Mo Ibrahim Foundation
The Mo Ibrahim Foundation Has Six Programs — Not One Scholarship
Every scholarship guide lists “Mo Ibrahim Foundation Scholarship” as if it is a single program. It is not. The Mo Ibrahim Foundation operates six distinct initiatives for African nationals ranging from a Master’s scholarship for students under 30 to a USD $100,000 fellowship for established African leaders.
Before covering each program, one eligibility boundary applies to all of them without exception:
Please note: the scholarships listed below are the only ones we currently offer and are for African nationals only.
Every Mo Ibrahim Foundation program is exclusively for African nationals. Diaspora Africans living outside Africa face additional restrictions (depending on the program). Non-Africans are not eligible for any program.
The Ibrahim Scholarships support aspiring African leaders at a number of distinguished academic institutions. The scholarships develop the talent of outstanding young Africans in selected disciplines.
Understanding the portfolio first helps you identify which program you are eligible for and which timeline applies to you.
Who Is Mo Ibrahim — The Sudanese Billionaire Behind the Foundation
Mohamed “Mo” Ibrahim was born in 1946 in Sudan. He studied electrical engineering and earned a PhD from the University of Birmingham, the same institution that now hosts his flagship scholarship.
Mo Ibrahim’s fortune came from telecommunications. He founded MSI Cellular Investments, which became Celtel International, a mobile phone network that expanded across 14 African countries in the late 1990s and early 2000s, serving millions of Africans who had never had reliable telephone access. In 2005, he sold Celtel to Kuwait’s MTC for USD $3.4 billion one of the largest African tech exits in history.
With the proceeds, he founded the Mo Ibrahim Foundation in 2006 not as a typical charity, but as a governance-focused institution with three core initiatives:
1. Ibrahim Index of African Governance (IIAG): An annual comprehensive index measuring governance quality across every African country on hundreds of indicators. Widely used by African governments, the African Union, and researchers globally.
2. Ibrahim Prize for Achievement in African Leadership: A prize of USD $5 million over 10 years (plus $200,000/year for life), the world’s largest prize for individual achievement, awarded to former African heads of state who governed well and transferred power democratically.
3. Ibrahim Forum and Now Generation Network: Annual convening of African leaders, young professionals, and policymakers to discuss governance and development.
The scholarship programs are an extension of this mission: investing in young Africans who will one day lead governance and development on the continent.
Program 1: University of Birmingham MSc Scholarship — The Flagship Student Award
One MSc in Governance and State-Building per year is offered. This two-year program includes a six-month internship at the Foundation Secretariat.
This is the most substantive student scholarship in the Mo Ibrahim portfolio and one of the most distinctive postgraduate opportunities for African nationals in the world, because of its internship structure.
Program Structure (2 years):
Year 1 — MSc Development Policy and Politics at University of Birmingham: A full one-year Master’s degree in the International Development Department at one of the UK’s leading universities. The curriculum focuses on development theory, governance, state-building, political economy, and African development policy.
Year 2 (Integrated Internship): First 6 months conducting intensive research alongside academics at the University of Birmingham. Last 6 months, working with the Mo Ibrahim Foundation in London on various high-level initiatives.
Year 2 — The Integrated Internship: Six months at University of Birmingham’s International Development Department (IDD) research alongside leading academics. Then six months at the Mo Ibrahim Foundation in London working directly with the team on governance initiatives, the Ibrahim Index, the Ibrahim Forum, and the Now Generation Forum.
The London placement is genuinely rare. The Mo Ibrahim Foundation operates at the highest levels of African governance policy. Six months inside that environment gives exposure to networks, policymakers, and methodologies that are extremely difficult to access any other way.
Financial Package:
The Mo Ibrahim Foundation Scholarship is a fully funded opportunity that covers the full tuition fee of the selected candidate, visa and round-trip airfare, £19,104 living allowances, and a settling allowance upon arrival in the UK.
