The African Union is calling for applications for its 2024 African Union (AU) Digital and Innovation Fellowship Programme Cohort 2. The 12-month programme, now entering its second cohort aims to harness the expertise of tech innovators as ‘resident fellows’ across the African continent to identify data management challenges within AU units and organs and solve the challenges identified by co-creating and building innovative tailor-made products and processes that improve data management processes and the overall work of the AU.
Fellows will be expected to co-create and build innovative tailor-made products and processes that improve the delivery of the African Union’s mandate especially in the context of good governance and citizens’ engagement. The programme seeks to facilitate conditions for building the internal capacity of the host African Union organs in the long term.
Launched in September 2021, the fellowship programme has already deployed 13 fellows to various AU units to devise digital solutions for improving data management and operations. Implemented through the BMZ Commission’s GIZ DataCipation programme, the fellowship supports the AU’s mandate on citizen engagement and good governance by promoting innovation and capacity building within the AU organs.
Eligibility
Interested applicants must:
• Be based in Africa and must be a national of an African Union member state;
• Be under the age of 34 prior to the time of application;
• Hold a tertiary education degree or its equivalent;
• Have the capacity to gather comprehensive information on complex problems or situations, and the ability to evaluate and analyze information accurately in order to identify key issues and proffer solutions;
• Have experience and technical know-how in designing innovative technology products/solutions;
• Be available to travel to participate in an induction workshop;
• Be available and willing to dedicate 12 months. Fellows will be required to take a break from current obligations and relocate to Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
• Applicants who speak more than one AU official language (Arabic, English, French, Portuguese, Spanish and Swahili) are strongly advised to apply.
Selected fellows will receive capacity-building training, mentorship from industry experts, opportunities for peer-to-peer learning, monthly stipends, and fully funded trips to various ecosystem events. Fellows will also participate in a grand graduation ceremony, where they will receive certificates and be recognized as alumni of the AU Digital and Innovation Fellowship Programme.
The application process is merit-based and will be evaluated by independent reviewers. Top scorers will advance to the next stage as finalists and undergo interviews by AU departments/organs. The best 16 will be confirmed as Fellows.
For more information and to apply, interested applicants should visit the AU Innovation Fellowship website.
The deadline for submission of applications is April 28, 2024.
