The Yango Fellowship launched in Zambia in 2024 with 30 students. After successful pilots in Zambia and Côte d'Ivoire, the program has expanded to six countries: Zambia, Côte d'Ivoire, Senegal, Mozambique, Ethiopia, and Ghana. This year, more than 600 applications were submitted, and 24 students were selected for the new cohort.

The 24 fellows will come together in Abidjan from September 17 to 19, 2026, for the Pan-African Yango Fellowship Graduation & Pitch Day. They will present their projects to judges and connect with other fellows from across Africa.

The Fellowship is designed for full-time STEM students aged 18-25 across six African countries. Selected fellows receive $1,000 (or the local currency equivalent) to cover essential needs such as accommodation, internet access, groceries, textbooks, and IT equipment — tuition fees are not included.

Over three months, fellows spend around five hours a week on the program, working with industry experts and academic mentors alongside their studies. They also join a network of peers from across Africa, exchanging ideas and gaining experience that can support their studies, projects, and local initiatives.

The program is operated by the Zambian National STEM Foundation, which manages the application and selection process. In each participating country, a local jury of experts reviews finalists before the final selection is made. Previous cohorts have also included members of the wider Yango community, including drivers, couriers, and their family members.

The application window for this year's cohort is now closed.

Next stop for the 24 fellows: Abidjan for the Pan-African Yango Fellowship Graduation & Pitch Day.

More than a scholarship, the Yango Fellowship brings together young STEM talent from across Africa and creates a space for students to exchange ideas, build connections, and develop projects for their communities.