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AI for NGOs
Discover practical ways to integrate AI tools into your NGO's operations, from fundraising to programme delivery.
The Fellowship for NGO Leaders
Free online learning sessions designed for NGO leaders and professionals. Explore professional development topics, connect with expert speakers, and strengthen your impact from anywhere in the world.
Open Sessions
Mental Health & Wellbeing for NGO Leaders
Explore strategies for supporting mental health and wellbeing within NGO teams and the communities they serve.
Inclusive Leadership & Gender Mainstreaming
Learn frameworks for embedding gender equity and inclusive practices into organisational leadership and programming.
About the Fellowship
Professors Without Borders is proud to launch The Fellowship for NGO Leaders, a year-long professional development programme designed to strengthen leadership, collaboration, and organisational capacity among Africa-based NGO leaders. The Fellowship is built around peer learning and practical exchange, bringing together leaders to share experiences, tools, and approaches that support stronger governance, accountability, and sustainable organisational growth. This first edition brings together 15-20 NGO leaders for a collaborative, peer-driven learning journey focused on zero-cost capacity building and practical skills that can be immediately applied within their organisations and teams.
This Year's Focus: Women & Food
This year's Fellowship is delivered through the thematic lens of Women & Food, reflecting the sectors in which participating NGO leaders work and the communities they serve across Africa. The Fellowship does not provide technical training on food systems. Instead, it focuses on strengthening leadership, governance, and organisational capacity for NGO leaders whose work relates to women, food security, nutrition, agriculture, and community livelihoods. By grounding leadership development within this shared thematic context, the Fellowship enables relevant peer exchange, practical learning, and collaboration among leaders facing similar organisational and sector-specific challenges.
Who Is This Fellowship For?
The Fellowship is designed for NGO leaders based in Africa who are actively leading or managing non-profit organisations and seeking to strengthen their leadership and organisational capacity.
Applicants should be working within organisations whose missions relate to women and food, including areas such as food security, nutrition, agriculture, community livelihoods, and women's empowerment.
The programme is delivered in English. Applicants must be able to understand and engage with discussions in English, though fluency is not required.
Eligibility Criteria
- Based in Africa
- Currently leading or managing an NGO
- Working within women- and food-related sectors
- Able to commit to monthly online sessions
- Comfortable understanding English
What Fellows Will Gain
Through the Fellowship, participants will strengthen their leadership capabilities while gaining practical tools to support the effective management and long-term sustainability of their organisations.
The programme emphasises peer learning, shared experience, and immediately applicable practices, enabling fellows to translate learning directly into action within their teams and communities.
Key Program Benefits
- Practical leadership and organisational management skills relevant to NGO contexts
- Stronger understanding of governance, accountability, and risk management
- Tools and frameworks for financial reporting, monitoring and evaluation (MEL), and fundraising
- Opportunities for peer exchange and collaboration with NGO leaders across Africa
- Increased confidence to lead teams, engage stakeholders, and plan for organisational sustainability
Programme Format & Commitment
Duration & Timing
The Fellowship runs over 12 months, with monthly online sessions held on the first Thursday of each month, from 17:00–18:00 EAT.
Interactive Learning
The programme combines short expert presentations, roundtable discussions, Q&A sessions, and structured peer exchange.
Your Commitment
Fellows are expected to commit to active participation throughout the year, including attending monthly sessions and contributing insights.
Full Programme Schedule
5 Mar 2026
Programme Launch & Strategic Vision
Sharon Monethi, Mariah Silva, Tara Sinfield-Hain7 May 2026
AI Tools for NGO Efficiency (Claude, etc.): Q&A
Irene D. Muhire4 Jun 2026
Financial Accounting & Reporting: Q&A
Madjalia Seynou2 Jul 2026
Monitoring, Evaluation & Learning
Emily Bastable6 Aug 2026
Governance, Risk & Managing Trustees: Roundtable
Tosha Cantrell-Bruce3 Sep 2026
Community Engagement & Participation: Roundtable
Sharon Monethi1 Oct 2026
Grant Writing & Fundraising
Simintha Esson5 Nov 2026
Advocacy & Policy Influence: Roundtable
Magdalena Kropiwnicka7 Jan 2027
Recruiting, Managing & Motivating Your Team
Cortney Nicolato, Caroline VarinChairs & Organisers
Sharon Monethi
co-ChairSharon Monethi founded the Woman of Age Foundation in South Africa, where she works with women and girls to provide developmental, sustainable, and scalable solutions that help them enter the job market and achieve self-sufficiency. She is a 2024 Women For Zero Hunger Award Winner and a former COP 27 honoree.
