History
Launched in 2014, the Mandela Washington Fellowship for Young African Leaders is the flagship program of the Young African Leaders Initiative (YALI) and embodies the United States’ commitment to invest in the future of Africa. YALI was created in 2010 to support young Africans as they spur growth and prosperity, strengthen democratic governance, and enhance peace and security across Africa. As of the tenth anniversary in 2024, more than 7,000 young leaders have participated as Mandela Washington Fellows and had a positive impact on millions of people across the African continent.
In the first year of the program alone, the U.S. Department of State received nearly 50,000 applications for only 500 placements across the U.S. (including 25 placements at Notre Dame). In 2017, applications peaked at 64,000 for 1,000 placements across the U.S. The program now accepts 700 Fellows every year.
Each summer, the Pulte Institute for Global Development) has been privileged to engage with 25 of the continent’s best and brightest. In the first five years of the Mandela Washington Fellowship, the Pulte Institute was classified as a Business and Entrepreneurship Institution and primarily hosted business people and executives; lawyers; information and communications technology (ICT) experts; educators; and those involved in various parts of the healthcare and STEM sectors in its Mandela Washington Fellowship cohorts. In 2019, the Pulte Institute was reclassified as a Leadership in Business Institute. The Pulte Institute has hosted a diverse range of Fellows in the past, all of them focused on how to use entrepreneurship and innovation to strengthen their organizations, communities, and countries.
Although the faces, personalities, and backgrounds change with each new cohort, the invigorating and inspiring entrepreneurial spirit the fellows bring to campus is always the same, a uniting thread connecting every group. Over the years, the Pulte Institute has hosted fellows with true “Fighting Irish” spirits for social causes, including gender equality and empowerment; financial inclusion; education; healthcare; disability services; government reform; climate change and renewable energy; access to technology; and other causes.
In 2014, the YALI Regional Leadership Centers (RLCs) were created at higher education institutions across Sub-Saharan Africa to serve YALI network members. The first RLCs opened in 2015 and today there are four primary centers and two satellite campuses, all of which offer high-quality training, mentoring, and networking support to a greater number of young leaders than can be reached through the Mandela Washington Fellowship.
In 2024 the Mandela Washington Fellowship celebrated its tenth anniversary. The University of Notre Dame also celebrated 10 years as a Fellowship host, as well as 10 years of support from our incredible corporate partner, IBM. We also want to acknowledge many years of support from Capsim.
Highlights of the Program
As of the 2024 cohort, the Pulte Institute has hosted 247 fellows from 43 countries. From 2014–2024:
- 247 Fellows have completed the Mandela Washington Fellowship program at the University of Notre Dame.
- 43 countries from sub-Saharan Africa have been represented in the MWF program at Notre Dame. These include Angola; Benin; Botswana; Burkina Faso; Burundi; Cabo Verde; Cameroon; Cape Verde; Chad; Comoros; Cote d’Ivoire; Eswatini; Ethiopia; The Gambia, Ghana; Guinea; Kenya; Lesotho; Liberia; Madagascar; Malawi; Mali; Mauritania; Mauritius; Mozambique; Namibia; Niger; Nigeria; Republic of the Congo; Rwanda; Sao Tome and Principe; Senegal; Sierra Leone; South Africa; South Sudan; Sudan; Tanzania; Togo; Uganda; Zambia; and Zimbabwe.
- Over $1 million in investment has been brought into Notre Dame from government, corporations, foundations, and private donors for the MWF program.
- 27 unique faculty have been involved in the MWF program at Notre Dame.
- Notre Dame's Mandela Washington fellows have spent 13,000+ hours on small business, corporate, civic, and non-profit site visits.
- Notre Dame's Mandela Washington fellows have spent 3,200+ hours on cultural exchange site visits.
- Notre Dame's Mandela Washington fellows have spent 2,800+ hours on service learning activities.