The Ultimate Guide to Acing Your YALI West Africa Fellowship Application
Are you a young leader from West Africa with aspirations to make a significant impact in your community and beyond?
The Young African Leaders Initiative (YALI) Regional Leadership Center West Africa offers an incredible opportunity for emerging leaders aged 18–35 to enhance their skills, expand their networks, and drive positive change across the continent. As a 2018 YALI West Africa fellow, I want to help you get selected.
In this comprehensive guide, I will walk you through crafting powerful responses to the YALI West Africa fellowship application questions. Whether you’re interested in Business and Entrepreneurship Development, Public Management and Governance, or Civic Leadership, I have got you covered with general tips and sample answers tailored to each track.
This guide is brought to you by Grant Success School: Africa’s leading academy for mastering how to win grant funding for your business, NGO or project.
Let’s dive in and explore how to craft compelling answers that will make your YALI West Africa fellowship application stand out!
First, here are some general tips:
- Be authentic and specific in your responses
- Use concrete examples and stories to illustrate your points
- Align your experiences and goals with YALI’s mission
- Be concise and impactful, respecting word limits
- Proofread carefully for clarity and grammatical errors
Here is a what the reviewer will most likely look out for in your answer to each question
Question 1: What is the most difficult decision you have ever taken as a young leader and how did the experience shape who you are today? (maximum 250 words)
Approach:
1. Briefly set the context of the decision
2. Explain why it was difficult
3. Describe the decision-making process
4. Share the outcome
5. Reflect on how it shaped you as a leader
Key elements to include:
- The stakes involved
- Ethical considerations
- Leadership lessons learned
- How it influenced your values or approach to leadership
Question 2: What behaviours do you demonstrate consistently to live out your values for other youth to follow? (maximum 100 words)
Approach:
1. Identify 2–3 core values
2. For each value, provide a specific behavior that demonstrates it
3. Briefly explain how this behavior influences other youth
Key elements to include:
- Concrete examples of behaviors
- How these behaviors align with your values
- The impact these behaviors have on others
Question 3: What business, civic, or public sector initiative are you currently, personally, carrying out? Describe a specific non-financial challenge confronting this initiative and what you hope to learn from the program to address it. (maximum 150 words)
Approach:
1. Briefly introduce your initiative
2. Identify a specific non-financial challenge
3. Explain why this challenge is significant
4. Describe what you hope to learn from YALI to address it
Key elements to include:
- Clear description of your initiative
- Specific, non-financial challenge
- How YALI can help you overcome this challenge
Question 4: What efforts are you making as a young leader to drive change through business entrepreneurship? (Question will be slightly different for other tracks)
Approach:
1. Describe your entrepreneurial venture or idea
2. Explain how it drives change in your community
3. Highlight specific actions you’ve taken
4. Mention any results or impact achieved so far
Key elements to include:
- Innovation in your approach
- How your efforts address a community need
- Tangible outcomes or potential impact
Question 5: How will you pass on your learning from this track to other youth?
Approach:
1. Identify specific skills or knowledge you expect to gain
2. Describe 2–3 concrete ways you plan to share this learning
3. Explain the potential impact of sharing this knowledge
Key elements to include:
- Specific methods for knowledge sharing (e.g., workshops, mentoring)
- Target audience for your knowledge sharing
- How this will multiply the impact of your YALI experience
Remember to tailor your responses to showcase your unique experiences and aspirations while demonstrating your potential as a YALI fellow. And to help you do just that, here are sample answers to inspire you.
Business & Entrepreneurship Development Track Applicant:
Question 1: What is the most difficult decision you have ever taken as a young leader and how did the experience shape who you are today? (maximum 250 words)
As the founder of AgriTech Solutions, my most challenging decision was pivoting our entire business model during a funding crisis. Our initial product, an app for urban farming enthusiasts, wasn’t gaining traction despite months of effort. With dwindling resources and team morale at an all-time low, I had to decide whether to persist or completely change direction.
