Obama Foundation Leaders Africa Program 2025-2026 for young African Changemakers

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Applications are open for Obama Foundation Leaders Africa Program. The Obama Foundation Leaders Africa program seeks to build a growing network of innovative and values-based changemakers who will drive positive change in their communities, the continent, and the world.

During the Obamas’ tenure in the White House, they traveled across the African continent and witnessed incredible stories of young African leaders carrying the baton for change. Since then, they’ve formed partnerships to expand opportunities and create new connections for passionate leaders, beginning with the inaugural Leaders Africa program in 2018.

Leaders Africa is a six-month, non-residential, virtual leadership journey for 34 emerging leaders from across the continent focused on exploring values-based leadership skills and building deep relationships with fellow cohort members.

The virtual Leaders Africa program seeks to identify exceptional leaders in public, civil society, and the private sector who have a clear issue-focus and who can illustrate the impact of their work. Our objective is to build a network of values-based leaders, who create positive, innovative change in their communities, throughout Africa, and around the world.

Obama Foundation Leaders Africa Program Scope

What is the Obama Foundation Leaders program?

The Obama Foundation Leaders program is a six-month virtual leadership development journey. Programs in Africa, Asia-Pacific, Europe, and the United States are currently scheduled to begin the week of September 1, 2025, and will conclude no later than May 1, 2026, with planned breaks throughout. Exact dates are subject to change.
For an average of 8-12 hours per month, the program will bring together cohorts of leaders from across the regions. Participants (known as “Obama Leaders” or “Leaders”) will take part in weekly sessions that include:
- Practical tools and training for deepening values-based leadership
- Leadership coaching
- Community groups
- Conversations with thought leaders
- Cultural programming that showcases the richness of diversity in the region
- Curated spaces for deep personal reflection and interpersonal learning with peers
Upon completion of the program, Obama Leaders will become part of the Obama Foundation’s Leadership Network—a growing community of civically active Obama Foundation program alumni who are creating tangible solutions to the greatest challenges of our time.

Benefits

Participants selected for the Obama Foundation Leaders program incur no fees.

Eligibility Criteria for Obama Foundation Leaders Africa Program

The program currently invites individuals residing in the following African nations and territories to apply:

All nations and territories on/in the continent.

Citizenship and Residency
- You must be living in the region for the duration of the program and meet one of the following criteria:
- Citizen of an eligible country OR
- Permanent resident of an eligible country OR
- A refugee or asylum seeker in an eligible nation or territory OR
- Have lived in an eligible country for at least the last 5 years, regardless of citizenship or permanent residence status
Geographic Focus
- Your work is geographically focused on creating positive change for local communities, an eligible African nation or territory, and/or the broader African region. You demonstrate a strong commitment to continue to focus your work in Africa.
Leadership Experience
- You can demonstrate at least 3 years of relevant experience in your issue area.
Age
- You will be between 24 and 45 years of age on September 1, 2025.
Language Proficiency
- You are professionally proficient in English.
Political Campaigns
- You will refrain from participating in an electoral campaign as a candidate for political office from the time you are accepted into the program through May 1, 2026. Selection decisions are currently scheduled to be sent in June 2025.
Program Commitment
- You can commit to fully participating in the entire duration of the six-month program. Official program dates are yet to be determined but will fall somewhere between September 1, 2025 and May 1, 2026. You must be able to attend between 8 and 12 hours of required virtual programming each month, as well as attend required leadership coaching sessions and engage in community group discussions throughout the program duration.
Jurisdiction and Ability to Participate in a US-Based Program
- The Foundation is based in the United States. To participate in the Program, you must be under no legal or regulatory restrictions that would limit your participation in virtual Foundation programming or travel to the U.S. for in-person programming (if any).