AFLI Archbishop Tutu Fellowship Programme 2027 for Emerging Young African Leaders (Fully Funded)

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Applications are open for AFLI Archbishop Tutu Fellowship Programme 2027. The goal of the African Leadership Institute (AFLI) is to nurture and enhance leadership capability across Africa, with particular focus on Africa’s most promising young leaders. AFLI’s aim is to create a network of high-potential young Africans who have attended our programmes, and who are expected to rise to top leadership positions in their sphere of activity over the next 5-10 years and be actively engaged in contributing to positive change on the continent.

AFLI achieves this through its flagship programme, the Archbishop Tutu Leadership Fellowship Programme, which has been offered since 2006. The programme provides leadership learning activities that enhance selected candidates’ experiences, insights, tools and confidence, and provides a support network that will better enable them to become drivers of the transformation of Africa.

It is the flagship programme of the African Leadership Institute. Each year, around 25 high-potential individuals from across Africa are awarded a slot for the prestigious ATLP, following a rigorous competitive selection process. This section of the site provides more information about the programme and the application process.

To be considered, candidates must be nominated; self-nominations are not permitted. Nominators and individuals nominated for consideration for the programme are strongly encouraged to read all of the information below.

AFLI Archbishop Tutu Fellowship Benefits

The Archbishop Tutu Fellowship offers much more than leadership training. Fellows join an influential network of African leaders while participating in intensive learning experiences designed to strengthen:

Ethical and values-based leadership
Strategic decision-making
Pan-African collaboration
Systems thinking and institutional leadership
Personal resilience and executive effectiveness

Graduates become part of the AFLI Fellowship network, connecting with accomplished leaders across multiple sectors throughout Africa.

Eligibility Criteria

For individuals interested in the programme, AFLI opens nominations annually for the approximately 25 slots in the programme.
Applicants must be between 30-39 years of age and be nominated to be granted access to apply.
Only one nomination is necessary.
Direct applications are not accepted

The Class of 2027 will be announced in January 2027.

Application Timeline

Invited nominations start date	26 August 2026
Nominations close	20 September 2026 at Midnight Johannesburg, South Africa time.
Screening of nominees	Approximately one week to 10 days after nomination closure, depending on nomination numbers
Application process begins	On or around 25 September 2026
Deadline cutoff for applications	25 October 2026 at Midnight Johannesburg, South Africa time.
Deadline for Letters of Recommendation by Referees	25 October 2026 at Midnight Johannesburg, South Africa time.
Selection process begins	Early November 2026. Shortlisted candidates informed mid-December 2026.
Finalisation by selectors of the Class	Mid-January 2027
Communication with final candidates	Invitation emails sent to Associates and Reserves – beginning February 2027
Status of all applications	All candidates will have received a status email by the time invitation emails are distributed. Most will be sent in mid-December 2026. Finalists will receive a status email in early 2027.
Announcement of the Class of 2027	Sometime prior to the first Workshop in South Africa.

How To Apply for AFLI Archbishop Tutu Fellowship

The fellowship operates through a nomination-first process.

The process is straightforward:

A nominator submits the candidate’s details.
AFLI reviews nominations.
Eligible nominated candidates receive access to the official fellowship application.
Final fellows are selected through a rigorous competitive process.

No login or account is required to submit a nomination.

Click Here To Apply and for more details

Application Deadline: 20 September 2026