The Mandela Washington Fellowship for Young African Leaders – the flagship program of the Young African Leaders Initiative (YALI) – was created in 2014 to invest in the next generation of African leaders.
The Reciprocal Exchange Component provides Americans with the opportunity to travel to Africa to build upon strategic partnerships and professional connections developed during the Mandela Washington Fellowship in the United States:
The Reciprocal Exchange Component provides funds for American professionals to travel to Sub-Saharan African countries to continue collaborative work with Mandela Washington Fellows on the continent. American professionals may include those met during the Mandela Washington Fellowship through site visits, networking, the Summit, Professional Development Experiences, or other activities. Through these projects, Americans and young African leaders form lasting partnerships, expand markets and networks, and increase mutual understanding between the United States and countries in Sub-Saharan Africa.
The application for the next round of the Reciprocal Exchange Component is now live on the IREX website. Applications are due on Tuesday, October 16 for travel between January – July 15, 2019. If you have any questions, contact the IREX team at REmwf@irex.org for assistance.