Ulama Civic Leadership Programme 2026

Programme Overview

The Islamicity Ulama Civil Society Leadership Programme is a training programme that assists young Ulama and Imams to secure recognition of prior learning of previous Aalim studies with a pathway to a Higher Certificate in Project Management, then a Bcom Degree through Regent Business School. We envisage participants of the programme to proceed to careers in the Muslim Civil Society sector, and therefore recruit individuals who are actively involved in their communities.

The programme seeks to recruit unemployed Ulama and Imams who are 30 years old or younger who aspire for a career in the Muslim Civil Society sector in the future, i.e. welfare organisations, relief organisations, NGO’s, social development organisations etc. In this training programme we enhance participants’ social and human capital in ways that not only accelerates their personal growth, but which also translates into increased opportunities for them in the future.

The programme will accept 35 Ulama for 2026, and each participant will receive a monthly stipend of R4000 per month, (incl. a data allowance for approximately 20GB to 30GB of data per month) for the duration of the programme. There is no financial cost to the participants for attending the programme. This is not a job or employment opportunity. Being a training programme, the stipend is a monthly allowance meant to cover the costs of travel to and from the training venue and contribute towards monthly subsistence.

The programme structure is as follows

The full time training component lasts 3 months and participants are required to attend Monday to Thursday from 8:30am – 1:00 pm, at our offices in Parktown, Johannesburg, from the start of May to the end of July 2026.

Upon completion of the 3 months long training, there is a 3 months long work experience placement (internship) at an organisation in line with your career development goals, with the extension for a further 4 months for high performing individuals.

100 hours of training in NGO Management provided through Regent Businesss School, as a stepping stone to a Higher Certificate in Project Management, then admission into a BCom Degree

We cover the following themes:

Prophetic Leadership Islamic principles of Public policy
Islamic principles of government
The role of NGOs and civil society in a secular state
Islamic Economics and development
Islamic Ethics and values of leadership
Islamic Ethics of Disagreement
Islamic principles of Community Development

Practical skills developed:

Communication (written and verbal)
Project, financial and organisational management

The eligibility requirements to be considered for the programme

Community and leadership experience: applicants should ideally have a record of community work with masaajid, organisations or associations in their community

Academic: Applicants must have been registered for an Aalimiyyah (or equivalent qualification), and at least completed 3 years. Matric is not a requirement.

Attendance requirement: to be eligible for the programme, you must be able to attend (in person) from Monday to Thursday from 8:30am to 1:00pm from 4 May 2026.

Age limit: 30 years of age.

Citizenship: South African citizenship or residency, or legal permission to reside in South Africa (with the long-term view of staying in the country).

Location: 14 Barkly Road, Parktown, Johannesburg, Gauteng.

Alumni benefits: upon completion of the programme, participants are expected to remain active within the Islamicity alumni network. Islamicity will provide mentorship and support to our fellows throughout their careers.

Closing dates and interviews

Applications close on 31 January 2026. We will screen and select as applications come in, so submit your application as early as possible. If you do not hear from us by 1 February 2026, kindly consider your application unsuccessful. Due to the high volume of applications received, we are unable to provide feedback on unsuccessful applications. Interviews will be held in February and March and the Islamicity Ulama Civic Leadership Programme will commence on Mon, 4 May 2026 in Johannesburg.