Fellowship
Deadline in 2 days
Deadline: October 25, 2026
The Archbishop Tutu Leadership Fellowship Programme 2027 is inviting nominations for the next generation of high-potential African leaders who are expected to take on significant leadership roles and contribute to Africa’s transformation over the coming years. Organised by the African Leadership Institute (AFLI), the Archbishop Tutu Leadership Fellowship is the organisation’s flagship leadership development programme. The programme has been offered since 2006 and is designed to identify, develop and connect promising young African leaders across different sectors of society.
Requirements: Applicants must be between 30-39 years of age, and be nominated by someone who can articulate why they would be a good Tutu Fellow.
How to apply: All Nominees should have received an email informing them of the status of their nomination. That email will either be an invitation to apply, or one notifying them that their nomination had been declined for further consideration.
A quick overview based on the listing. Review the full details below before applying.
No separate application link was provided for this opportunity. Full application instructions are included in the announcement details below — read them carefully and contact the organization directly.
The Archbishop Tutu Leadership Fellowship Programme 2027 is inviting nominations for the next generation of high-potential African leaders who are expected to take on significant leadership roles and contribute to Africa’s transformation over the coming years.
Organised by the African Leadership Institute (AFLI), the Archbishop Tutu Leadership Fellowship is the organisation’s flagship leadership development programme. The programme has been offered since 2006 and is designed to identify, develop and connect promising young African leaders across different sectors of society.
For the Class of 2027, approximately 25 high-potential individuals from across Africa will ultimately be selected through a rigorous and competitive process. However, unlike many fellowship programmes, individuals cannot directly apply or nominate themselves. Candidates must first be nominated by another person and, following the nomination and screening stages, eligible nominees will be invited to complete the full fellowship application.
The programme is designed for Africans between 30 and 39 years of age who demonstrate strong leadership potential and the capacity to contribute meaningfully to Africa’s social, economic and political transformation.
Nomination deadline for the Class of 2027: September 20, 2026, at midnight Johannesburg, South Africa time.
The subsequent candidate application process is scheduled to begin around September 25, 2026, with applications and letters of recommendation due by October 25, 2026, at midnight Johannesburg time.
The African Leadership Institute (AFLI) is focused on nurturing and strengthening leadership capabilities across Africa, particularly among young people who demonstrate exceptional leadership potential.
The Institute’s broader objective is to develop a network of high-potential African leaders who can progress into senior leadership positions within their respective fields over the following five to ten years.
AFLI seeks to develop leaders who will not only advance professionally but also remain actively engaged in creating positive change across Africa.
The Archbishop Tutu Leadership Fellowship is the Institute’s flagship programme through which it pursues this objective.
The fellowship has been running since 2006, creating a network of alumni who have participated in leadership learning and development activities designed to strengthen their experiences, insights, leadership tools and confidence.
The Archbishop Tutu Leadership Fellowship Programme is a prestigious leadership development programme aimed at identifying and developing the next generation of African leaders.
Each year, approximately 25 high-potential individuals from across Africa are selected following a rigorous competitive selection process.
The programme targets individuals who are expected to become influential leaders in their respective fields over the next five to ten years.
Importantly, the fellowship is not limited to one profession or sector.
The programme is intended for emerging leaders across all sectors of African society, meaning that candidates can come from different professional, social, economic, public, private, civil society and other leadership backgrounds.
The central question is not simply what sector an individual works in, but whether the person demonstrates the leadership potential, experience and commitment necessary to contribute to Africa’s transformation.
The fellowship is designed around the idea that Africa’s future depends significantly on the development of capable, ethical and transformative leaders.
AFLI therefore seeks individuals who have already demonstrated leadership potential and who can develop into influential leaders in their respective fields.
Through the fellowship, selected participants receive leadership learning activities intended to strengthen:
The programme also seeks to create a lasting network of fellows who can support one another and contribute to Africa’s transformation beyond the fellowship itself.
