The University of Nebraska–Lincoln has, for the fourth year, been selected as an Institute Partner for the 2021 Mandela Washington Fellowship for Young African Leaders. Beginning June 21, Nebraska will virtually engage 25 of Africa’s bright, emerging Civic Engagement leaders for a six-week Leadership Institute, sponsored by the U.S. Department of State.

The Mandela Washington Fellowship, the flagship program of the Young African Leaders Initiative (YALI), empowers young African leaders through academic coursework, leadership training, mentoring, networking, professional opportunities, and local community engagement. YALI was created in 2010 and supports young Africans as they spur economic growth and prosperity, strengthen democratic governance, and enhance peace and security across the African continent. Since 2014, the U.S. Department of State has supported nearly 4,400 young leaders from across 49 countries in Sub-Saharan Africa to develop their leadership skills and foster connections and collaboration with U.S. professionals through the Fellowship. The cohort of Fellows hosted by Nebraska will be part of a group of 700 Mandela Washington Fellows hosted by 26 educational institutions across the United States.

Due to the global COVID-19 pandemic and with the health, safety, and well-being of Fellows and Partners as the highest priority, the U.S. Department of State is planning a virtual Fellowship for 2021. While remaining in their home countries, Fellows will participate in virtual Leadership Institutes, which will include leadership training, networking, mentoring, and professional development.

After their Leadership Institutes, Fellows will participate in a virtual Summit. Up to 70 competitively-selected Fellows will also participate in six weeks of virtual professional development with U.S. non-governmental organizations, private companies, and government agencies.

Funded by the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs and implemented by IREX, Leadership Institutes will offer programs that engage, motivate and empower young leaders from Africa to tackle the challenges of the 21st century. Some additional highlights of Nebraska’s virtual program will include connecting with Lincoln professionals through virtual networking events, training fellows on strategic planning and organizational development, and leveraging Nebraska’s expertise on strategic communications in virtual training sessions.

For additional information about the Mandela Washington Fellowship Leadership Institute implemented at Nebraska, please contact the Office of Global Strategies at globalstrategies@unl.edu.

The Mandela Washington Fellowship is a program of the U.S. Department of State with funding provided by the U.S. Government and administered by IREX. For more information about the Mandela Washington Fellowship, visit mandelawashingtonfellowship.org.