A living allowance of £1,592 per month for the first 18 months. A one-time settling allowance of £1,082 upon arrival in the UK. Coverage for round-trip airfare and UK visa application costs. The final six months of the internship are funded directly to the successful candidate by the Mo Ibrahim Foundation.
| Benefit | Detail |
|---|---|
| Full tuition | 100% — MSc Development Policy and Politics |
| Monthly stipend | £1,592/month × 18 months (MSc + first internship half) |
| Settling allowance | £1,082 on arrival |
| Return airfare | Covered |
| UK visa | Covered |
| Final 6 months | Funded directly by Mo Ibrahim Foundation |
Note on London costs: London is expensive. £1,592 per month in London requires careful budgeting, but when tuition, flights, and visa are already covered, it is workable, particularly for someone coming from a Sub-Saharan African country.
Eligibility:
Be an African national domiciled (or a permanent resident) in an African country. Preference is given to those in Sub-Saharan Africa. Hold a First Class Honors degree or its equivalent from an approved university. Be under 30 years of age at the time of your application. Demonstrate a high command of written and spoken English (IELTS 6.5 or equivalent).
| Requirement | Detail |
|---|---|
| Nationality | African national + domiciled in Africa |
| Diaspora | NOT eligible — must currently live in Africa |
| Preference | Sub-Saharan Africa |
| Age | Under 30 years |
| Degree | First Class Honors or equivalent — minimum |
| English | IELTS 6.5 or equivalent |
| Field | Relevant social science — governance, development, political science |
Application:
Apply directly to the University of Birmingham for the MSc Development Policy and Politics with Mo Ibrahim Foundation Internship.
2026 deadline: April 24, 2026 (passed for current cycle) 2027 deadline: Expected April 2027
Program 2: SOAS University of London Scholarships
Two scholarships are available per year, each with a total value of £45,479. Tuition fees will be deducted from this amount, with the remainder paid directly to the student as a maintenance stipend.
| Element | Detail |
|---|---|
| Awards/year | 2 scholarships |
| Total value | £45,479 per scholarship |
| Structure | Tuition deducted first; remainder = living stipend |
| Level | Any full-time 1-year taught Master’s at SOAS |
| Preference | Ordinarily resident in Africa + interest in governance/development |
| Minimum degree | UK 2:1 equivalent |
| Fee status | Overseas fee status required |
| Offer required | Unconditional SOAS offer before scholarship panel |
| 2026-27 deadline | June 17, 2026 at 12 noon UK time |
| 2027-28 deadline | Expected June 2027 |
SOAS (School of Oriental and African Studies) is the UK’s leading university for African and Asian studies, its African expertise is internationally recognized. The scholarship covers any eligible Master’s at SOAS, not just governance programs, giving broader flexibility than the Birmingham award.
Program 3: London Business School MBA Scholarship
The MIF scholarship for Africa supports outstanding students on a full-time MBA program at London Business School. Each year one scholarship, providing full payment of fees, is awarded to an exceptional African candidate with financial need.
| Element | Detail |
|---|---|
| Awards/year | 1 scholarship |
| Value | Full MBA fees (LBS MBA = ~£90,000+) |
| University | London Business School |
| Requirements | Exceptional academic record + financial need + African national |
| Level | Full-time MBA |
LBS is one of the world’s top business schools consistently ranked #1-3 globally. The Mo Ibrahim Foundation’s full fee payment makes this one of the most valuable single-year scholarship awards for African MBA candidates.
Program 4: SOAS PhD Scholarships (Governance for Development)
Scholarships are offered on the Governance for Development in Africa Initiative, a program which studies the socio-economic, political and legal links between governance and development. Two PhDs per year are offered.
| Element | Detail |
|---|---|
| Awards/year | 2 PhD scholarships |
| University | SOAS / Centre of African Studies |
| Research area | State capacities, governance, bureaucracy, development |
| Nationality | African nationals |
| Level | PhD |
Program 5: Chatham House Academy Fellowship
The Mo Ibrahim Foundation Academy Fellowship supports one Academy fellow each year from any African country who spends ten months at Chatham House. The Fellowship is a joint initiative between Chatham House and the Mo Ibrahim Foundation.
| Element | Detail |
|---|---|
| Awards/year | 1 fellowship |
| Duration | 10 months |
| Location | Chatham House, London (the Royal Institute of International Affairs) |
| Nationality | Any African country |
| Level | Established professional / researcher |
Chatham House is one of the world’s most influential policy institutions home of the “Chatham House Rule.” Ten months embedded in this institution provides extraordinary access to global foreign policy networks.
