Acumen East Africa Fellowship

## About the program The Acumen East Africa Fellowship is Acumen's flagship leadership-development program for emerging entrepreneurs and change-agents working to solve problems of poverty in East Africa. It brings together a cohort of extraordinary individuals with an entrepreneurial mindset and a commitment to dignity. Fellows remain in their jobs and participate in a 6-month hybrid program combining virtual sessions, in-person immersives, and self-paced learning.

## What it offers The program includes one 3-day virtual orientation, two 5-day full-time in-person immersives, and three Learning Labs, with a curriculum covering Polarity Management, Good Society Readings (texts from thinkers like Plato, Martin Luther King Jr. and Amartya Sen), Adaptive Leadership and Authentic Voice. This is a leadership program (not a funded scholarship) — the value is in the training, cohort and network. Upon completion, fellows join the Foundry, Acumen's global community of 1,600+ alumni, which offers tools and mentorship (including exclusive coaching with Bain & Company), access to a community of award-winning social entrepreneurs, exposure to investors, and the opportunity to pitch for early-stage catalytic capital through Acumen Angels. On a needs basis, Acumen may support Forcibly Displaced Persons with travel advice, internet-data stipends or childcare support.

## Eligibility - Based in East Africa (Uganda included) and currently involved full-time in a social-impact organization or initiative working to solve poverty - Entrepreneur, organizational builder, or intrapreneur - Selection prioritises commitment to dignity, moral leadership, and scalable, market-based solutions

## How to apply Submit the online application at the Acumen East Africa Fellowship page during the open cycle (recent cycles closed in early February; check the page for the current deadline).