Africa Finance Corporation (AFC) Fellowship 2025-2026
- Omran Aburayya
- Aug 13
- 3 min read
If you’re an emerging leader eager to tackle climate change while bridging divides between the Global South and North, the AFC Fellowship 2025 offers a unique platform. Hosted by Africa Finance Corporation (AFC) in partnership with Common Purpose, this leadership development programme brings together a cohort of dynamic individuals to foster dialogue, innovation, and global impact through the Climate Challenge Leadership Programme. Read on for details.
🎓 Fellowship Summary
Location: Fully online via Zoom; materials available 24/7
Organisers: Africa Finance Corporation (AFC) & Common Purpose
Fellowship Type: Leadership Fellowship (Climate-focused)
Target Group: Emerging leaders (≥ 5 years of professional experience) from Africa, the global South, and the global North
Fields of Focus: Climate action, leadership across boundaries, global equity
Cost: Fully funded—no cost to participants
Language: English (proficient reading, writing, speaking required)
Programme Duration & Timeline:
Webinars:
3 September 2025 at 11:00 BST
9 September 2025 at 14:00 BST
Application Deadline: Midnight BST, 21 September 2025
Schedule:
3 November 2025: Online platform opens for preparatory learning
19 November 2025: Launch session (1.5 hrs live Zoom)
December 2025 – January 2026: Leading Beyond Authority & Climate Challenge sessions
February 2026: Learning & Action Planning; Challenge presentation to AFC
March 2026: Fellows gathering (live Zoom session)
Number of Fellows: Approximately 40 participants per cohort
🧩 Fellowship Structure & Activities
Leading Beyond Authority
Develop the ability to lead across boundaries, beyond formal authority—a key to tackling complex global challenges .
Climate Challenge via Innoventure
A design-thinking process that challenges fellows to address systemic climate questions—for example:
"How can global carbon markets be reformed to incentivize protection and restoration of forests, grasslands, peatlands, and mangroves in Africa and the global South?"
Fellows culminate this journey by presenting their innovative ideas to a panel of senior decision-makers .
Fellows’ Community
After completing the programme, you join a growing global network of AFC Fellows. This includes access to Fellow gatherings, collaborative opportunities, and the Challenge Lab—a lab that supports you in developing your ideas further .
🎁 Benefits of Participation
Leadership Growth: Master “Leading Beyond Authority,” essential for impactful cross-sector leadership .
Global Network: Connect with change-makers from multiple regions and sectors—relationships you might never otherwise form .
Creative & Analytical Development: Build innovation skills through structured, real-world problem-solving .
Influence: Present your work to senior leaders—ideally transforming ideas into policy or practice .
Actionable Solutions: Co-create new mechanisms and strategies to address pressing climate crises with a global orientation .
Programme Excellence: High participant satisfaction—past fellows reported:
~ 95–98% would recommend the Fellowship
~ 92% feel better prepared to bridge North–South divides
~ 97–99% feel better equipped to impact their organizations/communities
✅ Eligibility Criteria
Ideal candidates are:
Emerging leaders with at least 5 years of professional experience
Motivated changemakers committed to positive impact and leadership potential
Passionate about climate issues and bridging global inequities between North and South
Representing diverse sectors, geographies, and communities across Africa, the global South, and the global North
📝 Application Procedure
Register for an Info Session:
3 September 2025 at 11:00 BST
9 September 2025 at 14:00 BST
Submit Your Application by 21 September 2025 (midnight BST) via the Common Purpose or AFC website .
Shortlisting & Selection: Candidates are chosen based on professional background, leadership potential, and alignment with the fellowship’s mission (specific selection criteria likely detailed on the official application page).
Commence Learning:
Begin with an online module in November 2025
Proceed through live Zoom sessions and conclude with presentations and a Fellows gathering in early 2026 .
🤓 Extra Insights & Useful Links
Programme Context: Launched in 2023, AFC & Common Purpose have built a pioneering leadership offering focused on climate equity and boundary-crossing leadership .
AFC Background: Established in 2007, the Africa Finance Corporation is a peer institution facilitating infrastructure development across Africa (power, transport, telecoms, heavy industry) and has invested over US$11.5 billion across the continent .
