2024 Aspen Global Innovators Group-Impact West Africa fellowship program

Published: 03 May 2024

The Impact West Africa Fellowship program equips changemakers from the region with the skills and support needed to tackle common challenges that affect close to half a billion people across the region’s 17 countries. Each Impact Fellow will participate in an intensive 12-month journey to help them advance their individual advocacy goals. Throughout the year-long program, Fellows continue their professional commitments while receiving tailored mentorship, attending two immersive convenings, and participating in quarterly online training sessions between convenings.

Key program details include:

2 in-person week-long convenings

• Advocacy- Participants will engage in intensive sessions aimed at introducing and exploring various aspects of advocacy, including key elements of advocacy, strategies for effective advocacy, and the role of advocacy in driving social change.
• Strategic Engagement for Advocacy- fellows will delve into communication tools essential for effective advocacy work. Fellows will not only refine their communication skills but also explore fundraising and networking strategies vital for effective advocacy work. 

Quarterly virtual trainings

Each quarter, fellows will engage in a series of online training sessions tailored to address the specific needs of the cohort. These sessions will cover a diverse range of topics aimed at enhancing their skills and knowledge, further empowering them as change agents within West Africa. Example of possible trainings include the following:

• • Community Mobilization and Engagement
  • Coalition Building
  • Arts and activism
  • Harvesting Outcomes (Advocacy and measuring impact)
  • Narrative Change
  • Media and Digital Advocacy Strategies
  • Community-Led Advocacy Campaigns
  • Policy Analysis and Influencing Decision-Makers

Professional mentorship support

Mentoring and coaching of fellows will be core aspects of the fellowship. Each fellow will be paired with an experienced mentor supporting both their advocacy and strategic engagement development. These mentors will provide personalized guidance and support throughout the fellowship journey. Mentors and fellows will engage in regular check-in meetings to assess progress, set goals, and discuss challenges and opportunities.

Aspen Global Innovators Group Impact West Africa Fellowship program

Application Deadline	June 14, 2024
Type	Fellowship
Sponsor	Aspen Global Innovators Group
Gender	Men and Women

Benefits of Aspen Global Innovators Group Impact West Africa Fellowship program

This is a fully funded program. Successful applicants be given

• All travel-related costs for the two in-person convenings including airfare, local transportation, lodging, and food will be covered by the fellowship. 

Requirements for Aspen Global Innovators Group Impact West Africa Fellowship program

• Who demonstrate a passion and commitment for advocacy that addresses key issues affecting the West African region
• Have a solid track record of using bold, innovative ideas that contribute to improving the lives of the individuals within the communities they serve
• Have a clear vision of how their initiatives will demonstrate impact and transformative change
• Have a proven record of leadership and accomplishment in business or entrepreneurship, civic engagement, and/or public/government service 
• ?Have a strong desire to strengthen their communication skills to advocate for change through storytelling, speaking engagements and written communication
• Have a commitment to use the skills gained from the the fellowship to strengthen their organization and the movements that they serve
• Have demonstrated a commitment to coalition building or have strong collaborative skills
• Have organizational support, in the form of a letter, to fully engage in the fellowship experience

Selection Process

Timeline:

• May 1, 2024 - Application opens
• June 30, 2024 - Application close
• July 2024 - Successful applicants will be invited to participate in an interview
• Early August 2024- Applicants are notified of the application status
• Late August 2024- Successful applicants are virtually onboarded as Fellows
• September 2024- First convening in Dakar (Tentative)
• November 2024- First Virtual Training (Tentative)
• Jan/Feb 2025- Second convening, location TBD (Tentative)
• April 2025- Second Virtual Training (Tentative)
• July 2025- Final Virtual Training (Tentative)

Application Deadline

June 14, 2024

How to Apply

Interested and qualified? Go to Aspen Global Innovators Group on www.tfaforms.com to apply