Southeast Asia Acumen Fellowship

Acumen Academy runs the Southeast Asia Acumen Fellowship, an eight month leadership programme for social entrepreneurs and senior leaders who have already built something that works against poverty and now want to take it much further. It is delivered in Malaysia by Malaysia Acumen Academy with the YTL Foundation, as a licensed affiliate of Acumen. About 20 Fellows are chosen each year, and applications open on 5 October 2026.

What you get:

• A place in a small cohort of around 20 of Southeast Asia's most ambitious social impact builders
• Programme costs covered, including travel, lodging and food for the in-person immersives
• A leadership curriculum covering polarity management, adaptive leadership, authentic voice and a Good Society reading seminar
• Monthly one-on-one calls with the programme team
• Lifelong membership of the Foundry, Acumen's global community of more than 2,000 social innovators in 71 countries
• Eligibility to apply to Acumen Angels for catalytic capital once you are a Foundry member, through its own separate competitive process

What you'll do:

• Keep running your organisation while taking part in an eight month hybrid programme
• Attend a five day in-person orientation and two five day full-time in-person immersives, held in the past in Kuala Lumpur, Pahang and Perak
• Join two virtual four hour Learning Labs and complete self-paced learning between sessions
• Commit at least 2.5 hours a week on average, with 100 percent attendance expected

Key dates:

• Applications open 5 October 2026
• Info sessions on Zoom: 21 October, 28 October and 4 November 2026
• Applications close 6 December 2026
• Selection Conference for shortlisted applicants, held virtually: 27 to 28 February 2027
• Fellowship starts April 2027 and runs for 8 months

More information:

• Read the 2027 Applicant Toolkit linked from the programme page before applying
• Questions go to fellows@acumenacademy.org

• Must be over 18
• Resident of Southeast Asia: Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, Indonesia, Lao PDR, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Timor-Leste or Vietnam. Exceptions are possible for applicants with a concrete connection to the region, such as long-term employment there or an initiative focused on it
• At least 5 years of work experience; Fellows average 10 to 15 years, with 3 years working on poverty
• Currently leading, and working full time in, an organisation whose work meaningfully tackles poverty and shows demonstrated impact
• Proficient in English, since all sessions are in English
• Reliable internet and full availability for the whole programme
• No academic qualifications required
• Not open to past Acumen Fellows or graduates of listed Acumen Academy Leadership Accelerators, including the Inclusive Economy Leadership SEA Program and the Social Impact Leadership Accelerator Vietnam
• Only one person per organisation can advance in the selection process in a given year