Acumen East Africa Fellows Program 2025 for emerging Leaders in East Africa (Fully Funded)

Overview

Acumen invests in social entrepreneurs across the capital continuum, accompanying them on their journey to create transformational change. Through Acumen Academy, we prepare these leaders with the hard and moral skills required to build scalable solutions to poverty and reimagine a better world.

The East Africa Acumen Fellowship is a transformative program that convenes extraordinary individuals with an entrepreneurial mindset and a commitment to solve problems of poverty. Fellows gain the tools and community to strengthen their leadership, scale their impact, and create meaningful change in East Africa.

Encouragement to Apply: Women and individuals identifying as or serving Forcibly Displaced Persons (FDP) are especially encouraged to apply.

What It Takes

What Makes an Acumen Fellow?

• Vision and Drive: You have a bold vision for yourself and your work and want to take both to the next level.
• Focus on Dignity: Your organization empowers people living in poverty by providing them with the dignity of choice in areas such as jobs, education, products, and services.
• Urgency to Scale: You are impatient with the status quo and ready to scale your proven solutions.
• Commitment to Community: You’re eager to join a global network of peers passionate about solving problems of poverty and redefining success.

Program Details

About the Fellowship

The Fellowship draws on two decades of experience in supporting social entrepreneurs. Fellows gain access to leadership frameworks and build peer relationships that keep them accountable to their values and impact goals.

Curriculum Highlights:

• Polarity Management: Operate effectively in a world of opposing views and mobilize others toward shared goals.
• Good Society Readings: Explore social justice and moral change through texts by thinkers like Plato, Ursula K. Le Guin, and Dr. Martin Luther King.
• Adaptive Leadership: Understand stakeholders’ needs and navigate uncertainty to drive change.
• Authentic Voice: Craft compelling stories that inspire action, form partnerships, and build connections.

Structure:

• 6-Month Hybrid Program:
  • One 3-day virtual orientation.
  • Two 5-day in-person immersives.
  • Three 4-hour learning labs with assignments.

Impact

The Power of Community

Acumen’s Foundry alumni community, comprising over 1,600 members from 71 countries, has impacted 50 million lives. From redefining food, education, and healthcare to transforming agriculture and climate solutions, Foundry members are shaping the future.

Success Stories:

• Building to Breakthrough: Kaushik and Sathya, 2014 Fellows, co-founded Kheyti, a social enterprise providing affordable greenhouses to smallholder farmers in India. Their Fellowship journey helped refine their product, secure funding, and gain exposure on platforms like TED, culminating in winning the EarthShot Prize.
• Rediscovering Purpose: Sabrina Habib, 2020 Fellow and founder of Kidogo, Kenya’s largest childcare network, found inspiration and support through the Fellowship. Her work was recently recognized with a $20 million grant from Melinda French Gates.

How to Apply

Application Process:

1. Read the Applicant Toolkit: Prepare for your application.
2. Submit the Online Application: Due by February 7, 2025.
3. Participate in the Selection Conference: Shortlisted candidates join on April 10-11, 2025 (in-person or virtual).
4. Start Your Fellowship Journey: Successful applicants begin their Fellowship on May 14, 2025.

Apply Now

FAQ

Who is eligible?

Anyone with a bold vision to tackle poverty and the drive to scale their solutions in East Africa. Women and those serving FDPs are strongly encouraged to apply.

What is the time commitment?

The Fellowship spans six months, requiring virtual and in-person participation alongside self-paced assignments.

What support will I receive post-Fellowship?

Graduates join Acumen’s Foundry, a global network providing tools, mentorship, funding opportunities, and community support.

For more information, please visit the ACUMEN website https://fellowship.acumenacademy.org/east-africa