After sleepless nights analyzing data and consulting mentors, I made the difficult choice to pivot to a B2B model, offering IoT solutions to small-scale farmers. This meant letting go of half our team and disappointing early supporters who believed in our original vision.
The transition was grueling. We worked tirelessly to adapt our technology and rebuild relationships with agricultural cooperatives. However, this decision ultimately saved the company. Within six months, we secured our first major partnership with a farmers’ association, and today we serve over 50 agricultural communities across West Africa.
This experience taught me the importance of adaptability in entrepreneurship. I learned to make data-driven decisions, even when emotionally difficult. It showed me the value of transparency with stakeholders during tough times. Most importantly, it reinforced my resilience as a leader.
Today, I approach challenges with a more strategic mindset, always ready to pivot when necessary. This experience has made me a more empathetic leader, understanding the human impact of business decisions. It’s shaped my leadership philosophy: to be bold in vision, but flexible in execution, always keeping the end-users — in our case, smallholder farmers — at the heart of our decisions.”
Question 2: What behaviours do you demonstrate consistently to live out your values for other youth to follow? (maximum 100 words)
I consistently demonstrate integrity in business dealings, even when it might cost short-term gains. For example, I openly share both successes and failures with my team and mentees, fostering a culture of transparency. I actively promote inclusive hiring practices, ensuring diverse representation in AgriTech Solutions, particularly focusing on rural youth and women in tech. By regularly organizing free workshops on agri-tech for young farmers, I live out my value of giving back. These behaviors show young entrepreneurs that ethical business practices and community engagement are integral to sustainable success in the agricultural sector.
Question 3: What business, civic, or public sector initiative are you currently, personally, carrying out? Describe a specific non-financial challenge confronting this initiative and what you hope to learn from the program to address it. (maximum 150 words)
I’m currently leading ‘FarmTech Academy’, an initiative providing agri-tech training for young, small-scale farmers. Our main non-financial challenge is the high dropout rate due to participants’ lack of long-term vision and resilience in face of learning difficulties. Many students give up when they don’t see immediate results in their farming practices, not realizing the long-term potential of integrating technology into agriculture.
To address this, I hope to learn effective mentorship and motivational techniques from the YALI program. Specifically, I want to develop skills in creating inspiring curriculum that links agri-tech to tangible improvements in crop yields and income. I also hope to gain insights on implementing a peer support system and setting up a structured follow-up program to keep participants engaged and motivated throughout their learning journey and early adoption of new farming technologies.
Question 4: What efforts are you making as a young leader to drive change through business entrepreneurship?
As a young leader, I’m driving change through AgriTech Solutions, developing affordable IoT devices for small-scale farmers. Our smart sensors and mobile app help farmers optimize water usage and predict pest outbreaks, increasing crop yields by up to 30% while reducing resource waste.
I’ve actively sought partnerships with agricultural cooperatives and microfinance institutions to make our technology accessible to farmers who couldn’t afford it otherwise. We’ve implemented a ‘train the trainer’ model, where we educate local agricultural extension workers on our technology, who then train farmers in their communities.
To promote youth involvement in agri-tech, I’ve initiated an internship program that pairs engineering students with farmers, fostering innovation in agricultural practices. Additionally, I regularly speak at universities and youth forums about the potential of technology in transforming traditional sectors like agriculture.
Through these efforts, we’re not only improving agricultural productivity but also creating new job opportunities in rural areas and inspiring young people to see agriculture as a viable, tech-driven career path.
Question 5: How will you pass on your learning from this track to other youth?
Upon completing the YALI program, I plan to amplify its impact by sharing my learnings with other youth in several ways:
1. Develop an ‘AgriTech Innovators’ workshop series: I’ll create a structured curriculum based on key learnings from the program, focusing on entrepreneurship skills, agri-tech innovation strategies, and leadership development in the agricultural sector. These workshops will be conducted monthly in rural communities and agricultural colleges.
2. Establish a mentorship program: I’ll recruit fellow agri-entrepreneurs to join me in mentoring young farmers and agri-tech enthusiasts, providing ongoing support and guidance based on YALI principles.
