2027 Mo Ibrahim Foundation Leadership Fellowship Program
Established in 2006, the Mo Ibrahim Foundation supports good governance and great leadership in Africa. It stimulates debate on good governance, provides criteria by which citizens and governments can measure progress, recognizes achievement in African leadership, and supports aspiring leaders for the continent. The Foundation finances the Ibrahim Leadership Fellowship position at the African Development Bank. The Fellow is based at the Bank's headquarters in Abidjan, Cote d'Ivoire, or any other location from which the Bank carries out its operations. The Mo Ibrahim Leadership Fellowship Programme is a selective fellowship that prepares the next generation of outstanding African leaders by providing unique work opportunities at the most senior level of prominent African institutions and multilateral organizations. The placement lasts no longer than 12 months and is designed to increase professional capacity and create a pipeline of future African leaders. Duties and responsibilities The Fellow takes leadership guidance from the President, the Managing Directors, the Chief of Staff, and Director of Cabinet, or a designated representative, and will: Design, develop, and help implement innovative approaches to strategic issues central to the Bank's mission, based on international best practice. Undertake research and analysis of existing and emerging strategy, program, and policy areas relevant to the Bank. Assist with monitoring and analyzing Bank Group initiatives and the regular work program, preparing briefs, memos, and documentation that convey likely impact in non-technical terms. Participate in high-level discussions and contribute to the preparation of the President's meetings and missions. Carry out other duties assigned by senior staff in the President's office. Contract terms The Fellow receives an annual stipend paid monthly by the Bank from Foundation funds, and signs a contract with the Bank before commencing service. Official mission travel costs, including travel insurance, are borne by the Bank, while travel and shipping costs for assumption of duty and repatriation are paid from Foundation funds. The Fellow is not a regular employee of the Bank, is not eligible for the Bank's child education scheme, staff medical insurance, or retirement plans (the Foundation ensures separate arrangements), and may not be recruited as a Bank staff member for one year after the fellowship ends. The contract runs for one year and is not renewable. Selection criteria Selection priority follows the Bank's four cardinal points: mobilizing resources at scale to finance Africa's development, reforming Africa's financial architecture, harnessing the demographic dividend to drive economic growth, and building climate-resilient infrastructure with robust value addition to natural resources. Key competences are top-notch private sector professional experience and strong analytical skills in development policy and strategy, including the ability to run development models. The fellowship targets young professionals, mid-career professionals, and new executives. Applicants must: Be a national of an African country, residing anywhere in the world. Not be an active, non-active, retired, or separated staff member of the Bank, and not have close family relations with an active or non-active staff member. Not be a government official, active military personnel, or political party leader. Be no older than 40 (45 for women with children). Hold at least a Master's degree from a recognized institution in banking, business, economics or other social sciences, finance, international development, or another discipline relevant to the Bank's business. Have at least seven years of relevant work experience, with demonstrated leadership, consultative, and communication skills. Have experience in strategic planning, project management and execution, and in formulating policy and implementing new strategies and procedures. Demonstrate strong ability to analyze and interpret financial and other data, excellent written and oral presentation skills, and the ability to work with officials at all levels of government and motivate teams across several simultaneous projects. How to apply Complete the online form on the Bank's website by 20 November 2026. Applications are only considered if submitted online with a comprehensive CV indicating date of birth, nationality, education, and relevant experience, plus copies of academic transcripts and three letters of recommendation. The Bank's Human Resources Department vets applications to produce a shortlist of 10 files for the Foundation to review, from which three candidates are presented to the President of the Bank for final selection. Only applicants considered for interview will be contacted. Applicants must be nationals of an AfDB member country. For more information on the Foundation and the Fellowship Program, visit mo.ibrahim.foundation/fellowships.
Mo Ibrahim Foundation (hosted by the African Development Bank)
Nearly half of the world's population lives in cities, and public services shape residents' everyday lives: whether they can get health care, find meaningful work, live safely, and have a voice in local decisions. City governments and their partners are on the front lines of delivering these services. The Rockefeller Foundation and OpenAI Foundation are committing $50 million to Cities Deliver, an initiative providing grants of $500,000 to $2 million to organizations working with city governments to improve public services through AI, especially for underserved communities. Together, these projects aim to reach up to 100 million city residents worldwide. Focus areas Proposals should improve access to and quality of public services in vulnerable or underserved communities across four areas: Public health. Solutions that extend the reach and readiness of public health systems, from frontline care and disease surveillance to population-scale prevention. Includes healthcare, disability services, food access, and nutrition. Economic mobility. Solutions that use AI to connect unemployed and underemployed residents to income, skills, and benefits. Includes AI-enabled benefits enrollment, career navigation, skills-based hiring, and employer-aligned training. Environmental resilience. Solutions that help cities forecast, withstand, and recover from environmental shocks. Includes public safety and emergency services, energy and grid infrastructure, and land management in at-risk communities. Civic engagement. Solutions that help city governments reach residents proactively and respond faster, from two-way service channels to participatory decision-making. Includes digital access and connectivity, court services, and permitting. Excludes projects related to voting or elections. Two tracks of funding Seed: $500,000 to under $1 million. For early concepts ready for a first city pilot. Supports refining the idea with city partners, building and testing a prototype, and piloting it. Success looks like evidence the solution works, that people use it, and clarity on what it would take to sustain and scale it. Scale: $1 million to $2 million. For solutions already piloted in a city with early results. Supports expanding within your city or extending to another city. Success looks like more people reached and a credible path to long-term funding, such as government budgets. All grants run 24 months, with 50% disbursed at the start and 50% upon a documented mid-term milestone. Grants do not guarantee follow-on funding. Who can apply Every project needs an eligible lead organization (a nonprofit, including university labs and fiscally sponsored organizations, or a public benefit corporation), a city partner committed to collaborate, and a charitable purpose. Governments may not apply directly. Existing grantees of The Rockefeller Foundation and RF Catalytic Capital are also eligible. The funders are looking for projects that respond to credible demand from city governments, start with a significant prioritized problem, draw on frontier AI capabilities as core to the solution, demonstrate readiness to integrate technology into public sector settings, build for sustainability, act responsibly, and plan to learn through a clear evaluation agenda. What grantees receive Funding: $500,000 to $2 million over 24 months. Peer learning: A facilitated cohort, plus webinars, mentorship, and evaluation support based on demand. Technical support: Occasional AI product and engineering support, subject to capacity. Visibility and network: Access to Rockefeller Foundation and OpenAI Foundation networks of city leaders, funders, and technical partners. Convening: Invitations to a global or regional convening to share experiences and showcase work. Application process and timeline October 14, 2026: Call for proposals goes live. October 31, 2026: Deadline to submit questions to citiesdeliver@rockfound.org. Revised FAQs available November 4, 2026. November 29, 2026: Round 1 proposals due, including eligibility screen and short video, at 11:59pm US Eastern Time. December 2026: Applicants notified whether they advance to interviews. January 2027: Interviews for advancing applicants. February 2027: Applicants notified whether they advance to Round 2. March 1, 2027: Round 2 proposals due at 11:59pm US Eastern Time. April 2027: Final selection decisions announced. Cities Deliver is managed by RF Catalytic Capital (RFCC), an affiliate of The Rockefeller Foundation.
The Rockefeller Foundation & OpenAI Foundation (managed by RF Catalytic Capital)
The Rhodes Scholarship is a life-changing postgraduate opportunity to join outstanding young people from around the world to study at the University of Oxford. Applications for the Rhodes Scholarship 2027 are now open! Applications made this year are for entry to the University of Oxford in October 2027.
Bweme Antonio·Oct 19, 2026
