Deadline: February 2, 2026.

This 6-week immersive program will accelerate your growth as a leader in democracy, equipping you to cultivate lasting transformation in your community, country, and region.

Building on the legacy of the Mandela Washington Fellowship, and expanded to include Fellows from around the world, this signature program is designed for rising and established leaders with the potential to make a difference for democracy.

ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA

1. The Presidential Precinct invites leaders in a position to strengthen their home country’s civil society and institutions of democracy to apply for the 2026 Global Democracy Fellowship.
2. Qualified applicants are social movement leaders, leaders of civil society organizations, local government officials, parliamentarians, democracy and human rights defenders, journalists, and creatives.
3. Applicants should have at least seven years’ demonstrated experience in democracy-building, drawing on one or more of these professional disciplines: government and politics, law, peacebuilding, advocacy for vulnerable communities and communities under threat, communications, media and journalism, and cultural heritage and preservation
4. Applicants must be proficient in written and spoken English.
5. Preference will be given to applicants from key countries based on indices published by V-DEM, the Economist Intelligence Unit, the Atlantic Council Freedom Index, and similar sources. Check the list of key countries below to see if you are eligible to participate based on your citizenship and/or residency.

BENEFITS

1. The Fellowship will cover participant costs for the DS-2019, which is required for a U.S. J-1 visa. 
2. Participants who do not possess an active U.S. visa will travel to the U.S. on a J Visa. Details will be provided to accepted participants.
3. The Fellowship will cover all meal expenses. Meals will be provided directly (i.e. catered), served at a dining hall, or meals will be on your own which will be paid for using a debit card with pre-loaded funds.
4. For all programming activities and airport transfers from Dulles International Airport (IAD) to Charlottesville and Williamsburg to IAD, transportation will be provided.
5. The Presidential Precinct will arrange and pay for your roundtrip travel to the U.S. Each participant will be booked on an economy ticket with one checked bag. If participants wish to upgrade or add baggage, they will have to do this at their own expense.

Find more information on the OFFICIAL WEBSITE