The Archbishop Tutu Fellowship is highly selective.
For each annual class, approximately 25 individuals are selected from across Africa.
This means that becoming a Tutu Fellow is a competitive achievement.
The programme describes its selected participants as some of the continent’s most promising future leaders and specifically targets individuals expected to rise into top leadership positions within their areas of activity over the next five to ten years.
Applicants and nominators should therefore understand that meeting the basic age and geographic requirements does not automatically result in selection.
The selection process is designed to identify candidates who demonstrate exceptional leadership potential and a strong capacity to contribute to the transformation of Africa.
The programme is designed for high-potential African leaders between 30 and 39 years of age.
The fellowship is not restricted to one professional discipline.
The key consideration is the candidate’s leadership potential and capacity to contribute to positive change.
30 and 39 years of age.
The nomination form explicitly requires the nominator to confirm the candidate’s age.
Applicants outside the specified age range should not be nominated for the programme.
Prospective candidates should therefore verify their age eligibility before approaching a potential nominator.
One of the most important aspects of the Archbishop Tutu Fellowship is that direct applications are not accepted.
Individuals interested in becoming Tutu Fellows must first be nominated by another person.
You cannot nominate yourself.
You cannot submit a direct application without first being nominated.
You need someone else to put your name forward.
Only one nomination is necessary.
Multiple nominations may be regarded as abuse of the nomination process.
The programme specifically advises interested individuals who wish to be considered to read the relevant candidate guidance and seek nomination.
The nomination process is designed to identify individuals who have demonstrated strong leadership potential.
A nominator must provide information about both themselves and the candidate.
The nominator must therefore have some meaningful knowledge of the candidate.
The form provides different options for how long the nominator has known the candidate, including:
The form also asks the nominator to explain the capacity in which they know the candidate.
Click HERE to fill the nomination form.
The nomination form requires several details about the proposed candidate.
The candidate must therefore give the nominator permission to submit the nomination.
This means individuals should not be nominated without their knowledge and permission.
Anyone considering nominating a colleague, professional contact, community leader or other person should first discuss the opportunity with that individual.
One of the most significant parts of the nomination form is the section requiring the nominator to explain why the candidate would be a strong fit for the fellowship.
The programme specifically asks nominators to provide personal insight into the candidate rather than simply copying the person’s CV or biography.
How could the candidate’s leadership contribute to improving the lives of people across the continent?
This section is limited to 2,700 characters.
The nomination guidance makes an important distinction between listing achievements and explaining why the person is an exceptional leadership candidate.
Nominators are specifically advised not to copy and paste the candidate’s CV or biography.
Instead, the nominator should provide personal insight that selectors would not obtain simply by reading a résumé.
This means the strongest nominations should explain the candidate’s leadership character, influence, achievements and potential in a compelling and personal way.
The objective is to help selectors understand the person behind the résumé.
The nomination form provides a comprehensive list of African countries and includes an option for candidates who were born outside Africa.
The form’s inclusion of “Born out of Africa” is important for candidates whose circumstances require clarification concerning their place of birth and African nationality.
Prospective candidates should provide accurate nationality and residence information when being nominated.
The inclusion of these options demonstrates that the nomination process is not presented as being limited to one gender.
The Class of 2027 selection process follows several stages.
According to the updated AFLI schedule provided for the 2027 cycle, the process is structured approximately as follows.
Invited nominations for the Class of 2027 begin on August 26, 2026.
This marks the opening of the nomination stage through which prospective candidates can be put forward for consideration.
This is the critical deadline for nominations.
The nomination deadline is described as a hard deadline.
The nomination form will be taken down at the deadline and nominations submitted afterward will not be accepted.
Following the nomination deadline, AFLI will screen the submitted nominees.
One week to 10 days after nominations close, depending on the number of nominations received.
On or around September 25, 2026.
Candidates who progress through the nomination and screening stage will then be able to proceed with the formal fellowship application.
