstrate existing relationships with U.S. colleges and universities. Partnerships strengthen your proposal.
- Show clear recruitment and screening processes. Explain how you'll identify 550 accomplished African leaders aged 25-35 across three sectors.
- Detail your capacity to manage complex logistics. You'll oversee institutes, professional placements, and reciprocal exchanges simultaneously.
- Include letters of commitment from partner U.S. institutions. This shows capacity and reduces reviewer risk.
- Emphasize alignment with U.S. foreign policy priorities in Sub-Saharan Africa. Show how your program advances strategic interests.
⚠️ Common mistakes
Underestimating logistical complexity. Managing 550+ fellows, 22+ partner institutions, and reciprocal exchanges requires robust infrastructure. Weak recruitment and screening plans. Reviewers need detailed processes for identifying accomplished young leaders across sectors. Insufficient detail on subaward management. Show exactly how you'll support and monitor university partners.
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