Archbishop Tutu Leadership Fellowship 2027: Prestigious African Leadership Fellowship for Emerging Leaders Across Africa

The Archbishop Tutu Leadership Fellowship Programme 2027 is inviting nominations for the next generation of high-potential African leaders who are expected to take on significant leadership roles and contribute to Africa's transformation over the coming years. Organised by the African Leadership Institute (AFLI), the Archbishop Tutu Leadership Fellowship is the organisation's flagship leadership development programme. The programme has been offered since 2006 and is designed to identify, develop and connect promising young African leaders across different sectors of society. For the Class of 2027, approximately 25 high-potential individuals from across Africa will ultimately be selected through a rigorous and competitive process. However, unlike many fellowship programmes, individuals cannot directly apply or nominate themselves. Candidates must first be nominated by another person and, following the nomination and screening stages, eligible nominees will be invited to complete the full fellowship application. The programme is designed for Africans between 30 and 39 years of age who demonstrate strong leadership potential and the capacity to contribute meaningfully to Africa's social, economic and political transformation. Nomination deadline for the Class of 2027: September 20, 2026, at midnight Johannesburg, South Africa time. The subsequent candidate application process is scheduled to begin around September 25, 2026, with applications and letters of recommendation due by October 25, 2026, at midnight Johannesburg time. About the African Leadership Institute The African Leadership Institute (AFLI) is focused on nurturing and strengthening leadership capabilities across Africa, particularly among young people who demonstrate exceptional leadership potential. The Institute's broader objective is to develop a network of high-potential African leaders who can progress into senior leadership positions within their respective fields over the following five to ten years. AFLI seeks to develop leaders who will not only advance professionally but also remain actively engaged in creating positive change across Africa. The Archbishop Tutu Leadership Fellowship is the Institute's flagship programme through which it pursues this objective. The fellowship has been running since 2006, creating a network of alumni who have participated in leadership learning and development activities designed to strengthen their experiences, insights, leadership tools and confidence. What Is the Archbishop Tutu Leadership Fellowship? The Archbishop Tutu Leadership Fellowship Programme is a prestigious leadership development programme aimed at identifying and developing the next generation of African leaders. Each year, approximately 25 high-potential individuals from across Africa are selected following a rigorous competitive selection process. The programme targets individuals who are expected to become influential leaders in their respective fields over the next five to ten years. Importantly, the fellowship is not limited to one profession or sector. The programme is intended for emerging leaders across all sectors of African society, meaning that candidates can come from different professional, social, economic, public, private, civil society and other leadership backgrounds. The central question is not simply what sector an individual works in, but whether the person demonstrates the leadership potential, experience and commitment necessary to contribute to Africa's transformation. The Purpose of the Tutu Fellowship The fellowship is designed around the idea that Africa's future depends significantly on the development of capable, ethical and transformative leaders. AFLI therefore seeks individuals who have already demonstrated leadership potential and who can develop into influential leaders in their respective fields. Through the fellowship, selected participants receive leadership learning activities intended to strengthen: • Leadership experience • Strategic insight • Personal confidence • Leadership tools • Understanding of complex African challenges • Capacity to influence positive change • Professional networks • Collaboration across sectors and countries The programme also seeks to create a lasting network of fellows who can support one another and contribute to Africa's transformation beyond the fellowship itself. Approximately 25 Fellows Will Be Selected The Archbishop Tutu Fellowship is highly selective. For each annual class, approximately 25 individuals are selected from across Africa. This means that becoming a Tutu Fellow is a competitive achievement. The programme describes its selected participants as some of the continent's most promising future leaders and specifically targets individuals expected to rise into top leadership positions within their areas of activity over the next five to ten years. Applicants and nominators should therefore understand that meeting the basic age and geographic requirements does not automatically result in selection. The selection process is designed to identify candidates who demonstrate exceptional leadership potential and a strong capacity to contribute to the transformation of Africa. Who Is the Fellowship Designed For? The programme is designed for high-potential African leaders between 30 and 39 years of age. The fellowship is not restricted to one professional discipline. Potential candidates may come from sectors such as: • Government and public service • Business and entrepreneurship • Civil society • Non-governmental organisations • Education • Academia and research • Media and communications • Technology • Finance • Development • Health • Law • Agriculture • Arts and culture • Social enterprise • Community development • International development • Other sectors of society The key consideration is the candidate's leadership potential and capacity to contribute to positive change. Age Requirement for the Class of 2027 Candidates must be between: 30 and 39 years of age. The nomination form explicitly requires the nominator to