3. Create online content: I’ll produce a series of educational videos and blog posts sharing practical insights on agri-business and technology, making this knowledge accessible to a wider youth audience in farming communities.
4. Integrate learnings into FarmTech Academy: I’ll incorporate YALI methodologies into our training programs, enhancing the learning experience for young farmers and agri-tech innovators.
5. Collaborate with agricultural associations: I’ll partner with farmers’ cooperatives and agricultural extension services to organize youth agri-entrepreneurship forums, spreading YALI’s approach to fostering innovation and sustainable farming practices.
Through these initiatives, I aim to create a ripple effect, empowering more youth with the knowledge and skills to drive agricultural innovation and economic growth in our rural communities.
Public Management & Governance Track Applicant:
Question 1: What is the most difficult decision you have ever taken as a young leader and how did the experience shape who you are today? (maximum 250 words)
As a newly elected local council member, the most difficult decision I faced was voting to restructure our district’s education system, which included closing three underperforming primary schools. Our education budget was severely strained, and data showed these schools had the lowest attendance and achievement rates.
The decision was agonizing. Closing schools meant longer commutes for children and potential job losses for teachers. However, redistributing resources could significantly improve education quality for the majority of students.
After extensive community consultations and sleepless nights weighing pros and cons, I voted in favor of the restructuring. It was met with protests and I even received threats. However, we implemented a comprehensive plan to support affected families and teachers, including a school bus program and teacher reallocation.
Two years later, our district’s overall educational outcomes have improved dramatically. We’ve invested in better facilities, teacher training, and digital learning resources. Many initially angry parents now acknowledge the positive changes.
This experience shaped me profoundly as a leader in public service. It taught me the importance of making tough, data-driven decisions for long-term benefit, even at the cost of short-term popularity. I learned the critical importance of transparent communication and community engagement in governance.
Today, I approach every policy decision with rigorous analysis and a commitment to extensive stakeholder consultation. This experience has made me a more resilient and principled leader, always striving to balance immediate needs with long-term public good, especially in critical sectors like education.
Question 2: What behaviours do you demonstrate consistently to live out your values for other youth to follow? (maximum 100 words)
I consistently demonstrate accountability by publishing detailed reports of my office’s activities and budget allocations, promoting transparency in governance. I actively seek input from diverse community members, including youth, before making policy decisions, embodying inclusivity and participatory leadership. By maintaining a strict ethical code and refusing any form of bribery or nepotism, I model integrity in public service. I regularly engage with local schools and youth organizations, sharing insights on governance and encouraging civic participation. These behaviors inspire young people to engage in clean, responsive governance and to hold leaders accountable.
Question 3: What business, civic, or public sector initiative are you currently, personally, carrying out? Describe a specific non-financial challenge confronting this initiative and what you hope to learn from the program to address it. (maximum 150 words)
I’m spearheading a ‘Digital Governance’ project in my local government, aimed at improving public service delivery through technology. Our primary non-financial challenge is resistance to change among long-serving civil servants, who are skeptical of new technologies and fear job displacement.
From the YALI program, I hope to learn effective change management strategies for the public sector. Specifically, I want to develop skills in communicating the benefits of digital transformation to diverse stakeholders, from front-line workers to senior officials. I’m also keen to learn best practices in designing user-friendly digital interfaces for public services that cater to both tech-savvy youth and older citizens. Additionally, I hope to gain insights on creating comprehensive digital literacy programs for government staff to ease the transition and allay fears about job security.
Question 4: What efforts are you making as a young leader to drive change through business entrepreneurship? (The actual question may be different..I could not change my track)
While my primary focus is on public service, I recognize the crucial role of entrepreneurship in driving economic development and solving social issues. As a young leader in local government, I’ve initiated several programs to foster entrepreneurship in our community.
I’ve spearheaded the creation of a ‘Youth Entrepreneurship Hub’, a co-working space and incubator program that provides resources, mentorship, and networking opportunities for young entrepreneurs. We’ve partnered with local businesses and universities to offer workshops on business planning, financial management, and digital marketing.
