Amujae Initiative 2026: Apply for Africa’s Premier Women’s Public Leadership Programme

Omran Aburayya
5 days ago
5 min read

Updated: 4 days ago

If you are an African woman already making your mark in public service or governance — and you’re ready to take the next bold step into high‑level leadership — then the applications for the Amujae Initiative are now open. This is your chance to join a movement that is more than a programme: it’s a wave of change, designed to prepare Africa’s women to lead, serve, and bring others along. Here's everything you need to know.

🌐 Programme Summary

Location: Africa (pan‑continental) — participants remain in their country/region while engaging in the initiative.
Host Institution: EJS Center — the flagship leadership institution founded by former Liberian President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, dedicated to advancing women’s public leadership across Africa.
Programme Type: Leadership development / fellowship‑type programme
Target Group: African women who are citizens of any African country, have significant leadership experience in public life or the public sector, intend to ascend to higher public leadership roles and are committed to uplifting other women.
Fields of Focus: Public service, governance, politics, civil society leadership, public administration, advocacy for women’s leadership. The Initiative emphasises leadership, politics/power dynamics, public governance and network building.
Value & Coverage: “Amujae Leaders” – receive intensive leadership development experiences, mentorship from former heads of state and senior global leaders, access to a pan‑African network of women leaders, forums and training, media/communications support, coaching.
Duration: Cohort membership typically spans one operational cycle (yearly leadership forums and ongoing network engagement)
Application Deadline: 12 December 2025 (by midnight GMT) for the 2026 cycle.
Start Date: Typically following cohort selection in early year (March/April), with initial leadership forum and induction. Exact start dates vary by year.

📖 Programme Overview

Founded by Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, the Amujae Initiative launched on 8 March 2020 (International Women’s Day). The word “Amujae” means “we are going up” in the Kru language of Liberia.

The Initiative’s vision is to shift the landscape of women’s public leadership in Africa — moving away from tokenism and toward meaningful representation and influence.

🧩 Key components of the programme include:

Leadership Development & Coaching: Annual Leadership Forums where selected Amujae Leaders engage in in‑person and virtual workshops, mentorship sessions, media training, strategic development of their leadership trajectories.
Mentorship by Former Heads of State and Senior Global Leaders: Participants receive one‑on‑one or cohort mentoring and are connected to a multi‑generational network of high‑level women leaders.
Network Building and Sisterhood: Becoming part of a distinguished community of women leaders across Africa whose influence spans government, civil society, politics, diplomacy and more.
Advocacy, Research & Storytelling: The Initiative includes media training, leadership visibility, supporting public discourse around women’s leadership, documenting and disseminating the stories of participants to impact perception and policy.
Forums & Events: Example: In 2025 the Annual Leadership Forum took place in Marrakech during the Ibrahim Governance Weekend under the theme “Elevating Leadership, Inspiring Impact.”

The programme is designed not just to build individual leaders, but to create a ripple effect — the selected women are expected to bring others with them, mentor future women leaders, and influence the public leadership ecosystem in their countries and across Africa.

🎁 Benefits

Direct access to world‑class mentorship from former Heads of State and senior international leaders.
A strategic, pan‑African network of women leaders and peers – lifelong.
High‑level training in leadership, political systems, governance, communications, media presence.
Exposure, visibility and opportunities to engage in high‑level dialogues, leadership forums and advocacy platforms.
A platform that enhances readiness for top‑tier public leadership roles, whether elected or appointed.
Support in telling your story, building your brand as a public leader and uplifting other women.
A movement of women leaders dedicated to creating change across Africa — your voice will be amplified beyond your immediate role.

✅ Eligibility Criteria

To qualify for the Amujae Initiative, applicants must generally meet the following criteria:

Be a citizen of an African country.
Demonstrate proven leadership experience in public service, politics, civil society, governance, or related fields.
Show ambition and readiness to step into a major leadership role (elected or appointed) within the next five years.
Exhibit political savvy: a deep understanding of political systems, election processes, power dynamics.
Possess credibility, a track record of impact, ethical leadership, and commitment to public good.
Be passionate about uplifting other women and bringing others along in their leadership journey.
Special encouragement is given to women from under‑represented regions such as Central & Northern Africa, Francophone and Lusophone countries.

📝 Application Procedure

Complete the online application via the official Amujae Initiative site of the EJS Center when applications open.
Submit required documents (PDF format) including your application statement, CV and any other attachments.
Shortlisting, then interviews may take place. Final selection is typically announced in late March.

🗂️ Documents Required

A CV (3 pages max).
A short bio (200 words max)
Three (3) references. At least two (2) must be professional.

📆 Important Dates & Timeline:

Application deadline: 12 December 2025 (midnight GMT) for the 2026 cycle.
Historically, reviews complete by mid‑January, interviews mid‑Jan to mid‑Feb, selections announced late March.

📝 Tips for Applicants

Craft your application statement with a clear vision of what you want to achieve and how you plan to lead at high levels.
Highlight your record of impact, leadership roles, ability to navigate public service or governance context, and how you uplift other women.
Demonstrate your understanding of political systems, public leadership challenges, and your readiness to step up.
Emphasize your network building, mentoring other women, and contributing to a broader movement of women leaders.
Submit your documents early — allow time for references and review of your statement.
Leverage the unique value of the Initiative: being part of a pan‑African sisterhood, mentorship by former Heads of State and senior leaders, network access.
If you hail from an under‑represented region (Central, Northern Africa; Francophone/Lusophone states), highlight how your leadership will bridge gaps and amplify representation.

🚀 Why This Programme Matters

The Amujae Initiative is unique:

It is the only programme in Africa specifically designed for women already in public leadership (or aspiring) to reach the highest levels (e.g., elected national office, senior appointed roles) with tailored mentorship and network support.
It directly addresses the gap of under‑representation of women in senior public roles across Africa by equipping selected leaders to ascend, influence policy, shape governance and uplift other women.
By emphasising network building, story‑telling, media presence and advocacy, the Initiative empowers participants to not only lead individually but also change public perceptions and culture around women in leadership.
For countries and regions where women’s representation remains low in national parliaments and leadership (some under 30 %), the Initiative plays a transformative role.