Applications are now open for the 2025/2026 Obama Foundation Africa Leaders Program.
The Obama Foundation Leaders Africa program seeks to build a growing network of innovative and values-based changemakers who will drive positive change in their communities, across the African continent, and the world. The Obama Foundation’s Leaders program aims to inspire, empower, and connect regional cohorts of young African leaders to accelerate positive and lasting change in their communities, the broader Africa region, and globally. The Leaders program launched in Africa in 2018, expanded to Asia Pacific in 2019, inaugurated Europe in 2020, and kicked off in the United States in 2023.
Inspired by President Obama’s leadership approach, the Leaders program engages participants in the challenges, opportunities, and skills of making positive social change. Supported by full group sessions, small group discussions, and individualized leadership coaching, participants define a values-based leadership foundation for sustained impact, cultivate relationships with others to catalyze more inclusive change, and prepare to engage with issues at the systems level.
Upon completion of the program, Leaders will have gained a deeper understanding of how values-based leadership advances their work. They will be inspired to take further action, propelled by new ideas, skills, and connections. Most importantly, Leaders will continue to gain a broader global perspective by joining the Obama Leadership Network, a growing global alumni community of over 1,200 active changemakers.
Leaders Africa is a six-month, non-residential, virtual leadership program for 34 emerging leaders from across the continent focused on exploring values-based leadership skills and building deep relationships with fellow cohort members.
Name of Host Institution:
Obama Foundation
Requirements/Eligibility Criteria:
- Location: The program currently invites individuals residing in all countries and territories in the continent of Africa.
- Citizenship and Residency: You must meet one of the following criteria:
- Citizen of an African country or territory OR
- Permanent resident of an African country or territory OR
- Have lived in an African country or territory for at least the last 5 years, regardless of citizenship or permanent residence status
- Geographic Focus: Your work is geographically focused on creating positive change for local communities, an African nation or territory, and/or the broader Africa region. You demonstrate a strong commitment to continue to focus your work in the Africa region.
- Language Proficiency & Age: You are professionally proficient in spoken and written English and will be between 24 and 45 years of age on August 26, 2024.
Deadline:
18th December, 2024
