Aspen-Impact West Africa Fellowship Program 2024 for Young Changemakers (Fully Funded)

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The Aspen Global Innovators Group, in collaboration with the Senegal-based, international advocacy, public affairs, and campaigns firm Niyel, launched the Impact West Africa Fellowship program.

This initiative aims to elevate the voices of leaders with proximate and lived expertise by providing a fellowship experience that centers the expertise of West African leaders. The inaugural Impact Fellowship program was launched in Senegal in 2023, opening an exciting and unique avenue to develop a new generation of powerful African development advocates, in order to advance Africa’s own development priorities. This program will spotlight advocates from French-speaking and English-speaking West African countries, highlighting West Africa’s Francophone and Anglophone key issues. Fellows will be individuals with a proven passion for advocacy and solid track records in activities related to improving lives and influencing meaningful change across the West African region.

West Africa Fellowship Program Components

The Impact West Africa Fellowship program equips changemakers from the region with the skills and support needed to tackle common challenges that affect close to half a billion people across the region’s 17 countries. Each Impact Fellow will participate in an intensive 12-month journey to help them advance their individual advocacy goals. Throughout the year-long program, Fellows continue their professional commitments while receiving tailored mentorship, attending two immersive convenings, and participating in quarterly online training sessions between convenings.

Key program details include:

2 in-person week-long convenings:
- Advocacy- Participants will engage in intensive sessions aimed at introducing and exploring various aspects of advocacy, including key elements of advocacy, strategies for effective advocacy, and the role of advocacy in driving social change.
- Strategic Engagement for Advocacy- fellows will delve into communication tools essential for effective advocacy work. Fellows will not only refine their communication skills but also explore fundraising and networking strategies vital for effective advocacy work.
Quarterly virtual trainings: Each quarter, fellows will engage in a series of online training sessions tailored to address the specific needs of the cohort. These sessions will cover a diverse range of topics aimed at enhancing their skills and knowledge, further empowering them as change agents within West Africa. Example of possible trainings include the following:
- Community Mobilization and Engagement
- Coalition Building
- Arts and activism
- Harvesting Outcomes (Advocacy and measuring impact)
- Narrative Change
- Media and Digital Advocacy Strategies
- Community-Led Advocacy Campaigns
- Policy Analysis and Influencing Decision-Makers
Professional mentorship support:
- Mentoring and coaching of fellows will be core aspects of the fellowship. Each fellow will be paired with an experienced mentor supporting both their advocacy and strategic engagement development. These mentors will provide personalized guidance and support throughout the fellowship journey. Mentors and fellows will engage in regular check-in meetings to assess progress, set goals, and discuss challenges and opportunities.

Benefits of Being a Fellow

Network: You will gain access to global network of innovators, experts and champions.
Visibility: You will have the ability to participate in various platforms, events, and initiatives where you can gain exposure to key stakeholders, funders and policy makers.
Peer Support: Offers a supportive environment where fellows can easily exchange ideas, share challenges and offer mutual support.
Knowledge Building: workshops, seminars, curated content, and curriculum.

Note:

There is no cost to participate in this program. All travel-related costs for the two in-person convenings including airfare, local transportation, lodging, and food will be covered by the fellowship.
The fellowship does not provide any stipend while participating in the program

Eligibility Requirement for West Africa Fellowship Program

Applicants must be a citizen of and reside in a West African country
Applicants must be able to demonstrate a passion and commitment for advocacy that addresses one or more key issues affecting the West African region
Applicants must have access to reliable internet connection
Applicants must be able to participate throughout the entirety of the program
Have organizational support, in the form of a letter, to fully engage in the fellowship experience

Program Timeline:

May 1, 2024 – Application opens
14 June 2024– Application close
31 July 2024– Applicants are notified of their status
1 September 2024- Fellowship begins Exact date on August will be announced later.

Click Here to Apply