Application is open for the 2026 MILEAD Fellows Program for Young African Women Leaders, creating a new opportunity for young women across Africa to strengthen their leadership journey.
For over a decade, MILEAD Fellows have been catalysts for transformative change, breaking barriers, implementing life-changing initiatives, and challenging systems that discriminate against women and girls. The programme continues to focus on raising bold female leaders who are ready to make real impact in their communities and beyond.
The MILEAD Fellows Program is a bold and paradigm-shifting initiative committed to the long-term leadership development of promising young leaders selected as Fellows. It is crafted to identify, nurture, and elevate the next generation of African female leaders, equipping them with the skills and support needed to thrive in leadership roles across Africa.
The MILEAD Program will be granted to 25 outstanding young women who have demonstrated leadership potential in their community, organization, or profession. Fellows gain access to world-class knowledge, skills, values, and support systems considered crucial for success as 21st-century women leaders.
Participants benefit from a combination of training, experiential learning, and mentoring designed to build knowledge and skills, strengthen networks, and create a supportive ecosystem of women’s leadership on critical issues. The programme also links determined young women with influential and seasoned African leaders committed to inspiring and empowering the next generation. Fellows receive lifelong solidarity and support through the MILEAD Network.
A key feature of the programme is the deliberate integration of community service into the yearlong training. Each Fellow will initiate and lead a community change project known as MiCHANGE, focused on a critical issue affecting their community or African women as a whole.
If you are a passionate emerging African woman leader ready to create a positive impact, we want you to apply. The call is open to dynamic young women aged 19–25 who are interested in honing transformational leadership skills to tackle issues facing women and girls in African communities.
The programme includes a three-week residential Summer Institute in Ghana and the implementation of a community change project. Selected candidates may be full-time students or professionals during the programme, except during the three-week summer institute.
Applicants are encouraged to carefully review the programme and application guidelines before submitting their entries. The deadline is Friday, March 20, 2026. Complete application forms, along with a CV and two recommendation letters, must be submitted via email.
Interested candidates are required to download the full 2026 Application Package, including the Application Pack and Recommendation-Form, and share the opportunity within their networks.
