Call for Applications: Princeton in Africa Fellowships 2027/2028 – Paid Postgraduate Opportunities Across Africa

Application Deadline: October 26, 2026 (11:59 PM EDT)

About the Fellowship

Princeton in Africa (PiAf) is a non-profit affiliate of Princeton University that develops young leaders by placing them with organizations across the African continent. Since its launch in 1999, the program has placed over 750 Fellows with more than 130 organizations in 37 African countries. PiAf offers year-long, paid post-graduate fellowship opportunities. Fellows work with host organizations in sectors including humanitarian assistance, public and community health, business and economic development, agricultural development, and education and youth capacity building. Fellows are placed with host organizations by matching their skills in areas such as communications, program management, grant writing, budgeting, and operations with needs expressed by host organizations. Launched in 2023–24, the Nexus fellowship expands opportunities for talented young African leaders educated and residing on the African continent to participate in PiAf. This program continues PiAf’s mission of promoting the exchange of skills, knowledge, leadership, and technical expertise across the fellowship community while strengthening organizations across Africa. PiAf has introduced a new innovation-focused fellowship program for the 2027–2028 cycle. This track connects Fellows with organizations and investors driving Africa’s innovation economy, including startups, tech initiatives, and public-private partnerships. The program is designed to bring youth and cross-sector partners together to turn bold ideas into sustainable, scalable solutions for Africa’s future.

Eligibility Requirements

To be eligible for the 2027–2028 Princeton in Africa Fellowship, applicants must:

• Be young professionals or current undergraduates graduating by June 2027 at the time of application
• Hold a Bachelor’s, Master’s, or PhD from either: a 4-year U.S.-accredited university, or a locally-accredited university based in an African country
• Have full professional proficiency in speaking, reading, and writing English (CEFR Level C1 and above). Professional proficiency in French or Portuguese is preferred for some posts
• Be no older than 35 years of age for the duration of the fellowship year (born on or after September 1, 1992)
• Hold a passport valid through the end of the fellowship year (August 2028)
• Not be enrolled in any graduate, doctoral, or equivalent advanced academic programs during their fellowship year

Nexus Applicants: Must be citizens of an African country, residing on the African continent, and recent graduates or graduating seniors of a Bachelor’s, Master’s, or PhD program at an African university.

Selection Criteria

Successful candidates are those who seek a transformative experience, want to contribute to their host organization, facilitate cultural exchange through relationship building, and demonstrate personal and professional readiness to function effectively in a foreign living and work environment.

PiAf Fellows embody the following values:

• Transformation: Fellows are open to being transformed by their work and their relationships
• Immersion: Fellows strive to be citizens of the communities in which they live and work
• Relationship building: Fellows build meaningful and long-lasting relationships with their peers, community members, and each other
• Humility: Fellows dedicate themselves to professional service and approach daily interactions with respect and understanding
• Mutuality and interdependence: Fellows learn from communities while teaching about life in the United States, fostering cross-cultural understanding
• Contributing to the community: Fellow’s endeavor to make a lasting difference in their host communities

While previous cross-cultural experience can be helpful, it is not essential. PiAf looks for Fellows with a strong work ethic, maturity, professionalism, resourcefulness, adaptability, and resilience.

Fellowship Package

Fellows should expect to cover:

• $350 nonrefundable program placement fee, paid upon acceptance
• Depending on the post, round-trip air travel to and from their fellowship post
• Pre-departure medical expenses (immunizations, malaria prevention medications, personal medications)
• In some cases, costs associated with acquiring visas and work permits
• Sundries and recreational travel
• Partial cost of travel to the mid-year Retreat

Princeton in Africa and host organizations aim to cover:

• On-the-ground expenses, including housing and living stipend
• Certain visas and work permits
• Medical, medical evacuation, and security evacuation insurance
• Mid-year retreat in Africa with meals, housing, and activities (including partial travel grant)

Fellowship packages vary post-to-post; details will be provided in the offer letter prior to acceptance.

Application Requirements

• Online application questionnaires
• Resume or CV (max. 2 pages, font size 10+, PDF format)
• Official transcript (must be in English and sent directly from your university)
• One letter of recommendation (submitted directly by your recommender via online form)

Application Timeline/ Key Dates

• October 26, 2026: Application deadline (11:59 PM EDT)
• Mid-December 2026: Applicants notified whether they are invited to interview
• January 6-9 and January 12, 2027: Virtual interviews
• February–May 2027: Selected candidates notified about potential posts. Placements ongoing
• Late May 2027: Fellowship placements finalized
• June 4-6, 2027: Mandatory virtual orientation for 2027-2028 Fellowship cohort
• June 8–August 18, 2027: Fellowships begin
• June 7–August 17, 2028: 12-month fellowships end

Why This Fellowship Matters

Princeton in Africa offers a unique opportunity for recent graduates to contribute to impactful organizations while developing professional skills, building cross-cultural relationships, and gaining transformative experience. The program creates a lifelong community of alumni who continue to make meaningful contributions across the African continent and beyond. As PiAf states, “Where PiAf alumni lead, impact follows.”

Click here to apply

For More Information: Visit the Official Princeton in Africa Website