YELP Fellowship Program 2026 in Uganda

The Young and Emerging Leaders Project (YELP) is a fellowship program of the LéO Africa Institute that inducts young thought leaders into a six-month fellowship. It brings together young, dynamic and influential thought leaders from East Africa to train and orient them for leadership focused on shaping the next generation of leaders in East Africa.

Applicants should be 18-35 years old, demonstrate leadership in their respective fields, be dedicated to Africa’s development, be based in East Africa, and be available to attend all three seminars of the fellowship program.

Participants gain advanced leadership training, access to a powerful network of African leaders, mentorship from industry experts, opportunities to attend conferences and summits, and long-term membership in the YELP alumni network. The program is fully funded.

The fellowship typically runs for 6 months and includes three intensive seminars focusing on: Values, Ethics & Philosophy of Leadership; Political Economy & Development; and Media, Art & Technology.

The YELP Fellowship is described as a highly competitive fellowship that focuses on nurturing values-based leadership, critical thinking, and social impact across the African continent. Fellows are selected based on their leadership potential and influence in their respective fields.

The program covers key themes such as leadership and governance, political economy and development, social entrepreneurship, and ethics, media, and innovation. Through these areas, fellows develop the skills needed to tackle complex societal challenges.

Currently, there is no active open call announced on the official page, but interested candidates are encouraged to stay updated for upcoming cohorts, register interest through the official platform, and follow announcements for the next intake.

The fellowship primarily targets individuals based in East Africa, though its network spans multiple African countries. The program is offered by the LéO Africa Institute in Uganda.

The fellowship is structured around three core seminars that focus on three key areas: Values, Ethics & Philosophy of Leadership; Political Economy & Development; and Media, Art & Technology. Through these seminars, fellows engage in discussions about leadership, politics, economics, media and the arts.

Since its launch, YELP has developed a strong community of leaders across multiple African countries, contributing to policy development, entrepreneurship and innovation, social impact initiatives, and regional collaboration. The fellowship has trained 100+ fellows across 7 completed cohorts.