ALUSB PUBLIC SECTOR FELLOWSHIP
NOMINATOR
GUIDELINES
I’m passionate about the African public sector because I believe that government is the most effective lever for driving change in Africa. We created the public sector fellowship as the first initiative in the Center for a Reimagined Africa because we believe that we need a group of leaders in the public sector who will embody the ethos of innovation and who will apply many of the mindsets that are needed to reimagine everything on the continent.
We’re looking for people who will actually do things and be part of a community where they’ll be held accountable for the delivery of projects that will be transformative for their countries.
SWANIKER
Founder, African Leadership Group
Fred
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Nominators should:
EXECUTIVE
SUMMARY
We are thrilled to share an exceptional opportunity for public sector leaders championing significant digital transformation projects in their countries. The African Leadership University Public Sector Fellowship, now in its third year, is a dynamic, 8-month, part-time program designed to empower leaders with essential skills to elevate service delivery and tackle Africa's pressing public sector challenges head-on.
This transformative fellowship unites public sector leaders from across the continent, fostering a vibrant learning community where you can exchange groundbreaking ideas, share best practices, and collaborate with peers to achieve tangible progress on critical implementation priorities.
We extend a special invitation to Ministries of ICT and related agencies and departments to nominate outstanding candidates for this prestigious program.
Invited nominators can submit their nominations using an online Nomination Form by 15th September 2026.
Nominators are encouraged to nominate 1-5 individuals.
PROGRAM STRUCTURE
VIRTUAL
ENGAGEMENT
WEEKLONG IN-PERSON INTENSIVES
January 2027
May 2027
September
2027
Admitted fellows should be able to commit up to 5 hours a week to engage in various program activities:
NOMINATION & APPLICATION
PROCESS
Nominators get access to a link to the online Nomination Form.
Nominations open for submission
Deadline for nomination
Nominees are Invited to Apply for the Fellowship
Preliminary
Selection
Final Selection and Fellowship Start
Nominators may coordinate with the ALU fellowship team in case of any questions.��Nomination Form
15th September 2026
Nominees will be required to submit a short application indicating their work history and projects they are currently leading.
The ALU fellowship selection team will make preliminary selections and communicate decisions .
Final list of participants for cohort 5 would be concluded by October 2026 and the fellowship will kickstart with an in-person intensive in January 2027.
Rolling basis
Application Deadline: 15th of October
October 2026 & January 2027
1
2
3
4
5
For an application to be considered complete, both the nominators (or heads of organizations) and the nominee must adhere to the following key documents :
Nominee Selection Criteria
Are you in a position to meaningfully drive implementation in your ministry or agency?
We assess your seniority, decision-making power, and ability to influence resource allocation, ensuring you have the authority and support to lead impactful change.
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Feasibility
Impact
Project Funding
Are you addressing a critical challenge that, if solved successfully, will lead to transformational change within your ministry / agency/ target population, creating a lasting effect on society as a whole?
Explain how your project tackles a critical challenge and describe its potential to create transformational change, significantly benefiting the target population.
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What’s the bigger strategic goal the proposed implementation project aligns with?
Ensure your project aligns with your organization's broader strategic goals. Provide clear connections between the project's objectives and the organization’s mission.
The proposed project must already have funding approved and allocated for its implementation.
Strategic Alignment
To be considered for selection potential nominees must currently work in the public sector in an African country and hold a mid-to-senior level leadership position (for example Director, Head of Division or Senior Manager).
Beyond these minimum requirements, the Fellowship considers the following criteria when reviewing applications:
Capability
Confirm that funding for your project has been approved and allocated.
Do you hold the necessary decision-making authority to drive this project to completion?
Demonstrate your authority and capacity to lead change, highlighting your decision-making power, and influence over resources within your ministry or agency (in relation to your project).
SUBMITTING A NOMINATION
THE NOMINATION FORM
Nominators may nominate candidates by completing a short online Nomination Form.
Nominators should submit a separate form for each candidate they are nominating.
The form contains the following questions:
Nominator's name
Nominator's email
Candidate's name
Candidate's agency, ministry or organisation
Candidate's title
Candidate's country
Candidate's email
Reasons for nomination
If you have suggestions for other nominators, please submit them to
RECOMMENDING OTHER NOMINATORS
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Can I submit more than one nomination?
Yes, we encourage nominators to nominate up to five candidates. Nominated candidates will go through the fellowship admissions process and will be selected based on the strength of their profiles and proposed implementation projects.
Do nominees or admitted fellows have to pay any fees?
Yes. For the 2026/2027 cohort, the Public Sector Fellowship is partially sponsored by the African Leadership University (ALU). While ALU covers all program-related costs (including tuition, accommodation during intensives, meals and materials), fellows or their sponsoring organizations are responsible for roundtrip flights and visas to the three in-person sessions.
Do admitted fellows have to quit their public sector jobs to enrol in the fellowship?
No, fellows continue to work full time in their public sector roles. The program is designed to be practical, allowing fellows to immediately apply learnings and skills gained to their public sector work.
Can I tell someone that I am nominating them for the fellowship?
Yes. We encourage you to inform any candidate that you nominate that you have done so. Additionally, the ALU fellowship team will reach out to all nominated candidates to provide them with more information about the fellowship and the admissions process.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Can a nominee submit an application post the application deadline ?
Yes, you can. We would be receiving applications on a rolling basis however, once your application is submitted post the deadline of 30th August 2026 it would be reviewed based on availability of slots .
How do I get in touch with the ALU fellowship team?
Please send an email to alusbpsf@alueducation.com