The Mo Ibrahim Foundation Academy Fellowship is a collaborative initiative between Chatham House and the Mo Ibrahim Foundation, offering early-to-mid-career professionals from African countries a ten-month residency at Chatham House in London.
- Duration: Ten months, from October 2025 to July 2026.
- Location: Chatham House, London, with options for hybrid working.
- Application Deadline: Midnight GMT on Wednesday, 19 March.
Fellowship Details
The fellowship provides an opportunity to undertake an individual research project, participate in leadership development, and engage with the institute’s core work.
Eligibility
- Open to citizens of any African country, including those with dual nationality.
- Applicants should hold a completed BA degree or equivalent and have experience in conducting research.
- Ideal candidates are at the early to mid-stage of their careers and come from fields such as academia, NGOs, business,
- government departments, civil society, or the media.
Fellowship Structure
- Personal Research Project (60%): Fellows design and undertake a project with guidance from a Chatham House expert.
- Leadership Masterclass Programme (20%): Aims to develop fellows’ knowledge, networks, self-awareness, and leadership skills.
- Contributing to Ongoing Research (20%): Fellows collaborate with their host research team and other Chatham House teams on existing research priorities.
Benefits
- A monthly stipend of £2,565 to cover living expenses, including accommodation, utilities, food, and transport.
- Coverage of relocation costs, visa fees, and the UK Immigration Health Surcharge (excluding dental/optical care and prescriptions).
- Research expenses related to fieldwork, outreach, events, and publications.
- Upon successful completion, fellows gain access to the Academy faculty and alumni network, along with a five-year Chatham House membership.
Selection criteria
- Meet nationality criteria;
- Have experience conducting independent research and hold an undergraduate or postgraduate level qualification or have equivalent professional training or experience in a relevant area;
- Have the relevant background experience, including experience in the field of the proposed research, as demonstrated through a CV;
- Have proven leadership experience or potential;
- Show commitment to the Chatham House mission, goals and values and to identifying evidence-based solutions to some of the world’s most pressing international challenges;
- Be able to communicate how the fellowship will enable them to create a positive impact, in line with the Chatham
- House mission and overarching purpose of Academy Fellowships as outlined above;
- Show motivation to undertake the fellowship, meet all fellowship deliverables, and take full advantage of the networks, events and opportunities offered at Chatham House; and
- Demonstrate proficiency in spoken English.
How to Apply
To apply for this fellowship, we need:
- The applicant’s CV/résumé
- The names of two referees
- The applicant’s proposal for a research project based on the topic guidance
IMPORTANT:
Please visit the official Chatham House website for in-depth details on the application process.