Instrumental Africans: AFC Fellowship is an online leadership programme run by Common Purpose with Africa Finance Corporation. It brings together 40 emerging leaders from Africa, the wider global South, and the global North to strengthen cross-boundary leadership and dialogue.
The 2026 cohort will examine how carbon markets can better support forests, grasslands, peatlands, and mangroves in Africa and across the global South. Fellows use Common Purpose’s design-thinking-based Innoventure process and present their proposals to senior leaders.
Benefits & funding
- There is no cost to participants because Africa Finance Corporation funds the fellowship.
- Live sessions take place on Zoom, while resources and independent learning are available through an online platform.
- The published schedule runs from 5 November 2026 to 4 February 2027, with a final presentation to AFC on a date still to be confirmed.
- Participants learn Common Purpose’s Leading Beyond Authority approach and apply it to the climate challenge.
- Graduates join the Fellows community and can connect with members of their own and earlier cohorts.
Eligibility
- Applicants must be emerging leaders with at least five years of professional experience.
- Applicants may come from different sectors, backgrounds, countries, and communities across the global North and South; no nationality or residence restriction is published.
- Applicants must show commitment to positive change, leadership potential or capability, and what they can contribute to the programme challenge.
- Applicants must be interested in environmental issues and the imbalance between the global North and South.
- Written and spoken English proficiency and commitment to the full fellowship are required.
- No degree, age, or gender requirement is published.
Can you apply?
Here's who can apply
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Experience required
≥ 5 yrs
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Application process
- 1Review the official programme schedule and application criteria.
- 2Complete the online form, including responses of up to 300 words on the climate challenge and motivation, plus an optional response of up to 200 words.
- 3Submit the form and upload a video of about 60 seconds on environmental issues and the global North–South imbalance.
Program timeline
Applications close at midnight BST
27 September 2026
Online platform opens for three hours of independent learning
5 November 2026
Live fellowship launch on Zoom
19 November 2026
Leading Beyond Authority sessions
2, 9, and 17 December 2026
Climate Challenge sessions
13–14 and 19–20 January 2027
Learning and Action Planning session
4 February 2027
Challenge presentation to AFC
Date to be confirmed in 2027