Acumen East Africa Fellowship 2027

About the role

The Acumen East Africa Fellowship is a year-long part-time leadership programme for around 25 emerging social-change leaders working in East Africa (Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Rwanda, Ethiopia, and surrounding countries). The Fellowship is not a job in the traditional sense: Fellows continue their existing work while attending six in-person seminars in Nairobi across the year, with a sustained virtual curriculum in between. Application deadline 15 July 2026 for the 2027 cohort.

Responsibilities

• Attend six in-person multi-day seminars in Nairobi between January and December 2027 (typically Thursday to Sunday).
• Complete the curriculum on adaptive leadership, moral courage, and social-change strategy.
• Engage in monthly virtual sessions and peer-learning groups with fellow cohort members.
• Develop and refine a personal leadership project alongside the curriculum.
• Continue working full-time in your existing role or venture during the Fellowship year.
• Contribute to the Acumen alumni community after graduation.

Requirements

• Currently working in or with East Africa (citizen, resident, or working with East African organisations).
• Three to ten years of professional experience driving social change through business, government, NGO, or grassroots organising.
• Working on a clear leadership challenge that the Fellowship will help you address.
• Demonstrated track record of impact in your sector.
• Aged 25 to 45 at the start of the Fellowship.
• Fluent English (the curriculum is in English).
• Available for the six in-person seminars in Nairobi across 2027.

Nice to have

• Founder, executive, or senior practitioner role in a social enterprise, impact-investing organisation, or NGO.
• Prior Acumen-supported enterprise experience (as employee or investee).
• Public commitment to working on East African social-change issues for the long term.

How to apply

Open the Acumen Academy East Africa Fellowship page at the apply link, complete the online application: personal background, leadership story, current work, the leadership challenge you want to work on during the Fellowship, and two references. Submit before 15 July 2026. Shortlisted candidates progress through video interviews and group exercises in September-October 2026. Final cohort is announced in November 2026 for January 2027 start.