Ibrahim Leadership Fellowships

📖 About the Fellowship

The Ibrahim Leadership Fellowships, established in 2011 by the Mo Ibrahim Foundation, aim to identify and mentor the next generation of outstanding African leaders. Each year, three Fellows are selected to work in the executive offices of:

• AfDB (Abidjan)
• ECA (Addis Ababa)
• ITC (Geneva)

During the 12-month programme, Fellows gain both technical and leadership skills while contributing directly to research and policy design. A unique feature of the programme is the opportunity to benefit from direct mentorship by the heads of the host organisations.

🎁 Benefits

• $100,000 stipend for each Fellow during the programme.
• Opportunity to work in prestigious executive offices: AfDB, ECA, or ITC.
• Gain technical and leadership skills while contributing to research and policy design.
• Direct mentorship from the heads of host organisations.
• Fellows become members of the Now Generation Network (NGN), enabling them to continue contributing their skills and insights to building a better Africa.

✅ Eligibility Criteria

To qualify for the Ibrahim Leadership Fellowships, applicants must meet the following requirements:

• Nationality: Must be a national of an African country.
• Work Experience: Minimum of 7 years of relevant work experience.
• Education: Must hold a Master’s degree.
• Age: Under the age of 40; or 45 for women with children.
• Any additional criteria as set by the host organisations.

📅 Application Date and Process

Applications for the 2026 Ibrahim Leadership Fellowships are now open. Fellowships are available annually to young professionals, mid-career individuals, and new executives from Africa with relevant work experience and a Master’s degree.

How to Apply

Details and application links for the 2026 Fellowships are available below:

• AfDB
• ITC
• UNECA

📆 Application Deadline

20 November, 2025

For more details, visit the official Mo Ibrahim Foundation Fellowship page.

• Each year three Fellows have an opportunity to work in the executive offices of the AfDB (Abidjan), ECA (Addis Ababa) or the ITC (Geneva), with a stipend of $100,000.
• During their 12-month programmes, Fellows gain both technical and leadership skills, while contributing directly to research and policy design. A special feature of the programme is the opportunity to benefit from the direct mentorship of the heads of the host organisations.
• Fellows also become members of the Now Generation Network (NGN), through which they continue to contribute their skills and insights to building a better Africa.