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Applications are now open for the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (ECA) Fellowship. Click here to learn more about this opportunity and apply for it.
Opportunity Details
ECA is the regional arm of the United Nations in Africa. Its mandate is to promote the economic and social development of Africa. ECA's dual role as a regional arm of the UN, and a part of the regional institutional landscape in Africa, positions it well to make unique contributions to member States' efforts to address their development challenges. ECA has five sub-regional offices plus African Institute for Economic Development and Planning, (IDEP) across the Continent through which it supports regional development priorities and agenda and African countries in the realization of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), Agenda 2030 and Agenda 2063 of the African Union.
ECA's mission is to deliver ideas and actions for an empowered and transformed Africa; informed by the 2030 Agenda and Agenda 2063. The mission is guided by the five strategic directions of the institution, which are; advancing ECA's position as a premier knowledge institution in supporting evidence based policy making,; developing macroeconomic and structural policy options to accelerate economic diversification and job creation; designing and implementing innovative financing models for infrastructure, human, physical and social assets for transforming Africa; promoting regional integration and addressing transboundary issues and challenges,; advocating Africa's position at the global level and developing regional responses as a contribution to global governance issues.
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. The fellowship aims at developing a new crop of young African intellectuals with strong policy making knowledge and capacity in supporting African countries in the process of economic and social transformation and development.
ECA is hereby inviting applications from qualified young African Professionals in the following thematic areas:
• Macroeconomic policy, Development Planning, Economic Governance & Public Finance;
• Industrialization and Economic Diversification Policies;
• Regional Integration; Infrastructure and Trade
• Private Sector Development & Finance, including Innovative Finance & Capital Markets;
• Poverty, Inequality and Social Policy;
• Food Systems and Food Security
• Gender Equality and Women Empowerment;
• Demographic Dynamics for Development;
• Innovation and Technology;
• Data and Statistics Management
• Climate Change & Management of Natural Resources, including Green Economy;
• Labor Economics and Employment
• Communication, Advocacy, Media Relations
• Knowledge Management, Information Management and Librarianship
• Strategic Planning, Foresight Analysis, Monitoring and Evaluation, Partnership and Resource Mobilization
• Administration, Human Resource, Budget and Financial Management
• Organizational Behavior and Change Management
• Risk Management and Corporate Policy
This Fellowship programme aims to provide practical, on-the-job experience to the young professionals in their early and middle career in the academy, public sector or international development in providing them exposure and learning in a multicultural environment of the UN and contribute to the work of ECA. It will also provide the candidates with the opportunity to familiarize with the Commission's broad programmes and services to member States and subregional bodies in addressing economic and social dimensions of Africa's development priorities. This should expectedly improve their skills, capacity and intellectual ability.
The selected Fellows will also receive a one-off settling-in grant of USD 3,000 (for fellows recruited from outside of the duty station) and a monthly stipend of USD 3,000 each for the duration of the fellowship.
Responsibilities
Within delegated authority, the Fellows will be responsible for the following duties:
The Fellow(s) will agree to a work programme, either in the Programme Pillar focused on areas of economic and social development or in the Programme Support Pillar, focused on areas of communication, advocacy, knowledge/information management and administration. The work programme will be 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 analyzing 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.
Competencies
Professionalism: In-depth knowledge and understanding of socio-economic and political development issues; conceptual and strategic ability to analyze and evaluate critical matters pertaining to socio-economic and political issues in Africa including ability to translate development-related data/information into policy relevant analyses; practical experience in programming management, monitoring and administration; Demonstrated experience in knowledge/Information management, media relations, communication and Information technology; ability to undertake research with limited supervision; is conscientious and efficient in meeting commitments, observing deadlines and achieving results; is motivated by professional rather than personal concerns; shows persistence when faced with difficult problems or challenges; remains calm in stressful situations. Takes responsibility for incorporating gender perspectives and ensuring the equal participation of women and men in all areas of work.
Communication: Speaks and writes clearly and effectively; listens to others, correctly interprets messages from others and responds appropriately; asks questions to clarify, and exhibits interest in having two-way communication; tailors language, tone, style and format to match audience; demonstrates openness in sharing information and keeping people informed. Ability to present high-level papers to peers and stakeholders, both at the institutional, regional and international level, both orally and in writing, in a clear, concise style.
