A new African-led private sector initiative that will provide talented American graduates and entrepreneurs with exposure to Africa’s business and investment landscape is accepting application submissions.

An initiative of Econet, African Leadership Network (ALN) and Management Leadership for Tomorrow (MLT), the Africa Business Fellowship aims to strengthen business relations between the U.S. and Africa by giving high-potential American business professionals hands-on experience and insight into how businesses operate in Africa.

The fellowship will select and place high-potential Americans with successful African companies for up to six months. Fellows will have an opportunity to learn about local business operations and cultures, and develop relationships with peers and senior African executives. The fellowship applications process will open online in July.

Africa is one of the fastest growing regions in the world. Fellows will be exposed to sectors driving the continent’s dynamism, including financial services, telecommunications, health care, pharmaceuticals, wholesale and retail trade, agribusiness and manufacturing.

Fellows will attend local seminars and gain access to influential African businesses and leaders. African companies participating in the initiative include Dangote Group, Dannex Limited, Econet, Hollard, Interswitch, Orbit Chemical Industries, Safaricom, SizweNtsalubaGobodo and TBL Mirror Fund, among others.

Fellows will also collaborate with their African peers, notably the Mandela Washington Fellows, who were selected as part of President Obama’s Young African Leadership Initiative (YALI).

“The inspiration for this initiative grew from President Obama’s efforts to forge a new business relationship with the continent, and the hosting of the historic US-Africa Leaders summit last year,” noted Strive Masiyiwa, Founder and Chairman of Econet, one of the lead sponsors.

“The fellowship will become a signature effort of Africa’s private sector to reciprocate in developing a strengthened collaboration with the US based on trade, entrepreneurship and investment,”said Masiyiwa, a Zimbabwean technology entrepreneur and philanthropist.

Masiyiwa received the AAI 2015 Business Leaders Award at the AAI Future Leaders Legacy Fund Gala on September 29 in New York City.

For more information and to apply, please visit www.africabusinessfellowship.com .