Mo Ibrahim Foundation Leadership Fellowship 2027

About the role

The Mo Ibrahim Foundation, which supports good governance and great leadership in Africa, is financing a Leadership Fellowship position at the African Development Bank (the Bank) in Abidjan, Côte d'Ivoire, or another location where the Bank operates. The Fellowship lasts up to 12 months and is open to young professionals, mid-career or new executives who want to strengthen their capacity to contribute to the governance and development of their countries.

Key responsibilities

Under the guidance of the President, the Senior Vice President, the Chief of Staff and Director of Cabinet and/or a designated representative, the Fellow designs and implements strategic assignments. Duties include designing and helping implement innovative approaches to strategic issues, researching and analysing strategy, programmes and policies, assisting with monitoring and analysis of Bank initiatives and preparing briefs and memos, taking part in high-level discussions and preparing the President's meetings and missions, and carrying out other assigned duties.

Required profile

Candidates must be nationals of an African country, hold a minimum of a Master's degree in banking, business, economics, finance, international development or a related field, and have at least seven years of relevant work experience. They must show proven leadership, strategic planning, project management and policy formulation experience, and be able to analyse financial data and work with officials at all levels of government. Government officials, active military personnel and political party leaders are ineligible, as are current or former Bank staff and their close relatives.

What we offer

A monthly stipend paid by the Bank from Foundation funds, and the Bank covers official mission travel costs (excluding assumption-of-duty and repatriation travel, which the Foundation pays). Fellows follow the Bank's Staff Regulations and Rules, and are not eligible for Bank recruitment for one year after the fellowship ends.

Applications are made online through the Bank's vacancy page by 20 November 2026, with a CV, academic transcripts and three letters of recommendation.