Entries Open for the African Futures Lab AfaRise Fellowship Program

Entries are now Open for the African Futures Lab AfaRise Fellowship Program. African Futures Lab advances reparative justice through research, advocacy, and cross-continental solidarity. Our mission is centered on dismantling the enduring legacies of colonialism and slavery, holding state and private actors accountable, and supporting African and Afro-descendant communities in reclaiming truth, dignity, and power.

The fellowship aligns with the African Union’s designation of 2025 as the Year of Justice for Africans and People of African Descent Through Reparations. This represents a pivotal opportunity to drive impactful advocacy amidst rising authoritarianism, global inequality, and fractured solidarity.

While interest in reparations for racial injustices and decoloniality grows, African actors often remain under-resourced, disconnected, and marginalized. AfaRise addresses this disparity by cultivating a cohort of racial justice leaders equipped to drive action at local and global levels from an African and Afro-diasporic perspective. Spark and support bold initiatives tackling racial justice and reparations across Africa and Europe

This dynamic program is designed to spark and support impactful initiatives addressing racial justice and reparations across Africa and Europe. The program encourages a diverse range of initiative formats, including but not limited to writing projects, podcast launches, organizational change initiatives, or transformative art exhibitions. It provides a dedicated space to develop and implement these concepts. We aim to ignite and nurture projects that engage deeply with decolonization, racial justice, and reparations.

Fellowship Structure – African Futures Lab AfaRise Fellowship Program

• Duration: 2 years (2025-2027)
• Format: Fully virtual with bi-monthly online meetings

Core Components – African Futures Lab AfaRise Fellowship Program

• Strategic reflections through peer knowledge exchange: Bi-monthly convenings providing a platform to analyze project developments, formulate responses, and adapt strategy.
• Strengthening intersectional knowledge on racial justice and reparations: Fellow-led programming exploring race and reparations and their linkages with gender, decoloniality, climate, AI, economic, and emerging justice issues.
• Collaborative outputs: The fellowship program fosters an environment conducive to initiating collaborations among fellows or between the Lab and the fellows.
• Public representation: Fellows may have opportunities to represent AfaLab in multilateral events, regional forums, or civil society spaces.
  Alumni integration: Ongoing opportunities for publication, participation in events, and strategic collaboration within the alumni network.

Fellowship Benefits – African Futures Lab AfaRise Fellowship Program

• Access to a vibrant network of peers and experts available to exchange ideas, challenge assumptions, and help shape project visions.
• Leverage the African Futures Lab network, offering valuable connections and support to advance project development.
• Opportunities to showcase work through our conferences and podcast platforms, amplifying voice and reach.
• Possibilities for collaboration with the African Futures Lab team, fostering co-created impact.
• A stipend of €200 per working session will be provided, acknowledging and supporting fellows’ commitment to their projects.

Roles and Responsibilities – African Futures Lab AfaRise Fellowship Program

• Engage actively in regular virtual gatherings and knowledge-sharing sessions.
• Provide regular updates on project advancement.
• Prepare and present a final project overview.

Eligibility and Candidate Profile – African Futures Lab AfaRise Fellowship Program

• Activists,
• practitioners,
• researchers,
• Artists engaged in projects related to decoloniality, racial justice, and reparations, based in Africa and Europe.

Required Qualifications – African Futures Lab AfaRise Fellowship Program

• Demonstrated commitment to racial justice across any relevant thematic area (e.g., gender, climate, economics).
• A project in its initial phase aimed at dismantling racial injustices across Africa and Europe or at a global scale.
• Contextual understanding of Africa, Europe, or Afro-diasporic communities.
• Possession of a visionary, collaborative, and innovative approach to social change.

Desirable Assets – African Futures Lab AfaRise Fellowship Program

• Multilingual proficiency (especially French and English).
• Cross-sectoral, interdisciplinary, or transdisciplinary experience.
• Evaluation and Interviews – Applications will be assessed based on merit, thematic fit, and diversity. Shortlisted candidates will be invited for online interviews.
• Final Selection – Eight fellows will be selected, representing diverse geographies and thematic strengths.

Application – African Futures Lab AfaRise Fellowship Program

The AfaRise Fellowship is a timely and ambitious initiative designed to center African and diaspora leadership within global racial justice and reparations efforts. It seeks to build collective power by equipping fellows with the tools, networks, and strategies necessary to advance reparatory justice within institutions, communities, and movements across borders and generations.

• For details about the program visit the program website
• To apply for the AfaRise Fellowship, please click here: https://bit.ly/44yjUtn (external link)
• The application deadline is 31 July 2025.