Africa Finance Corporation Fellowship 2025

📖 About the Africa Finance Corporation Fellowship

The AFC Fellowship is a leadership development program and a platform for dialogue and exchange between emerging leaders from the global South and North. The fellowship focuses on addressing the shared climate challenge and other critical global issues. It aims to strengthen the capacity of dynamic emerging leaders who will build bridges between the global North and South and find innovative ways to tackle the climate crisis.

This fellowship is a collaboration between Common Purpose and Africa Finance Corporation (AFC). Now in its third year, the program has successfully engaged over 90 Fellows from around the world.

🗓 Opportunity Details

• Date Published: August 11, 2025
• Application Deadline: September 15, 2025
• Category: Fellowship

🌟 Fellowship Details

To join the AFC Fellowship, applicants must first be accepted into the Climate Challenge Leadership Programme. Successful candidates will join a cohort of 40 participants from diverse backgrounds, sectors, and countries. The program includes two key components:

1. Leading Beyond Authority
   Participants will explore the concept of "Leading Beyond Authority"—the ability to cross boundaries and deliver results outside of their direct circle of control. This is essential for addressing complex challenges.

2. Climate Challenge
   Fellows will tackle the question:
   "How can the world reform carbon markets to incentivize the preservation and expansion of forests, grasslands, peatlands, and mangroves in Africa and across the global South in the interest of achieving global net zero?"
   Using the Common Purpose Innoventure process, based on design thinking principles, participants will develop creative solutions and present their ideas to a panel of senior leaders.

3. The Fellows Community
   Upon completing the program, participants will join the Fellows community, connecting with peers from their cohort and previous years through gatherings and collaborative opportunities.

🎁 Benefits of the Fellowship

Participants will:

• Enhance their ability to Lead Beyond Authority, equipping them to work across boundaries and solve complex problems.
• Build new networks by connecting with diverse participants, contributors, and speakers from the global North and South.
• Stretch their analytical and creative skills through exposure to innovative approaches.
• Develop their influencing skills by presenting their findings to senior decision-makers.
• Generate new ideas and approaches to address the critical climate challenge.

✅ Eligibility Criteria

Applicants should come from diverse sectors, backgrounds, countries, and communities across Africa, the wider global South, and the global North. They should be:

• Emerging leaders with typically over 5 years of professional experience.
• Highly motivated individuals committed to bringing about positive change and demonstrating leadership potential or capability.
• Interested in climate issues and addressing the imbalance between the global North and South.

📝 Application Process

• Deadline: Midnight BST on Sunday, September 21, 2025.
  Applicants are encouraged to apply well in advance of the deadline.

• How to Apply: Visit the Africa Finance Corporation Fellowship Application Portal to learn more and submit your application.

📅 Key Dates

• Application Deadline: September 15, 2025

🌐 Sponsor Organisation

The AFC Fellowship is sponsored by Common Purpose.

For more details, visit the official fellowship page.

• Enhance their ability to Lead Beyond Authority equipping them to work across boundaries; a pre-requisite to solving any complex problem
• Grow new networks by connecting with diverse participants, contributors and speakers from the global North and South who they would otherwise never meet
• Stretch their analytical and creative skills by exposing them to a new approach to innovation
• Develop their influencing skills by putting them in front of senior decision-makers to present their findings
• Generate new ideas and approaches to meet this hugely important challenge