confirm the candidate's age. Applicants outside the specified age range should not be nominated for the programme. Prospective candidates should therefore verify their age eligibility before approaching a potential nominator. An Important Difference: You Cannot Apply Directly One of the most important aspects of the Archbishop Tutu Fellowship is that direct applications are not accepted. Individuals interested in becoming Tutu Fellows must first be nominated by another person. This means: • You cannot nominate yourself. • You cannot submit a direct application without first being nominated. • You need someone else to put your name forward. • Only one nomination is necessary. • Multiple nominations may be regarded as abuse of the nomination process. The programme specifically advises interested individuals who wish to be considered to read the relevant candidate guidance and seek nomination. How the Nomination Process Works The nomination process is designed to identify individuals who have demonstrated strong leadership potential. A nominator must provide information about both themselves and the candidate. The nomination form asks the nominator to provide: • Their name • Email address • Position or job title • How long they have known the candidate • The capacity in which they know the candidate • Confirmation that they have contacted the candidate • Confirmation that the candidate has given permission to be nominated The nominator must therefore have some meaningful knowledge of the candidate. The form provides different options for how long the nominator has known the candidate, including: • 1 year • 2 years • 2+ years • 5+ years • 10+ years The form also asks the nominator to explain the capacity in which they know the candidate. Click HERE to fill the nomination form. Candidate Information Required During Nomination The nomination form requires several details about the proposed candidate. These include: • Candidate's first name • Candidate's last name • Age • Gender • Nationality • Country of residence • Occupation • Candidate's personal email address • Relevant information concerning inhibiting factors • The nominator's motivation for recommending the candidate The candidate must therefore give the nominator permission to submit the nomination. Candidate Permission Is Required The nomination form specifically asks: Has the nominator contacted the candidate and obtained permission to nominate them? The available responses are: • Yes • No This means individuals should not be nominated without their knowledge and permission. Anyone considering nominating a colleague, professional contact, community leader or other person should first discuss the opportunity with that individual. The Importance of the Nominator's Motivation One of the most significant parts of the nomination form is the section requiring the nominator to explain why the candidate would be a strong fit for the fellowship. The programme specifically asks nominators to provide personal insight into the candidate rather than simply copying the person's CV or biography. The nominator is encouraged to address questions such as: • What makes this candidate a special and successful leader? • Why does the candidate stand out from other potential leaders? • What evidence demonstrates the candidate's leadership ability? • How could the candidate's leadership contribute to Africa's transformation? • How could the candidate's leadership contribute to improving the lives of people across the continent? This section is limited to 2,700 characters. Do Not Simply Copy the Candidate's CV The nomination guidance makes an important distinction between listing achievements and explaining why the person is an exceptional leadership candidate. Nominators are specifically advised not to copy and paste the candidate's CV or biography. Instead, the nominator should provide personal insight that selectors would not obtain simply by reading a résumé. This means the strongest nominations should explain the candidate's leadership character, influence, achievements and potential in a compelling and personal way. For example, a nominator could explain how they have observed the candidate: • Lead a difficult initiative • Mobilise communities • Solve complex problems • Influence institutional change • Build effective teams • Create employment or economic opportunities • Improve public services • Develop innovative solutions • Advocate for marginalised communities • Drive social or environmental change • Demonstrate ethical leadership The objective is to help selectors understand the person behind the résumé. Nationality and African Eligibility The nomination form provides a comprehensive list of African countries and includes an option for candidates who were born outside Africa. The African countries listed include: • Algeria • Angola • Benin • Botswana • Burkina Faso • Burundi • Cabo Verde • Cameroon • Central African Republic • Chad • Comoros • Democratic Republic of the Congo • Republic of the Congo • Côte d'Ivoire • Djibouti • Egypt • Equatorial Guinea • Eritrea • Eswatini • Ethiopia • Gabon • Gambia • Ghana • Guinea • Guinea-Bissau • Kenya • Lesotho • Liberia • Libya • Madagascar • Malawi • Mali • Mauritania • Mauritius • Morocco • Mozambique • Namibia • Niger • Nigeria • Rwanda • São Tomé and Príncipe • Senegal • Seychelles • Sierra Leone • Somalia • South Africa • South Sudan • Sudan • Tanzania • Togo • Tunisia • Uganda • Zambia • Zimbabwe The form's inclusion of “Born out of Africa” is important for candidates whose circumstances require clarification concerning their place of birth and African nationality. Prospective candidates should provide accurate nationality and

• African nationality (implied by 'Africans' and 'across Africa' language) • Age between 30 and 39 years • Demonstrated leadership potential and capacity to contribute to Africa's transformation • Must be nominated by another person; direct self-applications not accepted • Nominator must have meaningful knowledge of candidate (options range from 1 year to 10+ years of acquaintance) • Candidate must give permission for nomination • Nominator must confirm contact with candidate