MASS African Design Centre Fellowship 2026 – 12-Month Residency in Kigali, Rwanda for African Architects and Designers

Application Deadline: June 14, 2026

About the Fellowship

For the 2026 MASS African Design Centre (ADC) Fellowship, applications are now being accepted. To lead the continent’s urbanization, African architects and designers are being empowered through the recruitment of the next ADC Fellowship cohort by MASS. For nationals of any African country, a twelve-month hands-on residency program in Kigali, Rwanda is offered through the ADC Fellowship. Designed to foster and incubate future African architects and designers, this program imparts essential tools, mentorship, and resources. The development of culturally grounded and community-driven design solutions that address the continent’s significant infrastructure challenges, while concurrently preserving and integrating Africa’s architectural heritage, is the objective of empowering Fellows to pursue. Exclusively on projects with social and environmental impact, MASS (Model of Architecture Serving Society) works as an interdisciplinary design collective. To train the next generation of African design leaders who will shape the continent’s-built environment in ways that are equitable, sustainable, and deeply rooted in local contexts, the ADC Fellowship is a flagship program of MASS.

Fellowship Focus

A demonstrated commitment to advancing social justice and environmental responsibility through their work, deeply rooted in African heritage, is sought in emerging design leaders by the ADC Fellowship. Curiosity, collaboration, and drive to participate in the movement shaping how locally driven, design-based interventions can deliver transformational change across communities and systems are ideal candidate qualities.

A broad range of ongoing MASS initiatives and areas of work will be engaged with by fellows through the fellowship, including:

• Maternal and newborn health
• Expanding social and economic opportunity
• Climate-positive development
• Research
• Community-led innovation

Into dialogue with the diverse challenges and opportunities MASS is currently exploring, bringing their own interests, perspectives, and questions is encouraged for fellows.

Fellowship Activities

The Fellows will:

Conduct Research: Undertake culturally rooted design research exploring indigenous knowledge systems, vernacular architecture, and urban patterns.

Pilot Projects: Engage in community-based design projects within the different MASS initiatives and areas of work.

Disseminate Knowledge: Publish reflective pieces to share insights gained during the Fellowship.

Mentorship and Support: From MASS program staff, assigned design mentors, and professional mentors, support will be received by fellows. Relocation to Kigali, Rwanda for 12 months is required for this paid fellowship.

Eligibility Requirements

• Nationals of an African country are required for applicants
• 35 years of age or below is required
• Built-environment professionals holding a degree in architecture, urban design, landscape, engineering, or a related field are required
• Relocation to Kigali, Rwanda, from October 2026 to September 2027 must be possible

What the Fellowship Looks For

The following qualities are sought in emerging design leaders by the ADC Fellowship:

• A deep commitment to social justice and environmental responsibility
• A design practice rooted in African heritage and cultural grounding
• Curiosity, collaboration, and drive to create transformational change
• Openness to bringing their own interests and perspectives into dialogue with MASS’s work

Application Process (Three Stages)

Stage 1: Expression of Interest
Submission of resumes/CVs, references, a portfolio, and a statement of alignment will be requested from eligible candidates.

Stage 2: Pre-Fellowship Essays
Submission of pre-fellowship essays and confirmation of availability to fully participate in the Fellowship activities will be requested from shortlisted candidates.

Stage 3: Interviews
Participation in interviews will be undertaken by candidates with successful essays.

Fellowship Timeline

• In-Person Fellowship and Residency in Kigali, Rwanda: October 2026 – September 2027 (12 months)

How to Apply

An online application should be completed by interested applicants. Submission of resumes/CVs, references, a portfolio, and a statement of alignment will be requested from eligible candidates.

Application Link: Click here to apply

Why This Fellowship Matters

Faster than any other continent, Africa is urbanizing, with projections indicating that African cities will be home to an additional 950 million people by 2050. Both immense challenges and opportunities are presented by this rapid urbanization. For generations, the social, economic, and environmental future of the continent will be shaped by how African cities grow, who designs them, for whom, and with what values. Yet African architects and designers are often marginalized in shaping this future, with foreign firms and imported models dominating major projects. By investing in African design leadership, centering cultural heritage, focusing on social justice and environmental responsibility, providing hands-on, community-based experience, and building a network, the ADC Fellowship reverses this trend. For African architects and designers under 35 who are committed to using design as a tool for social and environmental change, a transformative year of learning, making, and leading is offered by the ADC Fellowship.

For More Information: Visit the Official MASS African Design Centre Fellowship Page