Full Program Details
Most career ladders in Africa ask you to climb inside one organisation. The Ibrahim Leadership Fellowships do something different: they put a talented professional in the executive office of a major continental or global institution for a year, close to the people who make the decisions. Applications for the 2027 class are open now.
The programme was established by the Mo Ibrahim Foundation in 2011. Three Fellows are chosen each year, one for each host institution, and they work on research and policy while being mentored by the head of the organisation. Afterwards they join the Foundation's Now Generation Network.
Three African Fellows a year spend 12 months in the executive offices of the African Development Bank Group, the UN Economic Commission for Africa or the International Trade Centre, with a $100,000 stipend.
Details at a glance:
- Host institutions: African Development Bank Group (Abidjan), UN Economic Commission for Africa (Addis Ababa), International Trade Centre (Geneva)
- Duration: 12 months
- Stipend: $100,000, as listed on the Foundation's fellowships page
- Who: African nationals with a master's degree and at least 7 years of relevant experience
- Age limit: under 40, or under 45 for women with children
- Deadline: 20 November 2026 (the host notices set the closing time)
What It Covers
The Foundation lists a $100,000 stipend for the 12-month placement. Fellows contribute to the research and policy work of the executive office they join and receive mentorship from the head of the host organisation. The Foundation does not publish a longer list of benefits on its main page, so ask the host institution about relocation and insurance before you accept an offer.
Who Can Apply
The Foundation lists these requirements:
- Be a national of an African country
- Hold a master's degree
- Have at least 7 years of relevant work experience
- Be under 40 years old, or under 45 for women with children
- Meet any extra criteria set by the host institution
Important: this is a mid-career programme. Recent graduates and people with only a few years of experience will not meet the minimum.
How to Apply
You do not apply to the Foundation directly. Each host runs its own process, so choose the institution you want and follow its instructions:
- Read the eligibility rules on the Mo Ibrahim Foundation fellowships page.
- African Development Bank Group: apply through the AfDB vacancy page. The notice asks for an online application with a CV, academic transcripts and three letters of recommendation.
- UN Economic Commission for Africa: send your application by email as the ECA notice describes, with a UN Inspira profile, diploma copies and recommendation letters. The ECA notice gives the deadline as 20 November 2026 at 23:59 Addis Ababa time.
- International Trade Centre: use the ITC listing on the UN careers site linked from the Foundation page.
- Submit before 20 November 2026 and keep proof of submission.
Timeline
- 22 September 2026: Foundation announces that 2027 applications are open
- 20 November 2026: application deadline
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GizPulse Verdict
Who this is for: African professionals in the middle of their careers, in economics, development, trade, policy or public service, who want a year of access to senior decision makers.
Who should pause: early-career applicants, non-African nationals, and anyone who cannot relocate to Abidjan, Addis Ababa or Geneva for a full year.
One tip to stand out: pick one host and tailor everything to its mandate. A clear argument for what you would contribute to that executive office will carry more weight than a general leadership story.