October 25, 2026 at midnight Johannesburg, South Africa time.
This is separate from the September 20 nomination deadline.
Prospective candidates and their nominators should therefore understand that there are two important deadlines:
October 25, 2026 at midnight Johannesburg, South Africa time.
Candidates should therefore begin preparing their referees well in advance.
Early November 2026.
Mid-December 2026.
Mid-January 2027.
February 2027.
All candidates are expected to receive a status notification as the selection process progresses.
Most candidates are expected to receive status communications around November or December 2026, while finalists will receive status communication in early 2027.
The Class of 2027 will be announced before the first programme workshop in South Africa.
The information provided does not give an exact announcement date.
A particularly important warning from AFLI concerns the nomination deadline.
The programme explicitly describes the deadline as a hard deadline.
This means candidates and nominators should not wait until the final hours to submit the nomination.
Technical problems can prevent a form from being successfully submitted.
The nomination guidance specifically warns against assuming that a last-minute submission will be successful.
Nominators are therefore encouraged to submit their nominations well before the deadline.
Because the nomination deadline is hard, a technical problem occurring shortly before midnight does not necessarily result in an extension.
The programme therefore advises nominators to submit early.
For candidates who progress to the formal application stage, letters of recommendation are an important component of the selection process.
October 25, 2026 at midnight Johannesburg time.
Candidates should therefore identify appropriate referees early and make sure they understand the deadline.
A candidate should ideally select people who can provide meaningful evidence of their leadership, professional achievements, character and potential.
The Archbishop Tutu Fellowship is specifically aimed at the next generation of African leaders.
Therefore, simply having a successful career may not be enough.
Candidates should be able to demonstrate evidence of leadership potential.
The strongest candidates are likely to be individuals whose leadership extends beyond personal advancement and demonstrates wider social value.
AFLI’s nomination form specifically asks how a candidate’s leadership will contribute to the transformation of Africa and improve the lives of people on the continent.
This makes the candidate’s broader vision particularly important.
The emphasis should be on measurable or observable impact wherever possible.
One of the strengths of the Archbishop Tutu Fellowship is its cross-sector approach.
The programme seeks future leaders from all sectors of society.
This means that a candidate does not necessarily need to work in government, politics or international development.
A leader in business, technology, education, health, civil society, entrepreneurship, media, agriculture, science or another sector can potentially be considered.
What matters is the combination of leadership potential, achievement, vision and commitment to positive change.
AFLI aims to create a network of high-potential African leaders who have participated in its programmes.
The purpose of this network is to connect individuals who are expected to move into significant leadership positions over the next five to ten years.
This network can provide an environment in which fellows can exchange ideas, develop relationships and collaborate across countries and professional sectors.
The fellowship therefore has a longer-term objective that extends beyond the immediate programme activities.
The programme seeks to give participants practical leadership resources that they can apply within their organisations, communities and wider societies.
If you are a prospective candidate, the first step is not to complete an application yourself.
Instead, you should identify an appropriate person who can nominate you.
Potential nominators could include people who know your work and leadership closely, depending on their relationship with you.
A nomination from someone who knows your work deeply is likely to provide more meaningful insight than a nomination from someone who knows you only superficially.
A strong nomination should tell a convincing leadership story.
Describe the challenge or opportunity that motivated the candidate’s leadership.
Explain the candidate’s specific role rather than describing a collective achievement without identifying the individual’s contribution.
Where possible, provide evidence of outcomes.
Explain what distinguishes the person from other capable professionals.
Describe the candidate’s future leadership potential and how it could contribute to Africa.
Impact is an important concept throughout the fellowship’s nomination process.
Candidates should therefore consider the difference their leadership has made.
The relevant evidence will depend on the candidate’s sector.
Click HERE to learn more about the Archbishop Tutu Leadership Fellowship.
Prospective nominators and candidates should review the official AFLI resources before participating in the process.
The official programme website also provides information about subscribing to the AFLI mailing list for announcements concerning the fellowship and other AFLI programmes.
