The International Rescue Committee has been so fortunate to have had a longstanding relationship with Princeton in Africa since our very first Fellows landed in Rwanda in 1999. Whether it was Emily or Renee in 1999 or the 110 Fellows across 14 IRC countries over the years, we have been blessed by the relationship, the quality of the Fellows and the impact on what IRC does on the ground every single day.
Becoming a Fellowship Organization
The 2025-2026 Host Organization Application is Open
Deadline: Friday, August 16th, 2024.
You may access the Princeton in Africa host organization application form by completing this application request form. Within a few business days of submitting this form, you will receive access to our online portal, where you will be able to complete the host organization application. If you do not receive a follow-up email or have additional questions, please reach out to piafapp@princetoninafrica.org.
About Fellowship Organizations
Hosting a PiAf Fellow benefits both Fellows and host organizations by creating opportunities for talented young people to serve in Africa and by providing bright, hardworking recent graduates for organizations working on the African continent. Fellowships last 12 months and begin between June (anytime after PiAf’s mandatory Fellows’ orientation) and the second Monday of September each year.
Funding
Princeton in Africa seeks to ensure that the basic costs of each fellowship are covered (thereby keeping these fellowship experiences open to all applicants). Fellows are not expected to profit and are expected to live frugally.
Depending on the location where a Fellow is based, fellowships have typically had a total cost of $15,000 – $25,000, as well as a mid-year retreat where all the Fellows are brought together to reflect on their experiences. This aims to cover the Fellow’s costs, including housing, food, local travel, visas, and other basic living expenses, as well as ongoing personal and professional support, insurance, and other assistance provided by PiAf. Placing Fellows in more rural locations would obviously decrease some of those costs. While funding arrangements vary between posts, we do ask that fellowship organizations to cover the cost of the fellowships. Click here to read more about the Princeton in Africa Funding Structure.
What to Expect From a PiAf Fellow
Overview
Princeton in Africa Fellows are recent university graduates; some are enrolled in or have completed graduate-level studies. They have specialized in a variety of fields—from politics and public policy to biology and engineering. Many hold African Studies certificates or have previously spent time in Africa or abroad.
Selection and Placement of PiAf Fellows
We receive hundreds of applications each year for our program. Fellows are chosen by Princeton in Africa through a rigorous and lengthy process to identify the students with the greatest chance at success. Candidates must submit a written application, professional or academic references, and an academic transcript. The process continues with in-person interviews and review by a selection committee. PiAf then presents organizations with several candidates for their review. Once Fellows are chosen, PiAf helps prepare both Fellows and field offices to utilize Fellows as effectively as possible.
Fellows are matched with host organizations based on their capabilities and, where appropriate, their technical knowledge and language skills. Relevant language skills among candidates include English (first language), French, Spanish, Portuguese, and Kiswahili.
Possible Roles for Fellows
PiAf Fellows fit in well to a general information/reporting officer role. Their writing skills are strong and they are able to synthesize significant quantities of information quickly. Fellows make strong assistant program officers/program officers, overseeing, for instance, a specific project and focusing on monitoring and evaluation. They also are well-prepared to play a coordination role with different organizations.
While not yet specialists at this stage in their careers, many applicants have the ability to work more broadly on issues such as health, education, and sustainable development. Applicants have included pre-medical candidates who have worked in health clinics; biology and engineering majors who have worked to improve solar panels and designed sustainable water filters; and individuals with teaching certificates or other education or mentoring experience.
Our History
In 1999, a group of Princeton alumni, faculty, and staff launched Princeton in Africa as an independent affiliate of Princeton University inspired by the University’s informal motto, “Princeton in the Nation’s Service and in the Service of All Nations.” In 2010, the program opened up to include graduates of any US accredited university in order to meet the growing demand from host organizations and allow more young professionals access to the unique opportunities afforded by PiAf. During the past 20 years, we have placed over 600 Fellows with more than 100 organizations in 36 countries, while developing more strategic partnerships across Africa and creating more opportunities for our alumni community to engage with the continent and with one another.