The One Acre Fund Future Leaders Program 2026 is a paid 12-month leadership development opportunity for early-career professionals in Africa who want to build careers in social impact, agriculture, and rural development. Participants gain hands-on experience, mentorship, and accelerated career growth while contributing to programs that support millions of smallholder farmers across Africa.
Quick Facts
- Host Countries: Kenya, Rwanda, Uganda, Tanzania, Zambia, Ethiopia, Burundi, Malawi
- Program Type: Leadership Development Program (Job / Fellowship-style)
- Funding Type: Paid Program
- Eligible Countries: Applicants with work authorisation in the listed African countries
- Duration: 12 months
- Deadline: Not specified (Apply early)
About the Program
The One Acre Fund Future Leaders Program is a competitive 12-month professional development program designed for high-potential African professionals who want to build leadership careers in social enterprise and agricultural development.
One Acre Fund is one of Africa’s leading nonprofit social enterprises, working with smallholder farmers to increase agricultural productivity and household income. Through this program, selected participants work on real projects across operations, strategy, partnerships, and systems design while receiving structured mentorship and leadership training.
The One Acre Fund Future Leaders Program offers an accelerated pathway into impactful leadership roles within the organisation and the broader development sector. Participants collaborate with experienced teams, design scalable solutions, and contribute to programs that aim to serve over 10 million farmers across Africa by 2030.
This opportunity is ideal for professionals passionate about agriculture, rural development, social impact, and African economic growth.
Eligibility Criteria
To qualify for the One Acre Fund Future Leaders Program, applicants should:
- Have the legal right to work in Kenya, Rwanda, Uganda, Tanzania, Zambia, Ethiopia, Burundi, or Malawi
- Hold a bachelor’s degree or higher
- Have 2–4 years of relevant professional experience
- Demonstrate strong English communication skills
- Have working proficiency in a relevant local language (e.g., Swahili, Kinyarwanda, Kirundi, Amharic, Chichewa, or French) — preferred
- Show strong project management and stakeholder engagement ability
- Be able to translate strategy into structured plans
- Demonstrate problem-solving and analytical thinking skills
- Show interest in agriculture, social enterprise, or rural development
NOTE: Work permits are not provided. Candidates must already have authorisation in the listed countries.
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Benefits
Participants in the One Acre Fund Future Leaders Program receive:
- Competitive salary/stipend (paid program)
- Hands-on leadership experience in a major African social enterprise
- Structured mentorship and coaching
- Professional development training
- Exposure to large-scale agricultural programs
- Career acceleration opportunities within One Acre Fund
- Impact-driven work supporting millions of farmers
- Networking across Africa’s development sector
Application Process
To apply for the One Acre Fund Future Leaders Program:
- Prepare an updated CV/resume
- Access the official One Acre Fund careers portal
- Complete the online application form
- Upload your CV
- Provide work authorisation and education details
- Answer short professional motivation questions
- Submit your application
- Wait for the shortlist and interview invitation
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How to Apply
If you are an early-career African professional passionate about agriculture, social impact, and leadership development, the One Acre Fund Future Leaders Program offers a unique opportunity to accelerate your career while contributing to transformative rural programs across Africa.
Apply through the official One Acre Fund recruitment portal below:
