The African Liberty Writing Fellowship 2025/2026 is a prestigious, year-long programme designed to train young Africans interested in careers involving critical and analytical writing. This includes fields such as academia, media, public policy, opinion journalism, and related areas.
Run by African Liberty (a project of Students For Liberty), the programme focuses on developing skills in opinion article writing, with an emphasis on ideas like individual liberty, free markets, and limited government.
Programme Structure
The fellowship is delivered entirely online and consists of two main phases:
- Five-Week Mandatory Online Training
- Runs from 26 May 2025 to 23 June 2025.
- All accepted applicants must complete this intensive training.
- It equips participants with essential writing, analysis, and argumentation skills.
- 12-Month Writing Fellowship
- Starts on 15 July 2025 and ends on 15 July 2026.
- Top performers from the training phase are inducted as fellows.
- Fellows write opinion pieces, receive editorial mentorship, and contribute content regularly.
Eligibility Requirements
To apply, you must meet the following criteria:
- Be enrolled in, or have graduated from, an African institution of higher learning, or
- Be an African national pursuing higher education outside the continent.
- No senior fellowships are accepted (the programme targets emerging writers).
- The programme is competitive — previous cycles received around 2,000 applications, with only about 60 invited to training and 25–33 inducted as fellows.
There are no specific age limits mentioned, but it is aimed at young and emerging talents.
Benefits
Successful fellows enjoy:
- Access to expert instructors and editorial mentorship.
- A paid fellowship with a monthly stipend (contingent on performance and monthly assessments; compensation is only considered after induction).
- Opportunities to publish in leading African and international newspapers, journals, and media outlets (past fellows have featured in prominent publications).
- A platform to build a portfolio in opinion writing and public policy analysis.
- Potential features on TV, radio, and other media.
- Networking and exposure in liberty-focused circles.
How to Apply (Step-by-Step Guide)
The application process is straightforward and free (no fees required).
- Visit the official programme page: Here.
- Review all details, FAQs, and eligibility.
- Click the Apply button or link on the page (it directs to the application form here).
- Complete the online application form with your details, background, and any required materials (such as writing samples if requested).
- Submit before the deadline.
Application Deadline: 30 April 2025 (applications close at 23:59 GMT or similar; submit early to avoid issues).