I’ve also worked to streamline the business registration process in our local government, reducing the time and cost for young entrepreneurs to formalize their businesses. We’ve implemented a ‘One-Stop Shop’ for business-related government services, making it easier for entrepreneurs to navigate regulatory requirements.
Furthermore, I’ve championed policies to incentivize social entrepreneurship, including tax breaks for businesses addressing key community challenges like waste management or renewable energy. These efforts are creating a more conducive environment for innovative, socially responsible businesses to thrive, bridging the gap between public service and entrepreneurship.
Question 5: How will you pass on your learning from this track to other youth?
After completing the YALI program, I’m committed to disseminating my learnings to empower other youth in public service:
1. Launch a ‘Youth in Governance’ shadowing program: I’ll create opportunities for young people to shadow local government officials, providing hands-on exposure to public management principles learned at YALI.
2. Develop a civic education curriculum: Drawing on YALI insights, I’ll design an engaging curriculum on governance and civic responsibility for high schools and youth organizations, focusing on practical aspects of public administration and policy-making.
3. Host ‘Policy Innovation Hackathons’: I’ll organize events where youth can apply YALI problem-solving methodologies to local governance challenges, presenting solutions to city officials. These will focus on leveraging technology for better public service delivery.
4. Create a podcast series: I’ll produce weekly episodes discussing key public management concepts from YALI, featuring interviews with government officials and civic leaders, making governance more accessible to young people.
5. Establish a ‘Young Public Leaders Network’: I’ll form a network of youth interested in public service, facilitating regular meetups and workshops to share YALI learnings and discuss local governance issues, with a focus on digital transformation in government.
Through these initiatives, I aim to inspire and equip more young people with the knowledge and skills to actively participate in and improve public governance in our region, fostering a new generation of tech-savvy, ethical public leaders.
Civic Leadership Track Applicant:
Question 1: What is the most difficult decision you have ever taken as a young leader and how did the experience shape who you are today? (maximum 250 words)
As the leader of EcoYouth, a grassroots environmental NGO, my most challenging decision was whether to publicly oppose a government-backed industrial project that promised significant job creation but posed severe environmental risks to our local wetlands.
Our organization had always maintained a collaborative relationship with authorities, which helped us achieve meaningful policy changes. Taking a strong stance against this project could jeopardize these relationships and potentially our funding.
After intense debate within our team and consultations with affected communities, I decided to launch a public campaign against the project. This meant risking our organization’s stability and my personal reputation.
The aftermath was difficult. We faced backlash from pro-development groups and lost some political allies. However, our campaign galvanized unprecedented public support, especially among youth. It sparked a national debate on sustainable development and eventually led to a comprehensive environmental impact reassessment of the project.
This experience transformed me as a civic leader. It taught me the power of principled advocacy and the importance of amplifying community voices, even when it’s risky. I learned to balance diplomacy with firm action when core values are at stake.
Today, I lead with more courage and strategic thinking. This experience has shaped my approach to civic engagement, emphasizing the need for evidence-based advocacy, coalition-building, and the courage to challenge the status quo when necessary. It’s reinforced my commitment to environmental justice and participatory decision-making in development projects, always keeping youth at the forefront of our initiatives.
Question 2: What behaviours do you demonstrate consistently to live out your values for other youth to follow? (maximum 100 words)
I consistently demonstrate empathy by actively listening to marginalized communities and amplifying their voices in policy discussions, particularly on environmental issues affecting youth. I practice collaboration by building diverse coalitions for social causes, showing the power of unity in addressing complex challenges. By living sustainably and minimizing my carbon footprint, I embody environmental responsibility. I regularly engage in constructive dialogue with those holding opposing views, demonstrating respect and open-mindedness. Through EcoYouth, I mentor young environmental activists, sharing knowledge and fostering leadership skills. These behaviors inspire youth to become empathetic, collaborative, and principled civic leaders.
