The Obama Foundation Leaders Program is a values-based leadership program for changemakers aged 24–45 from the public, civil and private sectors. It runs once a year in four regional cohorts: Africa, Asia-Pacific, Europe and the United States.
The 2026–2027 cycle lasts six months and is fully virtual, with weekly Zoom sessions, coaching and peer groups. The overview page now calls it eight months, hybrid for Asia-Pacific, while Africa stays six months and virtual. Graduates join the Obama Leadership Network.
Benefits & funding
- Training sessions, leadership coaching (1–2 hours a month) and community group discussions (3–4 hours over the whole program).
- No fees to take part; no stipend, and no grants for your own work.
- Expect 8–12 hours a month; missing more than three sessions costs your Leader status.
- Membership of the Obama Leadership Network (1,000+ alumni) after completion.
Eligibility
- Aged 24–45 on 1 September 2026 (2026–2027 FAQs); the overview says 24–45 during the program.
- Live in your program’s region for the whole program, and be a citizen, permanent resident, refugee or asylum seeker there, or have lived there for at least the last 5 years regardless of status.
- Regions: Africa — all nations and territories on the continent; Asia-Pacific — American Samoa, Aotearoa New Zealand, Australia, Brunei, Cambodia, China, Cook Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, Fiji, French Polynesia, Guam, Hawai’i, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Japan, Kiribati, North Korea, South Korea, Laos, Macao, 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; Europe — the 46 Council of Europe member states and Kosovo; United States — all 50 states, DC, tribal lands and US territories.
- At least 3 years of relevant experience in your issue area; selectors look for people who hold a leadership role in that work (full-time or volunteer).
- Work focused on your region; professional English.
- No run for political office from acceptance through 1 May 2027.
- Past Leaders participants (any region) cannot apply; no education requirement.
- No legal restriction on taking part in a US-based program.
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.
Eligible nationalities
Algeria · Angola · Benin · Botswana · Burkina Faso · Burundi · Cabo Verde · Cameroon · Central African Republic · Chad · Comoros · Republic of the Congo
Residents of Algeria · Angola · Benin · Botswana · Burkina Faso · Burundi · Cabo Verde · Cameroon · Central African Republic · Chad · Comoros · Republic of the Congo · 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 · Western Sahara · Saint Helena · 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 · Guam · Northern Mariana Islands · Puerto Rico · US Virgin Islands · New Zealand · Australia · Brunei · Cambodia · China · Cook Islands · Micronesia · Fiji · French Polynesia · Hong Kong · Indonesia · Japan · Kiribati · North Korea · South Korea · Laos · Macau · Malaysia · Marshall Islands · Mongolia · Myanmar · Nauru · New Caledonia · Niue · Palau · Papua New Guinea · Philippines · Pitcairn Islands · Samoa · Singapore · Solomon Islands · Taiwan · Thailand · Timor-Leste · Tokelau · Tonga · Tuvalu · Vanuatu · Vietnam · Wallis and Futuna can also apply.
+ 136 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 · Western Sahara · 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 · Guam · Northern Mariana Islands · Puerto Rico · US Virgin Islands · New Zealand · Australia · Brunei · Cambodia · China · Cook Islands · Micronesia · Fiji · French Polynesia · Hong Kong · Indonesia · Japan · Kiribati · North Korea · South Korea · Laos · Macau · Malaysia · Marshall Islands · Mongolia · Myanmar · Nauru · New Caledonia · Niue · Palau · Papua New Guinea · Philippines · Pitcairn Islands · Samoa · Singapore · Solomon Islands · Taiwan · Thailand · Timor-Leste · Tokelau · Tonga · Tuvalu · Vanuatu · Vietnam · Wallis and Futuna
Residence required
Algeria · Angola · Benin · Botswana · Burkina Faso · Burundi · Cabo Verde · Cameroon · Central African Republic · Chad · Comoros · Republic of the Congo
+ 137 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 · Western Sahara · Saint Helena · 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 · Guam · Northern Mariana Islands · Puerto Rico · US Virgin Islands · New Zealand · Australia · Brunei · Cambodia · China · Cook Islands · Micronesia · Fiji · French Polynesia · Hong Kong · Indonesia · Japan · Kiribati · North Korea · South Korea · Laos · Macau · Malaysia · Marshall Islands · Mongolia · Myanmar · Nauru · New Caledonia · Niue · Palau · Papua New Guinea · Philippines · Pitcairn Islands · Samoa · Singapore · Solomon Islands · Taiwan · Thailand · Timor-Leste · Tokelau · Tonga · Tuvalu · Vanuatu · Vietnam · Wallis and Futuna
Experience required
≥ 3 yrs
Age requirement
24–45 yrs
Circlebreaker is a free database of global fellowships, scholarships and programs — every one decoded like this.
We only check the criteria we have data for. Always confirm full eligibility on the official page before applying.
Application process
- 1Choose one regional program — you may apply to only one, even if eligible for several.
- 2Complete the online application; its first questions check eligibility.
- 3Give the names and emails of two references; the Foundation contacts them (letters are not accepted).
- 4Submit by the deadline: the last cycle closed 12 December 2025, 12:00 p.m. US Central Time; applications open each November.
Program timeline
12 December 2025
2026–2027 deadline (closed).
Decisions sent.
June 2026
Program starts.
Week of 1 September 2026
Program ends.
By 1 May 2027
Next cycle opens.
November 2026 (expected)