Organizer Information

The African Design Centre (ADC) is an initiative developed by MASS Design Group, an internationally recognized architecture and design practice working at the intersection of infrastructure, public health, and social impact. MASS is known for its community-driven design approach across Africa and beyond, with a strong focus on equitable development and culturally grounded architectural practice.

The ADC functions as a research, innovation, and leadership platform that translates field experience into long-term systems change. It is structured around three interconnected workstreams: Research, Catalyst Projects, and Systems Change. Together, these streams aim to address structural inequalities in built environments while strengthening African-led design leadership.

Through its Fellowship and institutional programs, the ADC positions architecture and design as tools for social transformation, embedding Indigenous knowledge systems, local narratives, and craft traditions into contemporary practice. The program is based in Kigali, Rwanda, and contributes to MASS’s broader mission of reshaping how infrastructure, healthcare, education, and urban development are designed across the African continent.

Title & Description

African Design Centre Fellowship 2025–2026 (ADC Fellows Program)

The ADC Fellowship is a fully immersive Residency and professional development program for emerging African architects and designers. Hosted in Kigali, Rwanda, the fellowship runs for 12 months (October 2026 – September 2027) and is designed to cultivate a new generation of design leaders working across architecture, urbanism, and related disciplines.

The program focuses on integrating design practice with social impact, encouraging fellows to develop solutions rooted in African cultural heritage, local knowledge systems, and community-driven methodologies. Rather than a purely academic or studio-based residency, the fellowship combines Research, applied design work, and field-based experimentation.

Fellows will work closely with ongoing MASS initiatives addressing critical issues such as maternal and newborn healthcare infrastructure, climate-responsive development, education systems, and social innovation projects. The aim is to develop scalable, context-specific interventions that respond to real-world challenges across African cities and rural environments.

Participants are expected to engage in three core areas of activity:

  • Conducting culturally grounded Research into Indigenous knowledge systems, vernacular architecture, and urban forms
  • Participating in hands-on Pilot Projects in collaboration with MASS teams and partner communities
  • Contributing to Publication and knowledge dissemination through reflective writing and documentation

The program also includes structured mentorship, professional training, and integration into a multidisciplinary design environment that supports experimentation and critical inquiry.

Categories

  • Architecture
  • Urban Design
  • Landscape Architecture
  • Engineering
  • Interdisciplinary Design
  • Research
  • Public Infrastructure Design

Eligibility

  • Nationals of African countries
  • Emerging design professionals under 35 years of age
  • Candidates with a degree in architecture, urban design, landscape architecture, engineering, or related built-environment disciplines
  • Applicants with demonstrated interest in social justice, environmental responsibility, and community-centered design

Additional requirements:

  • Willingness and ability to relocate to Kigali, Rwanda for the full fellowship duration
  • Strong portfolio demonstrating design practice or research work
  • Commitment to working in interdisciplinary and community-engaged contexts

Program Benefits & Awards

  • Paid 12-month Fellowship in Kigali, Rwanda
  • Full relocation-based immersive residency experience
  • Structured mentorship from MASS Design Group staff and external professionals
  • Access to ongoing research and live design projects
  • Participation in high-impact Pilot Projects across health, education, and infrastructure sectors
  • Professional development within a leading global design organization
  • Opportunity to publish research and contribute to knowledge dissemination
  • Integration into a continental network of design leaders

Application Fee

None

Application Requirements

  • Curriculum Vitae (CV)
  • Professional references
  • Design portfolio
  • Statement of alignment with ADC mission and values
  • Pre-fellowship essays (for shortlisted candidates)
  • Interview participation (final stage)

The application process occurs in three stages:

  1. Expression of Interest (CV, portfolio, statement, references)
  2. Essay submission for shortlisted applicants
  3. Final interview stage

How to Apply?

Online Application

Key Dates

  • Application Deadline: 14 June 2026
  • Fellowship Period: October 2026 – September 2027
  • Selection Stages: Three-stage process (EoI → Essays → Interviews)

Location

Kigali, Rwanda

Additional Details

  • The fellowship is a fully immersive relocation-based program
  • It is designed as a long-term professional residency embedded in active design and construction contexts
  • Fellows contribute directly to real-world infrastructure and social impact projects
  • Strong emphasis on Indigenous knowledge systems and African architectural heritage
  • The program is highly interdisciplinary and practice-based rather than academic
  • Fellows are expected to actively contribute to research publication and knowledge sharing outputs
  • Integration with MASS’s global network of design and development initiatives

Website Link: https://modelofarchitecture.org/mass-opens-applications-next-cohort-african-design-centre-fellowship