By promoting African scholarship, contemporary discourse on Africa, and research, the Yale Africa Initiative strengthens relationships between Yale University and African institutions, increases career opportunities for Yale students across the continent, and attracts the best and the brightest African students and scholars to the university.

In announcing the Yale Africa Initiative in 2013, Yale President Peter Salovey highlighted the growing impact of African countries within the global economy as well as the increased migration to, from, and within the continent. In prioritizing and expanding Yale’s commitment to Africa, the initiative counts among its successes the following programs and partnerships:

Yale Young African Scholars (YYAS) - This program introduces African high school students to the liberal arts and gives them the tools to apply to universities in the United States. In the summer of 2019, 294 students participated in the YYAS program, which took place in Kenya, Ghana, and Zimbabwe. Since YYAS began, 1,391 students from 43 African countries have taken part in the program and numerous YYAS alumni have gone on to attend Yale College. Learn more…

Leadership Forum for Strategic Impact - A partnership between Yale University and the Fundación Mujeres por África (Women for Africa Foundation), this program convenes women in senior governmental positions across the continent to amplify their effectiveness and impact. Since its establishment in 2015, 56 women have participated in the Forum, creating a network of peers and thought-leaders across the continent. Learn more…

MUYU Partnership - The collaboration between Makerere University and Yale University (MUYU) was formalized in 2006 and has had a significant impact on medical education at both institutions. Within the partnership, Yale physicians, residents, and medical students travel to Kampala for clinical rotations, and Ugandan physicians and students train in New Haven. This partnership has nurtured greater medical innovation and a more robust clinical infrastructure. Learn more…

Collaboration within the Global Network of Advanced Management (GNAM) - Yale School of Management is a member of GNAM, which includes leading business schools from diverse regions, countries, cultures, and economies in different phases of development. Four African business schools are GNAM members; Lagos Business School, University of Ghana Business School, University of Cape Town Graduate School of Economics, and Strathmore Business School. Learn more…

Expanding opportunity for students, scholars, and alumni network - Since the creation of YAI, there has been a substantial increase in the number of African students and scholars at Yale from 147 students and scholars in 2013 to 205 today, in part through increased student aid funding. As the number of Yale Alumni in Africa has grown to 519, their engagement across the continent has also increased with the formation of new Yale Alumni Clubs in Ghana and Nigeria, in addition to a long established club in South Africa. Learn more…