Deadline: April 14, 2021
Applications are invited for the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UN ECA) Fellowship Programme 2021 for Young African Professionals. As a foremost knowledge policy institution in Africa, ECA seeks to engage bright young Africans for skills and capacity development, training and mentorship through a fellowship programme within ECA’s work programme.
This fellowship initiative is in line with the Commission’s effort to assist member States develop their capacities in economic and social policy research, development, implementation, analysis, governance, and monitoring and evaluation.
Thematic Areas
The ECA is hereby inviting applications from qualified young African Professionals in the following thematic areas:
- Macroeconomic policy, Economic Governance & Public Finance;
- Private Sector Development & Finance, including Innovative Finance & Capital Markets;
- Poverty, Inequality and social policy;
- Gender equality and women empowerment;
- Demographic Dynamics for Development;
- Innovation and Technology;
- Climate Change & Management of Natural Resources, including Green Economy;
- Industrialization and Economic Diversification Policies;
- Development Planning and Statistics;
- Regional Integration; Infrastructure and Trade;
- Labor Economics and Employment
- Communication and strategic planning, monitoring and evaluation;
Responsibilities
Within delegated authority, the Fellows will be responsible for the following duties:
- The Fellow(s) will agree to a work programme in the area of economic and social development defined mutually with the receiving/mentoring Division, Sub-Regional Office or Centre. The fellow(s) will contribute to the work of the Division, Sub-Regional Office or Centre by carrying out research, analytical studies, drafting reports and supporting other activities, as directed.
- Assignments within the areas of focus may include, but are not limited to, collecting, evaluating, interpreting, and analysing economic, social and political development issues in the focus areas. The fellow(s) will also contribute to technical and policy reports, briefing notes, and support in the organization and servicing of expert group meetings, workshops, and seminars; and fulfil various other administrative tasks for the effective delivery of the activities. The fellow(s) will be required to prepare a research paper and make presentation on it in the course of their fellowship.
Costs
- Selected Fellows will receive a return air ticket between his/her country of residence and the assigned duty station;
- Fellows will receive a one-off settling-in grant of USD $3,000 and a monthly stipend of USD $3,000 each for the duration of the fellowship. Note that the final month stipend will only be paid upon submission of:
- A peer-reviewed fellowship research paper,
- A comprehensive fellowship report, an approved final performance evaluation of the fellow
- A completed fellowship programme evaluation form and
- An exit boarding pass or immigration stamp showing that the fellow has departed the duty station and returned back to his/her home country, where both are not the same, at the end of the fellowship programme.
Eligibility
- Open only to nationals of the Economic Commission for Africa member States.
- Advanced university degree (Master’s Degree or doctorate or their equivalents) in international affairs, development, diplomacy, economics, political and social sciences, development, peace and human security, public administration, law, minerals and natural resources, engineering, and related field is required.
- Academic research or academic work related to the focus thematic areas is required.
- Experience in research/analytical work in socio-economic and political development, natural resource management/law, regional integration, infrastructure development, governance, peace and related areas in the context of Africa, either in the academia, private, public or civil society organizations, is an advantage.
- English and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. For the fellowship advertised, fluency in either language is required and working knowledge of the other is desirable. Knowledge of another official United Nations language is an advantage.
Application
Candidates must submit their PHPs and the following documents as PDF attachments:
- UN Personal History Profile (PHP). This can be created here.
- Follow the directions here to create your PHP; save the draft as a PDF, and include the PDF as an attachment with your email
- A research proposal of not less than 1,000 words (in candidate’s preferred thematic area listed above).
- Copy of academic certificates.
- Copy of applicant’s national passport (information page only), and;
- Three letters of reference/recommendation.
All submissions must be emailed to [email protected] with the subject line – ECA Fellowship for Young African Professionals, 2021.
For more information, visit UNECA.