Do not self-nominate. Direct applications and self-nominations are not accepted.
Secure permission first. A candidate should know about and approve their nomination.
Read the nomination guidance carefully.
Submit the nomination early. The September 20 deadline is a hard deadline.
Do not submit multiple nominations. The programme states that only one nomination is necessary and multiple nominations may be considered abuse.
Choose a knowledgeable nominator. The person should be able to provide meaningful insight into the candidate’s leadership.
Prepare for the formal application. Candidates who progress beyond screening should be ready to complete the next stage quickly.
Choose referees early. Recommendation letters have a firm October 25 deadline.
Focus on impact. Demonstrate what your leadership has changed.
Think beyond personal achievement. Explain how your leadership contributes to Africa’s transformation.
It is the flagship leadership development programme of the African Leadership Institute, designed to identify and develop high-potential African leaders who are expected to contribute to the continent’s transformation.
Approximately 25 individuals are selected for each annual class.
Candidates must be between 30 and 39 years old.
No. Direct applications and self-nominations are not accepted. A candidate must first be nominated by another person.
Only one nomination is necessary. The programme warns that multiple nominations may be considered abuse.
The information provided includes nationality and country-of-residence fields and lists African nationalities. Prospective candidates should carefully review the official candidate guidance if their nationality, residence or place of birth creates a special circumstance.
No. The programme targets future leaders across all sectors of African society.
The Archbishop Tutu Leadership Fellowship has been offered since 2006.
For the Class of 2027, nominations close on September 20, 2026, at midnight Johannesburg, South Africa time.
The application process is expected to begin on or around September 25, 2026, following screening of nominees.
The deadline for applications and letters of recommendation is October 25, 2026, at midnight Johannesburg time.
The Class of 2027 will be announced before the first workshop in South Africa. The information provided does not specify an exact announcement date.
Visit HERE to read the Full FAQs.
Am I an African national or otherwise eligible under AFLI’s nationality requirements?
The Archbishop Tutu Leadership Fellowship 2027 represents a major leadership development opportunity for high-potential Africans who are already demonstrating the capacity to influence their organisations, communities, sectors and societies.
Run by the African Leadership Institute, the fellowship has been offered since 2006 and seeks to build a network of emerging African leaders who are expected to rise into significant leadership positions over the next five to ten years.
For the Class of 2027, approximately 25 individuals will be selected through a rigorous process. The programme is open to emerging leaders across sectors rather than being restricted to a particular profession. Candidates must be between 30 and 39 years old and must first be nominated by another person.
The most important point for prospective candidates is that there is no direct application route. Interested individuals must secure a nomination, and only one nomination is necessary. Candidates should therefore identify someone who knows their leadership and achievements well enough to provide a compelling and personal assessment of their potential.
The nomination deadline is September 20, 2026, at midnight Johannesburg time. Candidates who successfully progress through the nomination and screening stage are expected to begin the formal application process around September 25, with the application and recommendation-letter deadline set for October 25, 2026.
Because the nomination deadline is a hard deadline, prospective nominators should begin early and avoid submitting at the last minute. A strong nomination should go beyond repeating a candidate’s CV and should clearly explain what makes the candidate an exceptional leader, what impact they have already created and how their future leadership could contribute to the transformation of Africa.
For African professionals and emerging leaders who meet the age requirements and have a demonstrated record of leadership, service and positive impact, the Archbishop Tutu Leadership Fellowship offers an opportunity to join a network specifically focused on developing the continent’s next generation of influential leaders.
Discover more global Fellowship, Leadership Development and African opportunities on OFY.
Applicants must be between 30-39 years of age, and be nominated by someone who can articulate why they would be a good Tutu Fellow.
Candidates must be between: 30 and 39 years of age.
All Nominees should have received an email informing them of the status of their nomination. That email will either be an invitation to apply, or one notifying them that their nomination had been declined for further consideration.
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