The MWF Application: What to Highlight & How to Tell your Story
The Mandela Washington Fellowship application is open.
If you have been thinking, “I know I have experience, but how do I translate that experience into a strong application?”, this session is for you.
The Mandela Washington Fellowship is designed for accomplished young African leaders and the application goes beyond simply listing your qualifications. The 2027 application asks you to demonstrate your leadership, professional accomplishments, the challenges you are addressing in your sector, your partnership goals, and how you intend to apply what you gain from the Fellowship when you return to Sub-Saharan Africa.
This session will help you step back from your CV and look at your experiences through the lens of the application.
WHAT WE WILL COVER
Understanding the application
What the 2027 application requires
Key sections you need to prepare for
What the selection criteria are looking for
Finding your leadership story
Identifying experiences that demonstrate leadership
Moving beyond job titles and responsibilities
Selecting strong, specific examples from your professional and community experience
Thinking about evidence, outcomes and measurable impact
Approaching the essays
Breaking down the essay questions
Understanding what each question is actually asking
Structuring your responses around your experience, actions and outcomes
Showing context without allowing your story to become too broad
Making your answers specific, authentic and grounded in your own experience
Positioning your Fellowship goals
Connecting your current work and sector challenge to the Fellowship
Thinking strategically about your preferred Institute track
Articulating your U.S. partnership interests
Showing how you intend to use the Fellowship experience after returning to Sub-Saharan Africa
Preparing for submission
Common areas applicants overlook
Practical preparation tips
Reviewing your application before submission
Understanding responsible use of technology and AI in the application process
WHO SHOULD ATTEND?
This session is for eligible African professionals and leaders who are considering applying for the 2027 Mandela Washington Fellowship and want to approach their application strategically.
You do not need to have your application completed before attending.
You should come ready to reflect on your experiences, leadership journey, professional achievements and the change you are working to create.
IMPORTANT
The 2027 Mandela Washington Fellowship application deadline is:
Tuesday, 13 October 2026 at 4:00 PM GMT.
The Fellowship application is free, and applications must be submitted through the official online application system.
This session is designed to help you understand the application and think more intentionally about how to present your own experiences. Your application responses must remain your own original work.
COME WITH
Your CV or résumé, a notebook, and your leadership story.
You may leave with a clearer understanding of which experiences belong in your application, what evidence you need to gather, and how to begin shaping your responses.
Date: 4th October 2026
Time: 6pm GMT
Platform: Google Meet
Graceful Impact
Purpose.Growth.Impact