MASS Opens Applications for the Next Cohort of the African Design Centre Fellowship.
The African Design Centre at MASS
The African Design Centre (ADC) at MASS turns insights from our projects into sustained movements for change. As a hub for innovation, the ADC fosters a commitment to upholding Africa’s unique heritage and culture—ensuring that architectural education and practice in Africa are deeply rooted in Indigenous knowledge, local narratives, and craft traditions. The design centre has three workstreams:
- Research: Investigate how failures of space and design exacerbate the root causes of inequitable development, gaps in healthcare access, climate vulnerability, and barriers to education and economic opportunity across the African continent. Define how locally driven, design-based interventions can deliver transformational change.
- Catalyst Projects: Pilot high-impact, proof-of-concept projects — including maternal health facilities, innovation hubs, conservation infrastructure, and education campuses — that demonstrate scalable, community-centered design solutions for Africa’s most urgent challenges.
- Systems Change: Advance a new generation of African design leaders through the African Design Centre (ADC) Fellowship and mentorship programs.
MASS is recruiting the next cohort of the ADC Fellowship, empowering African architects and designers to lead the continent’s urbanization.
About the African Design Centre Fellowship
The ADC Fellowship is a twelve-month hands-on residency program in Kigali, Rwanda, for nationals of an African country. This program 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.
The Fellows will:
- Conduct Research: Undertake culturally rooted design research exploring indigenous knowledge systems, vernacular architecture, and urban patterns.
- Pilot Projects: Engage in community-based design projects within the different MASS initiatives and areas of work.
- Disseminate Knowledge: Publish reflective pieces to share insights gained during the Fellowship.
Fellows will receive support from MASS program staff, assigned design and professional mentors. This is a paid fellowship that requires relocation to Kigali, Rwanda, for 12 months.
African Design Centre (ADC) Fellowship Eligibility Criteria:
- Applicants must be nationals of an African country, 35 years of age or below.
- Applicants must be built-environment professionals and hold a degree in architecture, urban design, landscape, engineering, or a related field.
- Applicants must be able to relocate to Kigali, Rwanda, from October 2026 to September 2027.
Application Process: The application is a three-stage selection process.
- Stage 1: Expression of interests. Eligible candidates will be asked to submit resumes/CVs, references, portfolio and a statement of alignment.
- Stage 2: Shortlisted candidates will be contacted to submit pre-fellowship essays and confirm availability to fully participate in the Fellowship activities.
- Stage 3: Candidates with successful essays will participate in interviews.
Fellowship Timeline: The fellowship is a one-year program requiring fellows to live and work in Kigali, Rwanda.
- In-Person Fellowship and residency in Kigali, Rwanda: October 2026 – September 2027.
Interested applicants should complete an online application. Eligible candidates will be asked to submit resumes/CVs, references, portfolio and a statement of alignment.