The Obama Foundation Leaders program is a six-month, fully virtual leadership development program run by the Obama Foundation (founded by Barack and Michelle Obama). It gathers emerging leaders aged 24–45 from the public sector, civil society and the private sector who are already leading work for the common good. Participants take part as one of four regional cohorts — Africa, Asia-Pacific, Europe and the United States — meeting over Zoom for full-group sessions, small-group discussions and one-to-one leadership coaching. On finishing, they join the Obama Leadership Network, a global alumni community of more than 1,500 active changemakers. The Asia-Pacific cohort is open to residents of mainland China, Hong Kong, Macao, Taiwan and dozens of other Asia-Pacific nations and territories.
Benefits & funding
- Six months of structured, cohort-based leadership development delivered entirely online (Zoom).
- Individualised leadership coaching (1–2 hours per month) plus community group discussions (3–4 hours per month).
- Membership of the Obama Leadership Network alumni community (1,500+ members) on completion.
- No participation fees of any kind.
- Note: no stipend, grant or other financial support is provided — participants cover their own time and equipment (a computer with camera and reliable internet are required).
Eligibility
- Aged between 24 and 45 on 1 September 2026.
- At least 3 years of relevant experience in your issue area.
- Hold a leadership position in your changemaking work (full-time or volunteer).
- Professionally proficient in English.
- Reside in one of the four program regions for the full program, and qualify as a citizen, permanent resident, refugee/asylum seeker, or resident of 5+ years:
- Africa: all African nations and territories.
- Asia-Pacific: incl. mainland China, Hong Kong, Macao, Taiwan, Japan, South Korea, Australia, New Zealand, and Southeast Asian and Pacific nations (full list on the program FAQ).
- Europe: the 46 Council of Europe member states plus Kosovo.
- United States: all 50 states, DC, tribal lands and US territories.
- Able to commit 8–12 hours per month for the full six months.
- Previous Obama Leaders participants (any region) are not eligible.
- Applicants may not run as a candidate for political office from acceptance through 1 May 2027.
Can you apply?
Worth a closer look
Sign in and add your profile to check this against your nationality, residency, and studies.
Residence required
Algeria · Angola · Benin · Botswana · Burkina Faso · Burundi · Cabo Verde · Cameroon · Central African Republic · Chad · Comoros · Republic of the Congo
+ 133 more
DR Congo · Côte d'Ivoire · Djibouti · Egypt · Equatorial Guinea · Eritrea · Eswatini · Ethiopia · Gabon · Gambia · Ghana · Guinea · Guinea-Bissau · Kenya · Lesotho · Liberia · Libya · Madagascar · Malawi · Mali · Mauritania · Mauritius · Morocco · Mozambique · Namibia · Niger · Nigeria · Rwanda · São Tomé and Príncipe · Senegal · Seychelles · Sierra Leone · Somalia · South Africa · South Sudan · Sudan · Tanzania · Togo · Tunisia · Uganda · Zambia · Zimbabwe · Albania · Andorra · Armenia · Austria · Azerbaijan · Belgium · Bosnia and Herzegovina · Bulgaria · Croatia · Cyprus · Czechia · Denmark · Estonia · Finland · France · Georgia · Germany · Greece · Hungary · Iceland · Ireland · Italy · Latvia · Liechtenstein · Lithuania · Luxembourg · Malta · Moldova · Monaco · Montenegro · Netherlands · North Macedonia · Norway · Poland · Portugal · Romania · San Marino · Serbia · Slovakia · Slovenia · Spain · Sweden · Switzerland · Türkiye · Ukraine · UK · Kosovo · USA · American Samoa · New Zealand · Australia · Brunei · Cambodia · China · Cook Islands · Micronesia · Fiji · French Polynesia · Guam · Hong Kong · Indonesia · Japan · Kiribati · North Korea · South Korea · Laos · Macau · Malaysia · Marshall Islands · Mongolia · Myanmar · Nauru · New Caledonia · Niue · Northern Mariana Islands · Palau · Papua New Guinea · Philippines · Pitcairn Islands · Samoa · Singapore · Solomon Islands · Taiwan · Thailand · Timor-Leste · Tokelau · Tonga · Tuvalu · Vanuatu · Vietnam · Wallis and Futuna
Not in your profile yet
Experience required
≥ 3 yrs
Not in your profile yet
Age requirement
24–45 yrs
Not in your profile yet
We only check the criteria we have data for. Always confirm full eligibility on the official page before applying.
Application process
- 1Choose the regional cohort matching where you live and apply through the Obama Foundation online application for that region.
- 2Provide details of your work and two references (reference letters are not accepted).
- 3Selected applicants are notified of decisions — for the 2026–2027 cycle, decisions were sent in June 2026.
Program timeline
12 December 2025
Application deadline for the 2026–2027 program (now closed).
Decisions sent to selected applicants.
June 2026
Program begins.
Week of 1 September 2026
Program concludes.
By 1 May 2027
Fall 2026 (expected)
Applications open for the 2027–2028 program.