MASS African Design Centre
✨ AI Summary
The African Design Centre Fellowship is a fully paid 12-month residency in Rwanda for young African architects and designers to develop skills and practical experience tackling Africa's built environment challenges.
The African Design Centre (ADC) at MASS is hosting a 12-month paid residency fellowship in Kigali, Rwanda for emerging African architects, designers, and built-environment professionals. The fellowship runs from October 2026 to September 2027 and immerses fellows in real-world projects addressing Africa's development challenges, including maternal health facilities, economic development, climate-positive infrastructure, and sustainable urban development. Fellows conduct design research on indigenous knowledge systems and vernacular architecture, participate in pilot projects, disseminate findings through publications, and receive mentorship from MASS staff, design professionals, and industry experts. The ADC is an initiative of MASS that combines research, catalyst projects, and leadership development to advance culturally grounded, community-centered design solutions across Africa. What you get • Paid fellowship opportunity • Full immersion in a leading African design institution • Access to expert mentorship • Hands-on project experience • Professional development opportunities • Exposure to cutting-edge design and research practices • Opportunities to collaborate with leading practitioners • Expanded regional and international professional networks • Leadership development training • Practical experience addressing Africa's development challenges How to apply 1. Submit Stage 1 materials: Curriculum Vitae, professional references, portfolio, and statement of alignment through the official application portal 2. If shortlisted, submit Stage 2 pre-fellowship essays and confirm availability for the fellowship period 3. If essay is successful, participate in Stage 3 interviews
• Be a national of an African country • Be 35 years old or younger • Hold a degree in architecture, urban design, landscape architecture, engineering, or a related field • Be able to relocate to Kigali, Rwanda for the full duration of the fellowship • Demonstrate commitment to social justice and environmental responsibility • Show interest in community-driven and culturally grounded design solutions • Submit Curriculum Vitae (CV) or resume • Provide professional references • Submit a portfolio • Submit a statement of alignment • Submit pre-fellowship essays (if shortlisted) • Participate in interviews (if essay successful)