The African Futures Lab (AfaLab) is now accepting applications for the AfaRise Fellowship, a bold and transformative two-year program designed to empower a new generation of African and Afro-descendant changemakers. Rooted in reparatory justice, decolonial praxis, and Afro-feminist leadership, AfaRise supports early-stage projects that seek to dismantle racial injustice across Africa, Europe, and the wider global diaspora.
AfaRise is not a conventional fellowship. It is a call to action for those who envision radical change and who are prepared to shape systems, narratives, and structures from the ground up.
About the African Futures Lab
Founded by Liliane Umubyeyi and Amah Edoh in the wake of the global 2020 reckoning on racial injustice, AfaLab advances justice through research, advocacy, and cross-continental solidarity. It is committed to dismantling the legacies of colonialism and slavery, holding power accountable, and empowering communities to reclaim truth, dignity, and agency.
In alignment with the African Union’s declaration of 2025 as the Year of Justice for Africans and People of African Descent Through Reparations, the AfaRise Fellowship represents a strategic and timely response to a rising need for coordinated, well-resourced racial justice leadership in Africa and the diaspora.
Fellowship Objectives
AfaRise seeks to cultivate and support a cohort of visionary fellows from across Africa and Europe, working at the intersections of race, gender, climate, and economic justice. Whether applicants are developing a book, podcast, research project, artistic exhibition, or organizing campaign, AfaRise offers a platform to amplify, shape, and realize those visions.
Fellows will drive bold initiatives that connect grassroots realities with broader global narratives, grounded in intersectional and decolonial thought.
Fellowship Structure
Duration: Two years (2025–2027)
Format: Fully remote
Engagement: Bi-monthly online meetings
Core Components:
Strategic Peer Exchange: Bi-monthly gatherings focused on project updates, peer learning, and responsive strategy development.
Fellow-Led Learning: Sessions exploring racial justice and reparations across intersecting themes including gender, climate, AI, and economic justice.
Collaborative Outputs: Space and support for collaborations among fellows and between fellows and AfaLab.
Public Engagement: Opportunities to represent AfaLab in civil society, academic, and multilateral platforms.
Alumni Integration: Continued access to publication opportunities, events, and strategic partnerships after the fellowship period.
Eligibility Criteria
The fellowship is open to activists, researchers, artists, and practitioners based in Africa or Europe, engaged in early-stage projects that tackle racial injustice through a decolonial or reparatory justice lens.
Required:
Demonstrated commitment to racial justice across one or more relevant areas (e.g., gender, climate, economics).
A project at its early phase, with a clear aim to dismantle racial injustice on a local or global scale.
Contextual knowledge of Africa, Europe, or Afro-diasporic communities.
Visionary thinking, collaborative spirit, and an innovative approach to systems change.
Desirable:
Multilingual ability, particularly in French and English.
Cross-sectoral, interdisciplinary, or transdisciplinary experience.
What Fellows Gain
A dynamic community of peers and mentors dedicated to racial justice and systemic change.
Access to the African Futures Lab’s expansive network of practitioners, scholars, and activists.
Opportunities to feature their work on AfaLab platforms including podcasts and conferences.
Support for co-created initiatives with AfaLab staff.
A stipend of €200 per working session, recognizing the time and expertise of each fellow.
Roles and Expectations
Actively participate in virtual meetings and knowledge-sharing sessions.
Provide regular updates on project progress.
Deliver a final presentation at the conclusion of the fellowship.
Selection Process
Applications will be evaluated for relevance, merit, and diversity. Shortlisted candidates will be invited to participate in online interviews. Eight fellows will be selected to ensure broad geographic and thematic representation.
Applicants are encouraged to demonstrate authenticity, vision, and clarity of purpose. Generic or AI-generated submissions will not be prioritized.
