Governance opportunities

Find verified grants, fellowships, accelerators and support for African founders working in Governance.

8 open opportunities

FellowshipOpen

Mo Ibrahim Foundation

Mo Ibrahim Foundation Leadership Fellowship 2027 for African Professionals

The 2027 Mo Ibrahim Foundation Leadership Fellowship Programme is now open and offers three fellowships of 12 months each in the executive offices of the African Development Bank in Abidjan, the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa in Addis Ababa, or the International Trade Centre in Geneva, with a stipend of up to USD 100,000 for the fellowship. For the UNECA host, applications close on Friday November 20, 2026 at 11:59 pm Addis Ababa time.

Eligibility: Be a national of an African country

Deadline: November 20, 2026
Location: Africa
Funding or benefit: The 2027 call states a stipend of up to USD 100,000 for the fellowship, across a 12 month placement with one of the three host organisations.

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Harvard Kennedy School campus in Cambridge, Massachusetts

FellowshipOpen

Center for Public Leadership, Harvard Kennedy School

Harvard Kennedy School CPL Equity Fellowship 2027 for Future Leaders Reducing Disparities

A full tuition scholarship for students starting a Harvard Kennedy School master's degree in 2027 who have shown leadership in reducing disparities affecting Black and African American, Latino and other underserved communities, including marginalised populations anywhere in the world. Admission applications are due 1 December 2026 at 12 p.m. Eastern Time and the fellowship itself is requested through the financial aid application by 15 January 2027 at 12 p.m. Eastern Time.

Eligibility: Open to students newly admitted to a degree programme at Harvard Kennedy School

Deadline: December 1, 2026
Location: United States
Funding or benefit: Full tuition scholarship for a Harvard Kennedy School master's degree. Living costs, housing, travel, books and personal expenses are not described as covered. Fees and funding arrangements differ by degree programme, so confirm the precise terms with Harvard Kennedy School admissions and financial aid.

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Mundus MAPP students in a classroom at Central European University

ScholarshipOpen

Mundus MAPP Consortium (Erasmus Mundus Joint Master in Public Policy)

Mundus MAPP 2027-2029: Fully Funded Erasmus Mundus Master of Public Policy in Europe

Mundus MAPP is a two year Erasmus Mundus Joint Master programme in public policy, delivered by four European universities across Vienna, Barcelona, The Hague and York. A limited number of fully funded scholarships are open to outstanding applicants from inside and outside the EU, worth 1,400 EUR a month up to a maximum of 33,600 EUR over 24 months plus a full tuition waiver. Applications for the 2027-2029 cohort are open now, and the deadline that matters for anyone seeking financial aid is 1 December 2026 at 23:59 Central European Time.

Eligibility: Open to European and third country national students, so applicants from Nigeria and across Africa may apply

Deadline: December 1, 2026
Location: Worldwide
Funding or benefit: EMJM scholarship of 1,400 EUR per month, up to a maximum of 33,600 EUR over 24 months, plus a full tuition fee waiver. In addition, one Institutional Scholarship per study track covers 50 percent of tuition at the Year 1 and Year 2 institutions, with no stipend. Tuition for self-funded students is 13,000 EUR per academic year, 26,000 EUR for the whole programme.

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Panel discussion at a Middle East Initiative event at the Belfer Center, image supplied by the Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs

FellowshipOpen

Middle East Initiative, Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs, Harvard Kennedy School

Emirates Leadership Initiative Research Fellowship 2027 to 2028

The Middle East Initiative at the Harvard Kennedy School is taking applications for its ten month Emirates Leadership Initiative Research Fellowships. All nationalities may apply, stipends run from USD 55,000 to USD 75,000, and applications close 1 December 2026.