Mariah Hwedi
co-ChairMariah serves as Executive Assistant to the Dean of the College of Professional Studies at Northeastern University, where she leads student engagement initiatives. She will graduate with her Master's in Nonprofit Management with Leadership and Communication in May.
Tara Sinfield-Hain
co-ChairTara is co-Chair of the NGO Leaders Fellowship at Professors Without Borders. She studies psychology and cognitive science at University College Roosevelt, University of Utrecht, focusing on the intersection of psychology and the environment.
In Partnership With
This Fellowship is delivered in partnership with Northeastern University and Stop Hunger. Together, we combine our networks of educators and experts to support NGO leaders across Africa working in women's empowerment, food security, agriculture, and community livelihoods.
Why Join The Fellowship for NGO Leaders?
Peer-to-Peer Learning
Exchange insights with fellow NGO leaders from across Africa, learning directly from shared challenges and successes.
Zero-Cost Capacity Building
Access training and mentorship without financial barriers, empowering leaders to strengthen their organisations sustainably.
Stronger NGO Networks
Connect with like-minded leaders to foster collaboration, share resources, and build regional partnerships.
Practical, Immediately Applicable Skills
Every session focuses on real-world tools and strategies that participants can implement right away.
Contextual Relevance
Designed by and for NGO professionals working across African contexts, ensuring the learning experience reflects the realities on the ground.
In Their Words
The first cohort is halfway through the Fellowship. We asked the Fellows what has changed in how they lead and run their organisations. Here is what some of them told us.
“The NGO Leaders Fellowship 2026 has enhanced my leadership skills, expanded my knowledge on effective community strategies, broadened my perspective on social issues, and connected me with inspiring peers and mentors. These gains empower me to drive impactful change and strengthen my organization's impact in the community.”
Emmanuel Ande Ivorgba
The Emmanuel Ivorgba Center
“I've started using AI tools in our day-to-day work, for example to draft donor reports, summarize meeting notes and plan our social media. It's already saved us time and let us focus more on our core programmes.”
Mabadjam Katawa
EDULCOD Togo
“The programme has been valuable in helping me identify those gaps and highlighting the areas I still need to focus on in order to grow, strengthen my capabilities and improve my effectiveness in the NGO space.”
Paulina Mbango
Agri-Women Network
“I have acquired skills in Financial Accounting and Reporting for NGOs. Initially, I depended much on our accountant to do this for us, but after these sessions, I can now craft quarterly financial reports for our NGO.”
Rajab Idd Muyingo
ESUGA Elderly Support Uganda
“The programme has strengthened my leadership, strategic thinking, and confidence in navigating complex challenges. I have gained practical knowledge on organisational leadership, advocacy, and collaboration, while building meaningful connections with other leaders.”
Rihanna Sosan
Harmony Caregivers Foundation (HCF)
FAQs
The Fellowship runs for one year, with monthly online meetings featuring guest speakers. In the second year, Fellows are encouraged to help shape the programme by setting agendas for mentoring cohorts and participating in peer mentoring, creating opportunities to deepen learning, collaboration, and professional networks.
Each session is co-led by NGO leaders alongside one of the programme chairs and features a guest specialist on the selected theme. Sessions begin with a short presentation, followed by questions, idea sharing, and group discussion. Fellows are encouraged to actively contribute by sharing their experiences, insights, and reflections in a way that matches their level of experience.
Meetings are held online on the first Thursday of each month, from 17:00 to 18:00 EAT (UTC+3).
There is no cost to participate in the Fellowship. As a charitable organisation, Professors Without Borders welcomes donations and sponsorships to help us continue delivering programmes like this. If you would like to support our work, you can make a contribution through our Donate page.