Three Sparks fellows in Sparks T-shirts smiling together on a pier by the sea at sunset

Become a Spark

High-potential African graduates, trained for impact. Placed with organisations where your skills create real, measurable change.

Apply Now! See How It Works

About the Fellowship

A Sparks facilitator talking with a group of fellows outdoors in a garden

Talented young people are no longer just looking for work, they want to be working on the things that matter to them, building careers that contribute to meaningful, structural change in the world. How do we know this? We work with them, we have trained them, and we are them.

The world of wicked problems we live in today needs sense-makers, not just skills. It needs young talent with energy, insight, and focus. We call them Sparks.

There is a systemic need for Impact Organisations (IOs) to build their capacity for executing on the things they do, but they lack the resources for recruiting, training, and managing young talent. The Sparks Impact Fellowship solves this problem by recruiting high potential graduates and training them at IOs for a period agreed with each host organisation, while equipping them with core impact skills and supporting their professional development.

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How the Fellowship Works

  1. Application & Selection

    Apply online and go through our rigorous selection process. We look for ambition, intellectual curiosity, and a genuine commitment to impact.

  2. Onboarding & Orientation

    Accepted Sparks begin with an intensive orientation week. You will meet your cohort, your host organisation, and the mentors who will support you through the year.

  3. Fellowship Placement

    You are placed with a vetted impact organisation for a period agreed with your host. This is real work, real responsibility, and real outcomes.

  4. Technical Training Modules

    Alongside your cohort, you complete four quarterly learning modules plus professional skills training throughout the year. These are the skills that make Sparks globally competitive.

  5. Alumni Network & Career Support

    On completion, you join the Sparks Alumni Network, a growing community of impact professionals with access to career support, peer learning, and global opportunities.

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Technical Modules

Sparks complete quarterly learning modules over the course of the fellowship year to develop foundational skills for engaging at a professional level in their Impact Organisations and more broadly.

Two Sparks fellows presenting a systems diagram on a conference stage

The Systems Thinking module focuses on providing you with a holistic approach to problem-solving and decision-making. You will develop an understanding and appreciation of the interconnectedness of various components within a system and how they influence each other.

A facilitator leading an impact measurement session, with fellows seated around a table

The Impact Measurement and Management module focuses on understanding and assessing the social, environmental, and economic outcomes of programmes and projects. This will teach methodologies, tools and best practices to measure and communicate the impact of activities.

Sparks team members speaking at a table in front of a Social Innovation Awards finalist banner

Storytelling training focuses on the art of crafting compelling narratives to convey information and inspire action. You will learn how to structure stories, incorporating data effectively, and use this as a tool for communicating impact in a way that is compelling yet useful for all relevant audiences and stakeholders.

Sparks fellows and facilitators working together at tables in a large hall

The Finance for Social Enterprise module exposes the intersection of finance and impact. You will gain insights into responsible and sustainable investment practices, impact investing and fundraising strategies that align with positive societal outcomes.

A Sparks facilitator presenting to a room of fellows during a professional skills session

Throughout the year, training is provided to support the Sparks in transitioning from the student experience to taking up space in a professional environment. This training is supported by Taking Care of Business, Job Journey, and other expert partners in youth skills development.

Sparks fellows and facilitators working together at tables in a large hall
See Where Sparks Are Placed

Success Stories

Hear from our Sparks

Daniel, a Sparks fellow now working at the Club of Rome

Daniel

Programme Associate, Club of Rome

Lilita, a Sparks fellow placed with Kusini Water

Lilita

Sparks Fellow 2025, Kusini Water

Matt, a Sparks fellow now working at Relativ Impact

Matt

Senior Impact Analyst, Relativ Impact

Tadiwa, a Sparks fellow placed with paNhari

Tadiwa

Product Owner, paNhari

Want to see more of their journey? Follow the Sparks on Instagram

Let's Get Acquainted

Tell us a little about yourself and what you're looking for, and we'll be in touch.

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