United Nations African Policy Innovation Fellowship 2025 (Fully-funded): Empowering Africa’s Future Leaders
In response to critical calls for action in resolutions A/75/917 and A/77/644, the United Nations is launching a groundbreaking initiative—the United Nations African Policy Innovation Fellowship.
This programme is aimed at addressing the structural inequalities that hinder Africa’s development trajectory, as highlighted in the reports of the Secretary-General.
With a focus on enhancing policy analysis, design, and implementation, this Fellowship offers junior to mid-level African policymakers an invaluable opportunity to strengthen their skills and play a direct role in Africa’s sustainable development and peacebuilding.
Objective of the United Nations African Policy Innovation Fellowship
The United Nations African Policy Innovation Fellowship aims to build a new generation of African policymakers equipped with advanced skills in policy analysis and implementation. This fellowship will help bridge the gap between policy formulation and its execution at the national level, contributing to Africa’s long-term goals of sustainable development and peacebuilding.
Through collaborative learning and mentorship, the Fellowship will nurture African policymakers who are committed to advancing key values such as inclusivity, transparency, and accountability.
In line with Agenda 2063, which sets the continent’s aspirations for transformation, the Fellowship aligns with the Secretary-General’s Six Transitions, focusing on critical areas including food systems, energy access, education, jobs, climate change, and more. By investing in Africa’s human capital, the Fellowship will contribute to a more prosperous and equitable future.
Fellowship Structure: A Three-Phase Programme
The United Nations African Policy Innovation Fellowship is a structured, multi-phase programme designed to provide participants with the skills necessary to design and implement impactful policy interventions. The fellowship involves three key phases:
Phase 1: Conceptualization
In the first phase, fellows will undergo a learning phase focused on refining their project proposals into actionable policy frameworks. The programme will cover:
- Conceptual clarity and diagnostic analysis
- Key principles of policy design
- Use of national data systems and administrative data for decision-making
This phase will conclude with a conceptual framework document and a data inventory to support further research and analysis.
Phase 2: Policy Innovation Development
The second phase will focus on strengthening fellows’ understanding of how international norms and financing instruments interface with domestic policymaking. Fellows will:
- Be placed within a UN entity aligned with their policy proposal
- Participate in policy dialogues with intergovernmental and interagency stakeholders
- Receive technical support to enhance the feasibility of their policy innovations, focusing on fiscal sustainability and climate finance
The output of this phase will be a policy paper outlining the proposed innovation.
Phase 3: Preparation for Programmatic Implementation
The final phase will prepare fellows for the actual implementation of their policies within national institutions. This phase includes:
- Engagement with relevant ministries and stakeholders to assess institutional fit, political feasibility, and financing pathways
- Refining implementation plans and conducting preliminary risk analyses
- Formal presentations of policy frameworks to national authorities for feedback and alignment with development plans
The result of this phase will be a detailed implementation strategy with a strong financing component.
Post-Fellowship Support and Reintegration
After completing the core six-month fellowship programme, fellows will reintegrate into their respective government institutions with the aim of implementing their project based on the outputs of the previous phases. The Office of the Special Adviser on Africa (OSAA) will provide ongoing technical support and facilitate access to UN system capacities and partnerships.
Annual monitoring will track the progress of fellows’ projects, ensuring that lessons learned are incorporated into national and regional policy dialogues.
Fellowship Application Process
Prospective fellows are required to submit a project proposal addressing a national-level policy challenge related to one of the Six Transitions identified by the United Nations. The project proposal must:
- Include a data inventory outlining available data and identifying any gaps
- Demonstrate how national data will be leveraged to develop a policy framework
- Include a strong financing component connected to domestic resource mobilization or innovative financing mechanisms (e.g., carbon markets, SDG-aligned bonds)
Eligibility Criteria:
- Applicants must be junior to mid-level civil servants working in key ministries (e.g., finance, planning, energy, agriculture, education, etc.)
- Applicants must have demonstrated experience in research or analytical work in areas such as socio-economic development, trade, natural resource management, governance, and more.
- Advanced university degrees (Master’s or Doctorate) in relevant fields are required, or a first-level university degree combined with two years of relevant work experience.
- Applicants must be under 40 years of age at the time of application.
- Fluency in either English or French is required; knowledge of the other is an advantage.
Application Materials:
Applicants should submit the following:
- A one-page CV
- A signed supervisor’s endorsement letter confirming support
- A completed project proposal using the provided template
Logistical Information and Timeline
The 2025 edition of the United Nations African Policy Innovation Fellowship will run from July to December 2025. The fellowship will consist of the following phases:
- July: Online conceptualization phase (virtual)
- August to October: Policy development phase at UN Headquarters, New York
- November to December: Implementation preparation phase in collaboration with the UN Resident Coordinator’s Office in the fellow’s home country
Fellows will receive logistical support, including:
- A return air ticket
- A monthly stipend to cover lodging, board, and other essentials
- Medical coverage as per UN regulations
Application Deadline
The application period for the 2025 fellowship is open until midnight New York time on 20 June 2025. Late submissions will not be considered.
Contact Information
For further inquiries regarding the United Nations African Policy Innovation Fellowship, interested applicants can reach out via [email protected] or Visit Official Website Here
Call to Action: Shaping Africa’s Future through Policy Innovation
The United Nations African Policy Innovation Fellowship provides an unparalleled opportunity for emerging African policymakers to develop the skills and knowledge required to design and implement policies that will drive sustainable development and peacebuilding across Africa.
By participating in this transformative programme, fellows will not only contribute to the advancement of national priorities but also play a key role in shaping the continent’s future. Through the Fellowship, the UN is investing in Africa’s human capital—ensuring a brighter, more inclusive future for all.