Eligibility: Junior and mid-career policy-oriented scholars and faculty

Deadline: December 2, 2026
Location: Global, Egypt, Morocco
Funding or benefit: Ten month stipends of USD 55,000 for predoctoral fellows and mid-career practitioners without a PhD, USD 65,000 for postdoctoral fellows within five years of the doctorate, and USD 75,000 for fellows more than five years past the doctorate

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ScholarshipOpen

Blavatnik School of Government, University of Oxford

University of Oxford Master of Public Policy (MPP) 2027/2028

The Blavatnik School of Government at the University of Oxford is taking applications for the 2027/28 Master of Public Policy, a full-time taught master’s for future public leaders, with a wide range of scholarships for African applicants including a dedicated award for Nigerians working in the public service. Applications close 2 December 2026.

Eligibility: Open to applicants from all academic disciplines and professional backgrounds

Deadline: December 2, 2026
Location: Nigeria
Funding or benefit: The Aig-Imoukhuede MPP Scholarship covers the full course fee (overseas fee £54,650) plus a set amount toward living expenses. A wide range of other University of Oxford and Blavatnik School scholarships are available with their own terms.

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CompetitionOpen

AI Hub for Sustainable Development

Anima Mundi Call for Submissions 2026 (African and Global AI Builders, Closes 31 December)

The AI Hub for Sustainable Development, a G7 endorsed initiative co-led by UNDP and Italy’s Ministry of Enterprises and Made in Italy, is collecting digital work for Anima Mundi, a call that asks builders to set one of their own cultural traditions beside a real AI decision. Submissions are open to everyone worldwide, with priority for the 18 Italy-Africa Mattei Plan partner countries and the G7, and the window closes on 31 December 2026.

Eligibility: Open to submitters worldwide, with priority for the 18 Italy-Africa Mattei Plan partner countries and the G7

Deadline: December 31, 2026
Location: Africa
Funding or benefit: No cash award is published. Each accepted submission enters a permanent open online library under Creative Commons licensing with attribution to the author, and forms part of a programme that runs to presentations in February 2027 and September 2027. Volunteer support is offered to anyone who needs work photographed, scanned or recorded so the format does not exclude them.

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African Union Internships banner with the African Union emblem

InternshipOpen

African Union Commission

African Union Internship Program 2026 at the AU Commission in Addis Ababa for Nationals of Member States

The African Union Commission is accepting applications for its Internship Program, a full time placement at its headquarters in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia for nationals of African Union Member States. Applications are made online through the AU recruitment portal and close on 31 December 2026.

Eligibility: National of a Member State of the African Union

Deadline: December 31, 2026
Location: All 55 AU Member States
Funding or benefit: No stipend. The African Union Commission states that it has no financial obligation towards interns, and that travel arrangements, accommodation and living expenses are the responsibility of the intern. Interns are not entitled to compensation for travel or to medical travel or medical evacuation at the Commission's expense, and must hold individual insurance cover for the duration of the internship.

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SI Scholarship for Global Professionals holders at a leadership workshop, photo by Moa Karlberg for the Swedish Institute.

ScholarshipOpen

Swedish Institute (Svenska institutet)

SI Scholarship for Global Professionals 2027

The Swedish Institute’s flagship master’s scholarship for citizens of 34 countries, Nigeria included, covering Governance, Public Health, Entrepreneurship and Innovation or STEM at a Swedish university from autumn 2027. SI pays full tuition, SEK 12,000 a month for living costs and a one-time SEK 15,000 travel grant. Note the sequence: your master’s programme application through University Admissions closes on 15 January 2027, and the SI scholarship portal itself only runs from 8 to 24 February 2027, closing at 14:59 CET.

Eligibility: You are a citizen of one of the 34 eligible countries, which include Nigeria, Kenya, Ghana’s neighbours in the list, Ethiopia, Egypt, Morocco, Rwanda, Senegal, South Africa, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia and Liberia

Deadline: February 24, 2027
Location: Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bangladesh
Funding or benefit: Full tuition fee coverage paid directly by SI to the Swedish university each semester, a monthly allowance of SEK 12,000, and a one-time travel grant of SEK 15,000.

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Governance opportunities

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