Niyel Fellowship: Empowering Sanitation Leaders in Africa

Application Deadline:September 30, 2025

The sanitation sector is a cornerstone of public health and sustainable development, yet it continues to face challenges across sub-Saharan Africa. Strengthening leadership within this sector is essential to achieving real progress. The Niyel Fellowship on Sanitation provides a transformative opportunity for mid-level professionals to sharpen their leadership, advocacy, and communication skills to create meaningful change within their communities and organizations.

This nine-month fellowship is designed to enhance the capacity of professionals working in public, private, and civil society institutions. By blending technical knowledge with advocacy and storytelling, the program equips fellows to become champions of sanitation and hygiene across Africa.

About the Niyel Fellowship

The Niyel Fellowship is a highly competitive, structured program focused on leadership and advocacy in sanitation. It is tailored to professionals who have already built strong technical foundations in their careers and are ready to expand their influence and impact.

Participants benefit from:

• Practical training modules on leadership, policy advocacy, and strategic communication.
• One-on-one mentorship with experienced professionals in the sector.
• Tailored support to help fellows implement change objectives in their institutions.
• Peer-to-peer learning through a diverse network of professionals working in sanitation across sub-Saharan Africa.

The fellowship emphasizes not only technical skills but also the power of storytelling, enabling participants to amplify their voices, inspire stakeholders, and shape the sanitation agenda in their respective regions.

Why the Niyel Fellowship Matters

Sanitation is more than infrastructure—it is about dignity, health, and community resilience. Across sub-Saharan Africa, millions still lack access to safe sanitation services, which undermines progress in health, education, and economic development. Mid-level professionals in the sector play a critical role in bridging the gap between policy and implementation.

The Niyel Fellowship empowers these leaders with tools to design and execute strategies that bring real improvements to sanitation services. Through this program, fellows become equipped to influence decision-makers, strengthen service delivery systems, and foster long-term sustainability.

Fellowship Structure

The fellowship runs over nine months and integrates continuous training with practical application. Fellows are expected to dedicate two to three hours weekly to program activities, ensuring that the fellowship can be balanced with their professional responsibilities.

Key components include:

• Capacity Building: Structured workshops and training sessions covering leadership, policy advocacy, and effective communication.
• Change Objective: Each fellow defines a goal within their organization and develops an actionable plan to achieve it.
• Mentorship: Personalized guidance from senior experts ensures fellows stay on track and receive the support needed to succeed.
• Networking: Fellows join a growing community of sanitation leaders across Africa, expanding professional connections and opportunities for collaboration.

Eligibility Criteria

Applicants must meet the following requirements to be considered:

• Employment in the sanitation sector within sub-Saharan Africa, whether in the public sector, private sector, or civil society.
• Between five and ten years of relevant professional experience.
• Current responsibility for managing a team or leading program implementation.
• Commitment to defining and executing a change objective within their institution.
• Strong motivation to improve sanitation services and lead sector-wide transformation.
• Fluency in English and/or French.
• Ability to commit two to three hours weekly for the fellowship.
• A letter of commitment from senior management within their organization.

Application Process

Applications for the Niyel Fellowship are open until 30 September 2025. Interested professionals must complete the official online application form, which includes providing personal and professional information, a biography, and descriptions of their experience and achievements in the sanitation sector. Applicants must also outline their envisioned change objective and expectations from the fellowship.

This process ensures that selected fellows are not only qualified but also deeply committed to driving impact within their organizations and communities.

Building a Movement of Change

The Niyel Fellowship is more than a program—it is a movement to create a new generation of sanitation leaders in Africa. By combining capacity building, mentorship, and advocacy, the fellowship empowers professionals to lead initiatives that strengthen systems, enhance service delivery, and promote healthier, more resilient communities.

Sanitation is central to sustainable development goals, and through this fellowship, mid-level professionals will gain the tools and platform to amplify their impact.

How to Apply

Do not miss this opportunity to join a committed network of sanitation leaders across Africa. Submit your application by 30 September 2025 to be part of a fellowship that is shaping the future of sanitation.

For more details and to apply, CLICK HERE