Application
Motivation, fit, availability and demonstrated interest are assessed.
Free Market Fellowship
Learn deeply. Lead intentionally. Build something useful.
A learning and leadership programme for young Africans interested in economic freedom, entrepreneurship, public policy, advocacy and practical impact.
Cohort 3 applications open
A fellowship designed for real-world application.
Participants engage with foundational ideas, learn from experts, discuss difficult questions, collaborate with peers and complete a capstone project that responds to a problem in their community or professional field.
The programme is not built around passive consumption. Fellows are expected to reason, communicate, organise and act.
2026 Cohort 1 results
A transparent participation funnel.
Completion required more than registration or class attendance. Fellows needed to remain active and deliver a capstone project.
103AppliedInitial demand
40Admitted38.8% admission rate
38Stayed active95% of admitted fellows
19GraduatedCapstone completed
427+Direct reachVerified engagements
The journey
Five stages from application to alumni action.
Each stage increases the level of responsibility placed on the fellow.
Learning
Structured classes, readings, discussion and reflective assignments.
Mentorship
Expert guidance helps fellows connect ideas to context and career.
Capstone
A practical project tests planning, leadership and public engagement.
Alumni
Graduates join a network for continued collaboration and institution building.
Core curriculum
Ideas that explain how societies prosper.
The curriculum should evolve by cohort, but the intellectual core remains anchored in institutions, incentives, enterprise, leadership and public communication.
1
Economic freedom
Property rights, exchange, competition and institutional rules.
2
Entrepreneurship
Opportunity discovery, value creation and barriers to enterprise.
3
Public policy
Incentives, trade-offs, unintended consequences and reform.
4
Leadership
Agency, responsibility, collaboration and institutional trust.
5
Advocacy
Audience, narrative, persuasion and coalition building.
6
Capstone design
Problem definition, implementation, evidence and reflection.
“Where you start does not decide where you end up. Consistency does.”2026 fellow reflection
Alumni outcomes
The programme ends. The network continues.
Alumni have progressed from classroom discussions to civic dialogues, public education, youth initiatives, social enterprises and new organisations. More than 15 youth-led initiatives have been inspired within the fellowship ecosystem in less than two years.
Explore alumni impact →2026 Cohort 3
Start your applicationApplications are now open.
Prepare a thoughtful application that explains what you hope to learn, build or change.