The Mo Ibrahim Foundation has opened applications for the 2027 Ibrahim Leadership Fellowships, a 12-month placement in the executive office of the African Development Bank Group in Abidjan, the UN Economic Commission for Africa in Addis Ababa or the International Trade Centre in Geneva. Applications close on 20 November 2026, and the Fellowships page lists a $100,000 stipend.
Only three Fellows are selected each year, so this is a call for African professionals with a track record of leading teams, not for early-career applicants.
At a glance
| Deadline | 20 November 2026 (time of day and time zone not stated) |
| Organizer | Mo Ibrahim Foundation |
| Who can apply | Nationals of an African country with a Master’s degree and at least 7 years of relevant work experience, under 40 (under 45 for women with children) |
| Duration | 12 months |
| Host organisations | AfDB (Abidjan), UNECA (Addis Ababa), ITC (Geneva) |
| Stipend | $100,000, as listed on the Fellowships page |
| Places | Three Fellows each year |
| Cost to apply | No fee is mentioned |
| Official page | Ibrahim Leadership Fellowships |
Who can apply?
The Foundation describes the programme as open each year to young professionals, mid-career professionals and new executives from Africa. The Fellowships page sets these criteria:
- You are a national of an African country.
- You have at least 7 years of relevant work experience.
- You hold a Master’s degree.
- You are under 40, or under 45 if you are a woman with children.
Host organisations may set additional criteria, so read the host page you apply through before you start.
What do Fellows get?
Fellows work inside the executive office of their host institution for a year. The Foundation lists:
- Technical and leadership training
- Involvement in research and policy design at the host organisation
- Direct mentorship from the head of the host organisation
- Networking across institutions and countries
- Membership of the Now Generation Network, the Foundation’s community of young African leaders
The $100,000 stipend appears on the programme page. The 2027 announcement does not repeat the amount, so confirm it with the host organisation’s application documents.
How to apply
- Open the Ibrahim Leadership Fellowships page and choose a host: AfDB, UNECA or ITC.
- Read that host’s call. AfDB and UNECA publish details in English and French, and ITC applications run through the UN careers site in English.
- Submit your application through the host’s process before 20 November 2026.
The start date and selection timeline are not stated in the announcement.
Advice from the Africapreneurs team
- Founders and ecosystem builders should frame their experience as institutional leadership. The placement sits in an executive office, so show where you managed teams, budgets or policy work, not only a product.
- Check the arithmetic first. Seven years of relevant experience, a Master’s degree and the age limit are all stated, and a mismatch on any one will end the application.
- Pick your host on purpose. Abidjan, Addis Ababa and Geneva mean three different institutions and working languages, so match the host’s mandate to your sector.
- Francophone applicants can use the French materials published by AfDB and UNECA.
FAQ
Who runs the Ibrahim Leadership Fellowships?
The Mo Ibrahim Foundation, which established the programme in 2011. Fellows are hosted by the AfDB, UNECA and ITC.
Is there an application fee?
No fee is mentioned on the Foundation’s pages.
How many people are selected?
Three Fellows each year.
What happens after the fellowship?
Fellows join the Now Generation Network, a community of young African leaders run by the Foundation.
Sources
- Mo Ibrahim Foundation, applications open for the 2027 Ibrahim Leadership Fellowships
- Mo Ibrahim Foundation, The Ibrahim Leadership Fellowships
