The Acumen Fellowship is Acumen Academy’s annual, cohort-based leadership program for people already building solutions to poverty. Fellows stay in their roles while completing virtual workshops, self-paced work and in-person immersives.
It is one program delivered through regional cohorts in Colombia, East Africa, India, Pakistan, Southeast Asia, Spain, the United Kingdom and West Africa. The India window runs from September 25 to October 31, 2026, the UK window closes on November 3, 2026, and the next confirmed regional window, for Southeast Asia, opens on October 5, 2026.
Benefits & funding
- Acumen describes the Fellowship as fully funded: participation is free and regional teams cover stated program costs, but it is not a stipend, grant or automatic investment.
- Coverage varies by cohort; the UK covers accommodation, food and venues for residential immersives while participants normally pay transport, with limited need-based travel help available.
- India, Pakistan and Southeast Asia publish hybrid formats combining online learning with in-person immersives; published programs run seven months in India, eight in Pakistan and Southeast Asia, and nine in the UK.
- Graduates join the Foundry, Acumen Academy’s global alumni community, with access to community, coaching and separately selected opportunities.
Eligibility
- Applicants must already work full-time in a leadership or senior decision-making role on a proven solution to poverty and show a clear record of social impact.
- Most published cohorts require at least five years of professional experience; Pakistan requires at least seven years, so applicants must check their regional page.
- Applicants generally apply through the cohort where they reside and work; some regional teams may accept a concrete long-term employment or project-impact connection instead. Nationality itself is not stated as a gate.
- The India, UK, Pakistan and Southeast Asia pages all state that applicants must be over 18; none gives a maximum age.
- No specific academic qualification is required. Applicants need reliable internet, proficiency in the cohort language, and availability for the entire program; Colombia and Spain operate in Spanish and the other published cohorts operate in English.
- Previous Acumen Fellows cannot join another cohort. Rules for graduates of named Acumen leadership accelerators differ by region and must be checked on the selected cohort page.
Can you apply?
Here's who can apply
Decoded from the official rules. A free account checks them against your passport, degree and age in seconds.
Age requirement
≥ 18 yrs
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Application process
- 1Use the main Fellowship page to choose the regional cohort connected to your work and impact.
- 2Read that cohort’s eligibility rules, schedule, funding details and Applicant Toolkit.
- 3Complete the online application about your organization, impact and program readiness before the regional deadline.
- 4If shortlisted, join the cohort’s virtual Selection Conference or Selection Festival.
- 5If selected, complete the regional hybrid program and join the Foundry after graduation.
Program timeline
United Kingdom applications open.
September 22, 2026
India applications open.
September 25, 2026
First United Kingdom online information session.
September 29, 2026
Southeast Asia applications open.
October 5, 2026
Second United Kingdom online information session.
October 12, 2026
First Southeast Asia online information session.
October 21, 2026
Third United Kingdom online information session.
October 27, 2026
Second Southeast Asia online information session.
October 28, 2026
India application deadline.
October 31, 2026
United Kingdom application deadline.
November 3, 2026
Third Southeast Asia online information session.
November 4, 2026
Southeast Asia application deadline.
December 6, 2026
United Kingdom virtual Selection Festival.
January 14–15, 2027
United Kingdom Fellowship.
February–October 2027
Southeast Asia virtual Selection Conference.
February 27–28, 2027
Southeast Asia Fellowship begins.
April 2027