Program 6: Ibrahim Leadership Fellowship — The Most Prestigious
This is NOT a student scholarship. It is a fellowship for established, mid-career African leaders.
The Ibrahim Leadership Fellowship, launched by the Mo Ibrahim Foundation in 2011, is a competitive 12-month program that identifies and develops the next generation of African leaders. Each year, three fellows are placed in the executive offices of three international institutions: the African Development Bank (AfDB) in Abidjan, the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA) in Addis Ababa, and the International Trade Centre (ITC) in Geneva.
Fellows receive an annual stipend of USD 100,000 and work directly with senior leadership at their host institution, gaining hands-on experience in policy design, strategy development, and implementation.
| Element | Detail |
|---|---|
| Awards/year | 3 fellowships |
| Stipend | USD $100,000/year |
| Duration | 12 months |
| Placement options | AfDB (Abidjan) |
| Who it’s for | Established mid-career African leaders |
| Mentorship | Direct access to heads of host institutions |
| Alumni | Now Generation Network (NGN) |
| Applications open | September annually |
| 2027 cohort deadline | November 2026 (expected) |
| 2026 cohort deadline | November 20, 2025 (passed) |
The USD $100,000 annual stipend makes this among the most generously compensated fellowships in the world. The placements, directly in the executive offices of the AfDB, UNECA, and ITC, provide hands-on access to African development institution governance at the highest level.
The Now Generation Network (NGN) is the alumni community for Mo Ibrahim Foundation fellows. After the 12-month fellowship, all fellows become NGN members and continue contributing to African development.
Why the Mo Ibrahim Foundation Is Distinct
Most development scholarships focus on academic excellence alone. Mo Ibrahim’s philosophy is fundamentally about governance and leadership and his programs reflect this:
1. Governance focus: Every program connects explicitly to African governance and leadership, not generic development work.
2. Institutional access: The Birmingham internship provides six months inside the Mo Ibrahim Foundation itself. The Leadership Fellowship places fellows inside AfDB, UNECA, and ITC executive offices. This is direct immersion in African governance institutions not academic study about them.
3. Network: Mo Ibrahim Foundation scholars and fellows enter the Foundation’s alumni community (Now Generation Network), which operates at the intersection of African policy, business, and civil society.
4. Africa-first philosophy: Unlike scholarships that send Africans to study in the West and hope they return, the Mo Ibrahim Foundation explicitly orients all programs toward Africa’s governance challenges and expects beneficiaries to contribute to African development.
Quick Reference — All Six Programs
| Program | Awards/year | Value | Level | Deadline |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Birmingham MSc | 1 | £1,592/mo + tuition + flights | Master’s (2yr) | April 2027 |
| SOAS Scholarships | 2 | £45,479 total | Any Master’s (1yr) | June 2027 |
| LBS MBA | 1 | Full MBA fees | MBA | Check LBS |
| SOAS PhD | 2 | PhD funding | PhD | Check SOAS |
| Chatham House | 1 | Fellowship | Professional | Check annually |
| Ibrahim Leadership | 3 | USD $100,000/yr | Senior leaders | November 2026 |
All programs: African nationals ONLY
FAQ
Who is Mo Ibrahim?
Sudanese-British billionaire, founder of Celtel International (sold 2005 for USD $3.4 billion), founded the Mo Ibrahim Foundation in 2006 focused on African governance and leadership.
Are these scholarships open to non-Africans?
No, all scholarships are for African nationals only.
What is the monthly stipend for the Birmingham scholarship?
£1,592 per month for the first 18 months, plus a one-time settling allowance of £1,082 on arrival.
What is the Ibrahim Leadership Fellowship?
A 12-month program placing 3 established African leaders in the executive offices of AfDB (Abidjan), UNECA (Addis Ababa), and ITC (Geneva). Stipend: USD $100,000/year.
What is the Birmingham scholarship age limit?
Under 30 years of age at the time of application.
Free Application Tools
- Motivation Letter: Motivation Letter Generator
- SOP / Study Plan: SOP Generator
- CV: Free CV Builder
- Reference Letter: Reference Letter Generator
- MOI Certificate (if needed): MOI Generator
- Research Proposal (PhD): Research Proposal Generator