Question 3: What business, civic, or public sector initiative are you currently, personally, carrying out? Describe a specific non-financial challenge confronting this initiative and what you hope to learn from the program to address it. (maximum 150 words)
I’m leading ‘EcoYouth’, a grassroots initiative mobilizing young people for community-based climate action. Our main non-financial challenge is maintaining long-term engagement and preventing volunteer burnout, as initial enthusiasm often wanes when faced with the slow pace of environmental change.
Through the YALI program, I hope to learn effective strategies for sustaining youth engagement in long-term social causes. Specifically, I want to develop skills in creating a robust volunteer management system that provides continuous learning and growth opportunities for our young activists. I’m also eager to learn how to design impactful short-term projects that provide a sense of accomplishment while contributing to long-term environmental goals. Additionally, I hope to gain insights on building partnerships with schools and local businesses to create a supportive ecosystem for youth environmental activism, ensuring the sustainability of our initiatives.
Question 4: What efforts are you making as a young leader to drive change through business entrepreneurship? (the actual question may be different..I could not change my track)
As a civic leader focused on youth empowerment and environmental conservation, I’m leveraging social entrepreneurship as a tool for sustainable change. Through EcoYouth, we’ve launched ‘GreenStart’, a social enterprise incubator that supports young people in creating eco-friendly businesses.
Our program combines environmental education with entrepreneurship training, encouraging participants to develop ventures that address local ecological challenges while creating economic opportunities. We’ve successfully incubated over 30 youth-led green enterprises, ranging from recycling initiatives to sustainable agriculture projects.
I’ve also initiated a mentorship network, connecting established eco-entrepreneurs with aspiring youth from underserved areas. This not only provides guidance to young environmental innovators but also bridges social divides and creates new opportunities for collaboration in the green economy.
To promote a culture of sustainable entrepreneurship among youth, I organize an annual ‘EcoInnovation Challenge’ in partnership with local schools and environmental organizations. This event not only showcases young talent in green technology and sustainable business models but also attracts investors and supporters for promising ideas.
Through these initiatives, we’re empowering youth to see themselves as eco-preneurs, capable of addressing environmental issues through innovative business solutions while creating sustainable livelihoods for themselves and others.
Question 5: How will you pass on your learning from this track to other youth?
Post-YALI, I’m dedicated to multiplying the program’s impact by sharing my learnings with fellow youth environmental leaders:
1. Organize ‘EcoLeadership Bootcamps’: I’ll conduct intensive weekend training sessions in various communities, focusing on environmental advocacy skills, community organizing, and sustainable project management principles from YALI.
2. Create an ‘EcoAction Toolkit’: I’ll develop a practical guide incorporating YALI methodologies for identifying local environmental issues, mobilizing resources, and implementing sustainable community-based solutions.
3. Establish an ‘Environmental Innovation Lab’: I’ll set up a space where young eco-activists can collaborate on environmental projects, applying YALI’s approaches to problem-solving and social innovation in the context of climate action.
4. Launch a social media campaign: I’ll share daily ‘EcoLeadership Tips’ based on YALI learnings across various platforms, inspiring youth to take action on environmental issues in their communities.
5. Integrate YALI curriculum into EcoYouth programs: I’ll incorporate key YALI civic engagement and leadership development concepts into our existing youth environmental programs, enhancing their effectiveness and reach.
Through these initiatives, I aim to cultivate a new generation of informed, skilled, and passionate environmental leaders who can drive positive change in our society, addressing critical ecological challenges while fostering sustainable development.
Conclusion
As you prepare your YALI West Africa fellowship application, remember that you are not just filling out a form — you are taking the first step towards becoming a catalyst for change in Africa. Your unique experiences, passion, and vision have the power to transform communities and inspire generations.
As you craft your responses, let your authenticity shine through. Share your dreams boldly, articulate your challenges honestly, and express your commitment to growth and impact sincerely. Remember, YALI is not just looking for applicants; they’re searching for future leaders who will drive Africa’s progress.
Your story, your vision, your leadership — Africa needs them all. Now go forth and inspire!
