ANTANANARIVO – U.S. Embassy in Madagascar and Comoros is proud to announce that 11 young leaders between 25 and 35 years old from Madagascar will participate in the 2022 Mandela Washington Fellowship for Young African Leaders. Five of them will strengthen their leadership in public management: Felana Andrianantenaina Razakamahefa at Syracuse University, Lanto Nirina Robivelo at Bridgewater State University, Mirado Fitiavana Rakotoharimalala at Arizona State University, Ony Andriamasinoro at Texas Tech University and Raharinoely Ranjaharimalala Sophie at Bridgewater State University. Three others will enhance their leadership in civic engagement: Fidy Manantsoa Randrianarivelo at University of Delaware, Kimmerling Razafindrina at University of Georgia, and Rindra Antenaina Rakotoarisoa at Appalachian State University. As for Natoa Razakasoavina at Clark Atlanta University, Ny Anjara Rafalimanana at University of Texas at Austin and Romeo Diarison Rajaonarimalala at Rutgers University, they will develop their leadership in business.

The Malagasy Fellows left Madagascar on June 7, 2022 to join college and university campuses across the United States for six-week trainings during which they will strengthen their leadership skills through academic study, workshops, mentoring, networking with U.S. leaders, and collaboration with members of the local community. This year, twenty-seven U.S. educational institutions in 20 states and the District of Columbia will host these Leadership Institutes for approximately 700 Mandela Washington Fellows from all sub-Saharan Africa.

After their Leadership Institutes, Fellows will participate in a virtual summit. Additionally, up to 100 competitively selected Fellows, two of whom are Malagasy, will engage virtually in professional development with U.S. organizations in the public, private, or non-profit sectors. Fellows can participate in Alumni Programming after their Fellowships to further build their professional skills and networks.

Launched in 2014, the Mandela Washington Fellowship is the flagship program of the Young African Leaders Initiative (YALI) and embodies the U.S. commitment to invest in the future of Africa. YALI was created in 2010 and supports young Africans as they spur economic growth and prosperity, strengthen democratic governance, and enhance peace and security across Africa. Since 2014, nearly 5,100 young leaders from every country in Sub-Saharan Africa, including 77 from Madagascar, have participated in the Mandela Washington Fellowship.

The Mandela Washington Fellowship is a program of the U.S. Department of State with funding provided by the U.S. Government and administered by IREX. For more information about the Mandela Washington Fellowship, visit mandelawashingtonfellowship.org.

Press Release by the U.S. Embassy Madagascar