Team work: Works collaboratively with colleagues to achieve organizational goals; solicits input by genuinely valuing others’ ideas and expertise; is willing to learn from others; places team agenda before personal agenda; supports and acts in accordance with final group decision, even when such decisions may not entirely reflect own position; shares credit for team accomplishments and accepts joint responsibility for team shortcomings. Ability to establish and maintain effective working relations with people of different national and cultural backgrounds and respect for diversity.
Qualifications
Education: Advanced university degree (Master’s Degree or Doctorate or their equivalents) in economics, development studies, political economy, international affairs, political and social sciences, peace and human security, public administration, law, minerals and natural resources, engineering, business administration and related field is required.
Experience: 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.
Language: 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.
Special Notice
This call is open only to nationals of the Economic Commission for Africa member States.
Candidates must submit their Administrative Profiles (APs) and the following documents as PDF attachments:
• UN Administrative Profile (AP)* in PDF format, including a motivation statement (cover letter) within the AP (to be submitted as an attachment to email submission).
✓ *The UN AP (Administrative Profile) can be created by signing up for an account at: https://inspira.un.org
✓ Applicants should refer to the Annex of this document on https://www.uneca.org/sites/default/files/HR/How%20to%20Create%20an %20Administrative%20Profile_English.pdf which contains detailed step- by-step instructions about how to create an AP within the Inspira system and generate a PDF of the document which must be attached to your email submission;
✓ There is no Job Opening for this Fellowship within the Inspira system. The instructions referenced above detail how applicants can create a draft AP (not tied to any published Job Opening) within Inspira, and save the draft AP as a PDF for inclusion as an attachment to the applicant’s email submission;
✓ The motivation statement is created as part of the online AP creation process in Inspira, and will be visible towards the end of the AP PDF under the heading “Motivation Statement for this Application”;
✓ If after reviewing the information above, you are still unable to generate the AP in the indicated PDF format, you may email: Bilen Kassahun at [email protected] for technical support. Please plan your time and attempt to create the draft AP well in advance so that you have sufficient time to seek technical support, if needed.
• A research proposal of not less than 1,000 words (in candidate’s preferred thematic area listed above) Candidate must clearly indicate the thematic area of choice at the top of the research proposal document
• Copies of all advanced-level academic degrees obtained (e.g., doctorate and/ or master’s degree(s). As an advanced-level degree is required for the fellowship, first- level (bachelor’s) degrees and certificates should NOT be submitted
• Copy of applicant’s national passport (information page only); if you hold multiple nationalities, the passport provided should be that of an ECA member State),and;
• Three letters of reference/recommendation
An impeccable record for integrity and professional ethical standards is essential.
The United Nations Secretariat is committed to achieving 50/50 gender balance in its recruitment. Qualified female candidates and young scholars are particularly encouraged to apply. The United Nations is committed to creating a diverse and inclusive environment of mutual respect. Reasonable accommodation for applicants with disabilities may be provided to support participation in the recruitment process when requested and indicated in the application.
Conditions of Fellowship
The following conditions will apply:
1. The candidate applying for this fellowship programme must be 35 years of age or below, at the time of the application;
2. The candidate must be a national of a member State of the Economic Commission for Africa;
3. The candidate must have graduated before 1 July 2024 from either a master’s degree or doctorate degree programme, or equivalent;
4. The candidate should have interest in one or more of the identified thematic areas;
5. The selected candidate will work on a predefined project, designed to contribute to specific aspects of the work programme of the mentoring Division, Sub-Regional Office or ECA Centres, and contribute to other activities;
6. The selected candidate should participate in national, regional or international meetings as assigned for exposure;
7. The selected candidate should submit and present at a seminar a peer reviewed research paper at the end of the assignment; and
8. The selected candidate will be part of an alumni association of ECA Fellows and member of practicing international development “community of practice”.
Logistics
1. The selected Fellows must be available to travel to the assigned duty station as may be decided by ECA after the selection process;
2. The selected Fellows will receive a return air ticket between his/her country of residence and the assigned duty station;
3. The selected Fellows will receive a one-off settling-in grant of USD 3,000 (for fellows recruited from outside of the duty station) 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.
4. The fellowship program is for six months but may be extended for a maximum of another six months.
ALL SUBMISSIONS TO BE EMAILED TO:
Email Address:
Subject Line:
Application deadline: 17 August 2024 at 11:59 p.m. Addis Ababa time
Apply for The United Nations Economic Commission for Africa Fellowship