NOW OPEN: Mo Ibrahim Foundation Leadership Fellowship Programme (Fully-funded to work at AfDB or ITC) 2025/2026

The Mo Ibrahim Foundation Leadership fellowship program is offered to Outstanding Africans to be hosted at the AfDB (Abidjan), UNECA (Addis Ababa) or the ITC (Geneva) with an annual stipend of $100,000.

When is Application Timeline?

20th November 2024 (midnight Geneva time)

Tell me about Mo Ibrahim Foundation Leadership Fellowship:

The Mo Ibrahim Foundation, is financing the Ibrahim Leadership Fellowship position. Established in 2006, the Mo Ibrahim Foundation aims to support good governance and great leadership in Africa.  The Foundation works to:

• Stimulate debate on good governance;
• Provide criteria by which citizens and governments can measure progress;
• Recognise achievement in African leadership and provide a practical way in which leaders can build positive legacies on the continent when they have left office;
• Support aspiring leaders for the African continent.

The Ibrahim Leadership Fellowship Programme is a selective Fellowship that prepares the next generation of outstanding African leaders by providing them with unique work opportunities at the most senior level of prominent African institutions or multilateral organizations, whose mandate is to improve the economic and social prospects of Africa.

Through this annual fellowship programme, the Foundation seeks to deepen and broaden our growing network which continues to contribute its skills and learning to a better Africa. The Fellowships offer the opportunity to work in the executive offices of either the African Development Bank (Abidjan), the UN Economic Commission for Africa (Addis Ababa) or the International Trade Centre (Geneva).

Type of Award?

Fellowship

Who is Eligible for the Mo Ibrahim Foundation Leadership Fellowship?

• National of an African country
• 7-10 years of relevant work experience
• master’s degree
• under the age of 40, or 45 for women with children
• any additional criteria as set by the host.

Which countries are eligible?

Algeria, Egypt, Libya, Mauritania, Morocco, Tunisia, Benin, Burkina Faso, Cape Verde, Côte d’Ivoire, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Liberia, Mali, Niger, Nigeria, São Tomé & Príncipe, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Togo, Burundi, Comoros, Djibouti, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Kenya, Rwanda, Seychelles, Somalia, Sudan, Tanzania, Uganda, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Chad, Democratic Republic of Congo, Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, Angola, Botswana, Lesotho, Madagascar, Malawi, Mauritius, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa, Swaziland, Zambia, Zimbabwe

Where will Award be given?

AfDB (Abidjan), UNECA or the ITC (Geneva)

How Many Awards are available?

Three

What is the Benefit of this Award?

The Fellowships offer the opportunity to work in the executive offices of the AfDB (Abidjan), UNECA or the ITC (Geneva) with an annual stipend of $100,000.

What is the Timeline/Duration of this Award?

For a period of 12 months

How can I apply for Mo Ibrahim Foundation Leadership Fellowship?

Prospective fellows who meet the eligibility criteria are invited to apply directly to the current hosts. Link for Application and requirements are in the Webpages below.

AfDB

• Fellowship details (EN)
• Fellowship details (FR)
• Application Link (EN)
• Application Link  (FR)

UNECA

• Fellowship details (EN)
• Fellowship details (FR)

ITC

• Fellowship details (EN)
• Application Link 

• It is important to go through all application requirements in the Award Webpage (see Link below) before applying.
• GOODLUCK

Visit Mo Ibrahim Foundation Leadership Fellowship Webpage for Details