MASS is recruiting the next cohort of the African Design Centre (ADC) Fellowship, empowering African architects and designers to lead the continent’s urbanisation. Applicants must be able to relocate to Kigali, Rwanda, from October 2026 to September 2027.
The ADC Fellowship is a twelve-month hands-on residency programme in Kigali, Rwanda, for nationals of an African country who are 35 years old or younger. This programme is designed to foster and incubate future African architects and designers by imparting essential tools, mentorship, and resources. The objective is to empower Fellows to develop culturally grounded and community-driven design solutions that address the continent’s significant infrastructure challenges, while concurrently preserving and integrating Africa’s architectural heritage.
The ADC Fellowship seeks emerging design leaders with a demonstrated commitment to advancing social justice and environmental responsibility through their work, deeply rooted in African heritage. Ideal candidates are curious, collaborative, and driven to participate in the movement shaping how locally driven, design-based interventions can deliver transformational change across communities and systems.
Through the fellowship, fellows will engage with a broad range of ongoing MASS initiatives and areas of work, including maternal and newborn health, expanding social and economic opportunity, climate-positive development, research, and community-led innovation. Fellows are encouraged to bring their own interests, perspectives, and questions into dialogue with the diverse challenges and opportunities MASS is currently exploring.
Fellows will receive support from MASS programme staff, assigned design and professional mentors. This is a paid fellowship.
