Join the AfaRise Fellowship by African Futures Lab 2025

The African Futures Lab (AfaLab) has announced the launch of its newest initiative—the AfaRise Fellowship Program—set to begin in 2025. This visionary, two-year fully virtual fellowship is specifically tailored for young researchers, activists, and creators who are deeply engaged in dismantling racial injustice across Africa and the global diaspora. Rooted in the principles of reparatory justice, decolonial praxis, and Afro-feminist leadership, AfaRise is designed not only to shape policy but to transform the systems and narratives that perpetuate inequality and colonial legacy.

Founded by Liliane Umubyeyi and Amah Edoh in the aftermath of the 2020 global reckoning on racial injustice, the African Futures Lab is a platform dedicated to advancing reparative justice through research, advocacy, and cross-continental solidarity. AfaLab’s mission aligns with the African Union’s declaration of 2025 as the “Year of Justice for Africans and People of African Descent Through Reparations,” providing a timely opportunity to launch this ambitious fellowship.

Benefits of the Fellowship

Running from 2025 to 2027, the AfaRise Fellowship is a fully remote program structured around bi-monthly online sessions and active project development. It is designed to accommodate the varied schedules and geographies of fellows while maintaining regular engagement through:

• Strategic project check-ins and knowledge exchange

• Fellow-led seminars on race, gender, climate, AI, and decolonial practices

• Opportunities to showcase work through AfaLab’s platforms

• Representation in global and regional civil society forums

• Networking with leading experts and organizations in racial justice

Each fellow will receive a stipend of €200 per working session, acknowledging the value of their time, knowledge, and lived experience.

Eligibility and Ideal Candidates

The AfaRise Fellowship is open to early-stage activists, artists, researchers, and practitioners residing in Africa or Europe who are working on decolonial, racial justice, or reparations-related projects. Ideal applicants should demonstrate:

• A strong commitment to dismantling racial injustices across themes like gender, climate, economy, and governance

• A clear project idea, even at its conceptual stage, with transformative potential

• Experience in interdisciplinary, cross-sectoral, or community-driven initiatives

• Knowledge of African, Afro-diasporic, or European racial justice contexts

Applicants who are multilingual, particularly in French and English, or who bring innovative approaches to their work, are especially encouraged to apply.

Application Process and Deadline

Prospective applicants must submit a comprehensive application that includes:

• A detailed project proposal (1,500–2,000 words) outlining goals, context, and methodology

• Curriculum Vitae

• Two writing or creative samples

• Two reference letters from professionals familiar with the applicant’s work

Submissions must be made through the official application portal. The deadline to apply is 31 July 2025. Eight fellows will be selected following a review and interview process to ensure a diverse cohort representing a broad range of thematic expertise and regional perspectives.

Apply now and be part of this pioneering effort to reimagine a just world.

Application Link: click here
Application Deadline: 31 July 2025