2024 Milead Fellows Program – Africa

The MILEAD Program is a paradigm shifting leadership initiative that equips exceptional young African women with the relevant skills, knowledge resources and the supporting eco-system to become the next generation of leaders and agents of change on the continent. The investments in transformational leadership continue to inspire and equip a new generation of women leaders on the continent. The MILEAD Fellows Program is currently one of the most competitive and most impactful leadership programs on the continent. They are building a robust leadership movement that is intersectional, Pan-African, and multi-generational and engaging their communities to foster paradigm shift and social change.

The MILEAD program includes a three-week summer institute, ongoing online seminars, informal networking, mentoring, community leadership projects and exchange programs with other professionals. The three-week summer institute is a residential training session comprised of lectures, discussions and workshops, visits to institutions, meetings with key leaders, case studies of successful leaders, assigned readings, research, presentations, and internships. The institute is intensive and highly participatory, providing a supportive learning environment for exchange of best practices and experiences, technical depth, strategy development and skill building. Participants will develop a greater appreciation for their individual leadership styles and capabilities and enhance their understanding of women’s rights issues, advocacy and mentoring.

Program Objectives

• Identify, prepare and connect up a network of Africa’s most promising emerging women leaders from across the continent by 2025 through a yearlong paradigm-shifting leadership development as a new cadre of women leaders who are equipped and positioned to lead and influence decision-making on critical issues on the continent. To empower them with the skills, knowledge, values and networks they need to succeed.
• Provide an eco-system to facilitate on-going access of young African women leaders to resources, opportunities to attain and thrive in leadership.
• Increase visibility for young African women’s leadership and achievements through highlighting/promoting the leadership and accomplishments of Fellows and mentors- while using their success stories to motivate others.
• Establish a multi-generational mentoring, linkages and dialogues to nurture on-going solidarity, growth and collective action between the new Fellows, the 242 current Fellows and other generations of women leaders in Africa.
• Nurture active citizenship and interest of the young leaders in service, experiential leadership and problem solving- as Fellows engage and address critical issues of importance to them and their communities through their community change (MiCHANGE) projects.
• Conceptualize and implement at least 25 community change projects by Fellows each year that address critical issues of importance to women and their communities- to directly Conceptualize and implement at least 25 community change projects by Fellows each year that address critical issues of importance to women and their communities- to directly

Key Topics to be Addressed in the Summer Institute

Through lectures, plenaries, skills training workshops, role-plays, practical projects, field trips, interactive exercises and open discussions, the program will address key topics such as:

• Pan-African Leadership
• Women’s Human Rights
• Feminist Leadership
• Emotional Intelligence
• Social Activism
• Systems Thinking
• Networking & Collaboration
• Innovation & Entrepreneurship
• Women’s Health & Safety
• Economic Justice
• Political and Civic Participation
• Environmental Justice
• Holistic Personal Development
• Social Justice
• Sexual & Reproductive Health Rights
• Inclusion, Diversity & Ubuntu
• Fundraising
• Advocacy/Public Speaking

Program Benefits

• Program benefits for selected candidates include:
  • Fellows will gain excellent skills in leadership, activism, research, mentoring, public speaking and advocacy among others.
  • National to global recognition as one of Africa’s most promising women leaders.
  • Access to opportunities and resources for education, professional, leadership and personal development. Fellows are supported to enter into top Universities for further education.
  • Knowledge of critical cutting-edge issues such as human rights concepts, women’s human rights, leadership concepts, gender equity and social justice.
  • Upon successful completion of the program, fellows become automatic members of the Moremi Fellow’s Network.
  • Long term Support:
    • Fellows’ achievements and initiatives are promoted through the partner networks and the media for visibility and exposure.
    • Fellows will have access to readily available Moremi Initiative mentors including some of the most outstanding African women leaders.
    • Fellows are supported to implement personal community leadership projects on issues of importance to their peers, school, community or country.

Terms, Conditions, Fees and Scholarships

• The three-week MILEAD Summer Institute: All selected fellows must commit their availability on full time basis for the 3-week residential summer institute from July 10 to August 2, 2024; and to participate in the rest of the program from their home country or country of residence.
  • Scholarships & Fees: Only a limited number of selected candidates will receive full scholarship. The fee for the 2024 MILEAD Institute is $4,500 and covers travels, accommodation, tuition, all meals, site visits, local events, training materials and all program related costs. Moremi Initiative will ensure the participation of all selected candidates regardless of their financial situation. No qualified candidate will be denied participation due to financial need. However, due to the increasing demand for the programs, and for sustainability purposes, they are encouraging participants to approach local donors for partial sponsorship to meet their costs.  A limited number of full scholarships are available.
  • The appointment as a participant in the MILEAD program carries no stipend.

Selection Criteria

Selected Fellows are chosen based on a number of clearly defined criteria that include:

• Outstanding leadership qualities and promise.
• Demonstrated interest and commitment to social justice and women’s rights.
• Proven track record involvement and accomplishments in community service.
• Demonstrated high academic potential.
• A commitment to mentor younger girls and to implement a community project (MiCHANGE) that addresses a critical issue of importance facing their peers, women or their communities.
• Outstanding personal qualities, including openness to interpersonal/ multicultural experiences.

For more information, visit Moremi Initiative.