United Nations
CORE VALUES: INTEGRITY, PROFESSIONALISM, RESPECT FOR DIVERSITY
ECA Fellowship Programme for Young African Professionals-
(Multiple positions at multiple duty stations)
Application deadline: Wednesday, 14 April 2021 at 11:59 p.m. Addis Ababa time
Organizational Setting and Reporting Relationships:
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 will be guided by ECA’s five new strategic directions which are advancing ECA’s
position as a premier knowledge institution that builds on its unique position and privilege to
bring global solutions to the continent’s problems and take local solution to the continent;
developing macroeconomic and structural policy options to accelerate economic diversification
and job creation; designing and implementing innovative financing models for infrastructure,
and for human, physical and social assets for a transforming Africa; contributing solutions to
regional and transboundary challenges, with a focus on peace security and social inclusion as an
important development nexus; advocating Africa’s position at the global level and developing
regional responses as a contribution to global governance issues.
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. Its strength derives from its role
as the only UN agency mandated to operate at the regional and sub-regional levels to harness
resources and bring them to bear on Africa’s priorities.
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 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;
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.
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.
Competencies:
Professionalism: In-depth knowledge and understanding of socio-economic and political
development issues; conceptual and strategic ability to analyse 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; 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.
Planning& Organizing: Develops clear goals that are consistent with agreed strategies; identifies
priority activities and assignments; adjusts priorities as required; allocates appropriate amount of
time and resources for completing work; foresees risks and allows for contingencies when
planning; monitors and adjusts plans and actions as necessary; uses time efficiently.
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
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.
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 PHPs and the following documents as PDF attachments:
UN Personal History Profile (PHP). This can be created at http://inspira.un.org
o Follow the directions at:
https://unmogip.unmissions.org/file/2447/download?token=bWKLlSJ6 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
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.
An impeccable record for integrity and professional ethical standards is essential.
Conditions of Fellowship.
The UN regulations on temporary positions and 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 March 2019 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 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:
RecruitmentPPost@un.org
Subject Line:
ECA Fellowship for Young African Professionals, 2021
Application deadline: Wednesday, 14 April 2021 at 11:59 p.m. Addis Ababa time
For more details, please click on the link below:
