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Instrumental Africans: AFC Fellowship

Instrumental Africans: AFC Fellowship

Towards South North Dialogue

The AFC Fellowship brings together emerging leaders from across Africa, the wider global South, and the global North.

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The AFC Fellowship is both a leadership development programme and a place for dialogue and exchange between leaders of the rising generation across the global South and North. The focus is our shared climate challenge and other key global issues. It will strengthen the capacity of a cohort of dynamic emerging leaders who, as they progress in their careers, will build bridges between the global North and South and find new ways to address the climate crisis.

The AFC Fellowship is a collaboration between Common Purpose and Africa Finance Corporation (AFC). This is the fourth year of the AFC fellowship, and builds on the success of the previous three years. To date over 120 Fellows from around the world have taken part in the Fellowship.

98%

of participants would recommend the Fellowship to another person

92%

of participants feel better prepared to be a bridge-builder between the global North and South

95%

of participants feel better prepared to have a greater impact in their organization/community

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Samaila Zubairu
President & CEO, Africa Finance Corporation
"For far too long, Africa has been viewed by the rest of the world as a place of ‘problems’...I wish to propose a rethink...I believe Africa holds the solutions to many of the fundamental problems afflicting the world today."

How it works

The Fellowship

To join the AFC Fellowship, the first step is to be accepted onto the Climate Challenge Leadership Programme. Successful applicants will join a cohort of 40 people from different backgrounds and sectors and from around the world. The Climate Challenge Leadership Programme comprises two key elements:

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You will be introduced to the Common Purpose thought leadership of 'Leading Beyond Authority' - the ability to cross boundaries and deliver results outside of your direct circle of control. Essential to tackling any complex challenge.

You will address the challenge "How can the world reform carbon markets to incentivize the preservation and expansion of forests, grasslands, peatlands, and mangroves in Africa and across the global South in the interest of achieving global net zero."

Through the Common Purpose 'Innoventure' process, based on design thinking principles, you will explore the challenge in a creative and dynamic way. The final stage of this process will be a presentation by you, to a panel of senior leaders, on your ideas to meet the challenge.

Once you have successfully completed the programme you will become a Fellow and can connect and work with Fellows from your own year, and from previous cohorts through Fellows gatherings.

 

Who is it for?

Successful applicants will be from different sectors, backgrounds, countries, and communities across Africa, the wider global South, and the global North.

They will be:

  • Emerging leaders (typically with over 5 years professional experience)
  • Highly motivated individuals who show commitment to bringing about positive change, and who can demonstrate their leadership potentials and/or capability
  • Able to clearly demonstrate what they bring to the programme challenge
  • Interested in climate issues and in addressing the imbalance between the global North and South

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Leah Waweru
Lybra Consulting - ACF Fellow 2025/26
"The AFC Fellowship has been a transformative experience, deepening my understanding of carbon markets, climate change, and leadership—particularly the power of leading beyond authority. It has equipped me with the knowledge, tools, and confidence to influence change and drive impactful solutions in the Republic of South Sudan and most importantly, for vulnerable communities across Africa and the global South."
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Magook Daniel Mayom Lueth
Food & Agriculture Organization of the United Nations — AFC Fellow 2024/25
"The AFC Fellowship has been a transformative experience, deepening my understanding of carbon markets, climate change, and leadership—particularly the power of leading beyond authority. It has equipped me with the knowledge, tools, and confidence to influence change and drive impactful solutions in the Republic of South Sudan and most importantly, for vulnerable communities across Africa and the global South."

Why take part?

Participants will:

Enhance their ability to Lead Beyond Authority equipping them to work across boundaries; a pre-requisite to solving any complex problem

Grow new networks by connecting with diverse participants, contributors and speakers from the global North and South who they would otherwise never meet

Stretch their analytical and creative skills by exposing them to a new approach to innovation

Develop their influencing skills by putting them in front of senior decision-makers to present their findings

Generate new ideas and approaches to meet this hugely important challenge

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Vikrant Joshi
Planet First Press - AFC Fellow 2025/26
"More than a fellowship, it was a reminder that meaningful change is born when thoughtful people are given the space, trust, and time to build."
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Stanley Opara
African Methane Mitigation and Intelligence Network (AMMIN) - AFC Fellow 2025/26
"What stood out in the AFC Fellowship was the focus on practical leadership, not abstract theories, but how reform actually happens in complex, real-world systems like the carbon markets. I am equipped to be a changemaker in Africa and beyond."
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Erin Maher
ENSO Initiatives - AFC Fellow 2024/25
"I learned an incredible amount and am very thankful for the opportunity to connect with passionate, intelligent individuals and to discuss the complex issues facing us today. Their energy and expertise made me more optimistic and energized about solving these challenges."
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Yitemgeta Fantu Golla
Chief Technical Officer, TM Geothermal Operations Plc - AFC Fellow 2023
"In the Climate Challenge Programme, I’ve found more than just a platform to address climate issues; I’ve discovered a community of visionaries. Together, we’re not just talking about change – we’re building it, one sustainable idea at a time."

Apply

Applications are now open

The deadline for applications is midnight BST on Sunday 13 September 2026.


Fellowship details:

Format: Online - the sessions take place live on Zoom. Resources and learning materials are provided via our online platform which is available 24/7.

Cost: There is no cost to participants as the Fellowship is funded by Africa Finance Corporation.

Language: The Fellowship is conducted in English; participants must be proficient in written and spoken English.

5 November 2026Online platform opens - 3 hours of independent online learning in preparation for the live sessions to follow
19 November 2026, 11:00-12:30 GMTFellowship launch session – 1.5 hours real-time live on Zoom
2, 9 & 17 December 2026, 11:00-13:00 GMT
Leading Beyond Authority - 6 hours of real-time live sessions on Zoom
13-14 & 19-20 January 2027, 11:00-15:30 GMT 
Climate Challenge programme - 18 hours of real-time live sessions on Zoom
4 February 2027, 11:00-12:30 GMTLearning & Action Planning session - 1.5 hours real-time live on Zoom
TBC 2027Challenge presentation to AFC - 1.5 hours real-time live on Zoom

 

Apply
Contact us
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Common Purpose

Common Purpose is a leadership development organization that specializes in cross-boundary leadership. A not-for-profit, we run programmes in over 100 cities worldwide. Founded in 1989, we have over 130,000 alumni globally. Our leadership development programmes inspire and equip people to work across boundaries. This enables them to solve complex problems in organizations and in society.

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Africa Finance Corporation (AFC)

 

 

AFC was established in 2007 to be the catalyst for pragmatic infrastructure and industrial investments across Africa. AFC’s approach combines specialist industry expertise with a focus on financial and technical advisory, project structuring, project development, and risk capital to address Africa’s infrastructure development needs and drive sustainable economic growth.

Nineteen years on, AFC has developed a track record as the partner of choice in Africa for investing and delivering on instrumental, high-quality infrastructure assets that provide essential services in the core infrastructure sectors of power, natural resources, heavy industry, transport, and telecommunications. AFC has 48 member countries and has invested over US$19 billion in 36 African countries since inception.

 

 

 

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