Deadline: December 12, 2025
Applications for the Obama Foundation Leaders Program 2026-2027 are now open. The Obama Leaders program aims to inspire, empower, and connect regional cohorts of changemakers to accelerate positive and lasting change in their communities and throughout their region. These emerging leaders from around the world, generally 24-45 years old, forge societies and communities rooted in shared values, where all people belong, participate, and thrive.
The Leaders program launched in Africa in 2018 and expanded to Asia Pacific in 2019, Europe in 2020, and the United States in 2023. They recognize the power that lies in bringing together diverse cohorts of Leaders from many regions of the world, each with their own approach and focus and a commitment to joining a global network of changemakers.
Inspired by President Obama’s leadership approach, the Leaders program engages participants in the challenges, opportunities, and skills of making positive change. Supported by full group sessions, small group discussions, and individualized leadership coaching, participants define a values-based foundation for sustained leadership, cultivate relationships with others to catalyze more inclusive, lasting change, and prepare to engage with issues at the systems level.
Program Types
- Africa: Leaders Africa is a six-month, virtual leadership development program that seeks to build a growing network of innovative and values-based changemakers who will drive positive change in their communities, the continent, and the world.
- Asia-Pacific: Leaders Asia-Pacific is a six-month, virtual leadership development program that seeks to ground emerging leaders in a values-based leadership framework to advance inclusive and lasting change in their communities, in the Asia-Pacific region, and across the world.
- Europe: Leaders Europe is a six-month, virtual leadership development program that seeks to inspire, empower, and connect emerging leaders to advance inclusive and lasting change in their communities, throughout Europe, and across the world.
- United States: The Obama Foundation Leaders USA program is a six-month, virtual leadership development program that seeks to inspire, empower, and connect emerging leaders across the country.
Eligibility
Changemakers between the ages of 24 and 45 from the Africa, Asia-Pacific, Europe, and United States regions who want to deepen their leadership skills and connect with other emerging leaders are invited to apply.
- The program currently invites individuals residing in an eligible country in Africa, Asia-Pacific, Europe, and United States regions.
- You must meet one of the following criteria:
- Citizen of an eligible country or territory OR
- Permanent resident of an eligible country or territory OR
- Have lived in an eligible country or territory for at least the last 5 years, regardless of citizenship or permanent residence status
- Your work is geographically focused on creating positive change for local communities, an eligible nation or territory, and/or the broader region. You demonstrate a strong commitment to continue to focus your work in the region.
- You can demonstrate at least 3 years of relevant experience in your issue area.
- You are professionally proficient in English and you will be between 24 and 45 years of age on September 1, 2026.
- You will refrain from participating in an electoral campaign as a candidate for political office from the time you are accepted into the program through May 1, 2027. Selection decisions are currently scheduled to be sent out in June 2026.
- The Leaders Africa program is currently scheduled to begin the week of September 1, 2026 and will conclude no later than May 1, 2027, with planned breaks throughout.
- The Obama Foundation is based in the United States. To participate in the program, you must be under no legal or regulatory restrictions that would limit your participation in virtual Foundation programming or travel to the U.S. for in-person programming (if any).
Application
The application for the 2026-2027 Obama Leaders program is now open. The application closes Friday, December 12, at 12 p.m. United States Central Time (UTC-6).
For more information, visit Obama Leaders Program.
