Three people a year get a seat beside the heads of major development bodies. Applications for 2027 are open now.
The Mo Ibrahim Foundation is taking applications for its 2027 Leadership Fellowship. The programme lasts 12 months. It places three African professionals in the executive offices of one of three hosts. These are the African Development Bank (AfDB) in Abidjan, the UN Economic Commission for Africa (ECA) in Addis Ababa and the International Trade Centre (ITC) in Geneva. Fellows get a $100,000 stipend and direct mentoring from the heads of their hosts. Listings give 20 November 2026 as the deadline.
The fellowship began in 2011 with a clear aim: to spot and mentor future African leaders. Fellows build technical and leadership skills while they work on research and policy design. They also join the Now Generation Network.
The call is for young and mid-career professionals and new executives. You must be a national of an African country and hold a master’s degree. You need at least seven years of relevant work experience. You must be under 40, or under 45 if you are a woman with children. Each host may add its own rules.
You apply through the host you prefer, not through one central form. The AfDB has English and French vacancy pages. The ITC lists its role on the UN careers site. The ECA has a programme page and an application form in English, with French versions too. Each host runs its own process, so read its listing closely before you start. Start at the Foundation’s fellowship page and follow the link for your chosen host.
Why it matters: A year in the executive office of a major institution is a close look at how big decisions on African trade, finance and policy are made. With only three places each year, the competition will be tough. The $100,000 stipend also makes it possible to step away from a job for a year.
What to watch next: the 20 November deadline, and who is named to the 2027 class.
Sources: Mo Ibrahim Foundation, Leadership Fellowship; Opportunities for Africans on the 2027 fellowship; Opportunity Desk on the 2027 fellowship.
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