Chatham House Mo Ibrahim Foundation Academy Fellowship 2026/2027 for Young Emerging African Leaders (£2,565 monthly Stipend+Fully Funded to London)

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Applications are open for Chatham House Mo Ibrahim Foundation Academy Fellowship 2026. This fellowship is a joint initiative with the Mo Ibrahim Foundation. It offers candidates at the early-to-mid-stage of their career the opportunity to spend ten months at Chatham House working on an individual research project of their choosing.

Fellows take part in the core work of the Institute, developing their skills through the leadership programme, and furthering their professional network in the field of international affairs.

Mo Ibrahim Foundation Academy Fellowship Programme Details

A fellow’s time is split between three key areas:

Completing a personal research project: the fellow chooses and design a personal project to undertake with the guidance of a Chatham House expert (approximately 60%).
Leadership Masterclass Programme: it is a key part of all fellowships. It aims to develop fellows knowledge, network, self-awareness and to equip them with important skills on which they can draw in their future careers as leaders in their field (approximately 20%).
Contributing to ongoing research activities: working with their host research team and other Chatham House teams as appropriate, fellows contribute to existing research priorities in line with the Chatham House mission (approximately 20%).

How long and where?

Duration
- Academy Fellows spend ten months at Chatham House between October 2026 and July 2027.
Location
- Fellow are based full-time at Chatham House, London with hybrid working also possible.

Leadership Masterclass Programme

All fellows participate in and contribute to the Leadership Programme which encompasses the following components:

Intensive induction week
Academy fellowships begin with an intensive five-day induction week to become familiarized with the elements of the fellowships, meet their host research programme and have their first personal development coaching session.
Thematic sessions
In these sessions, fellows meet and discuss current international affairs challenges with subject matter experts from Chatham House and beyond. The sessions cover the principal substantive and skills-based areas vital for informed and effective international leadership. Fellows usually chair these sessions and are expected to contribute to and learn from one another’s experience.
Leadership skills workshops
Fellows participate in half-day workshops focusing on specific aspects of leadership such as achieving policy impact, stakeholder mapping, crisis management and negotiation skills.
Leadership Briefings
Fellows engage in discussions with a diverse group of global leaders from government, business, media, and the non-profit sector. In these informal sessions, leaders share their leadership visions and strategies, along with personal insights from their own leadership journeys. The sessions feature members of the Academy’s faculty among other speakers.
Project presentations
Fellows present updates on their research projects to help develop presentation skills, provide a forum for peer-review and to analyse issues outside their own area of expertise.
Personal development coaching
Fellows have access to one-on-one sessions with a dedicated coach as a way to grow their self-awareness. Fellows work with the coach to set personal development objectives which they work to meet during their fellowship and beyond.
Media training
Fellows learn effective interview skills needed for television and radio culminating in a mock interview from which they receive feedback on style and any areas of improvement
Career mentoring (optional)
Fellows’ development is facilitated and supported by partnering them with mentors to enhance their career perspective and path.

Mo Ibrahim Foundation Academy Fellowship Remuneration and benefits

Academy Fellows receive a monthly stipend of £2,565 for London living expenses to cover accommodation, utilities, food and transport.

Chatham House also covers:

Relocation costs: travel, accommodation support and visa fees. If required, Chatham House will sponsor a fellow’s visa (T5: Temporary Work – Government Authorised Exchange);
UK Immigration Health Surcharge (excluding dental/optical care and prescriptions); and
Research expenses, relating to field work, outreach, events and publications.

Following the successful completion of their fellowship alumni benefit from access to:

The Academy faculty and alumni; and
Five-year Chatham House membership.

Eligibility Criteria

Citizenship
- The fellowship is open to citizens of any African country.
- Applications are also accepted from applicants holding dual nationality which includes any African country.
Education
- Applicants must hold a completed BA degree or equivalent and have experience with conducting research.
Career
- The ideal candidate should be at the early-to-mid-stage of their career and come from one of the following fields or work: academia, NGO, business, government departments, civil society or the media. All applicants should possess knowledge of, and an interest in, international affairs, their chosen area of research, and Chatham House’s mission and research.
Age restrictions
- We do not impose age restrictions for applicants.
Can I undertake other work or study at the same time as my fellowship?
- Fellows are expected to work full-time towards their fellowship and therefore it is not possible to undertake a fellowship at the same time as pursuing work or studies.