African Young Women Leaders Fellowship Programme
A joint initiative between AUC and UNDP to cultivate a new generation of young African women leaders serving Africa and the world through SDGs and Agenda 2063.
Program Overview
About the Fellowship
Established in 2019, the African Young Women Leaders (AfYWL) Fellowship Programme seeks to cultivate a new generation of young African women leaders to serve Africa and the world through the design and implementation of development programmes in the context of the UN Sustainable Development Goals and Africa's Agenda 2063.
The Fellowship Programme, a joint initiative between the African Union Commission (AUC) and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), aims to advance gender equality by investing in global women leadership.
The program focuses on developing skills, joining a new generation of global leaders, and unleashing the development potential of Africa through strategic partnerships and collaboration.
Partnership Highlights
Are You Ready?
The AfYWL Fellowship Programme asks these key questions to identify future leaders:
SDGs & Agenda 2063
Do you want to work to advance the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals and Agenda 2063?
Youth & Gender Empowerment
Do you want to contribute towards youth empowerment and employment, gender equality and women empowerment?
Skills Development
Do you want to develop your skills and join a new generation of global leaders?
Transformational Change
Do you believe in the potential of young women in driving transformational change?
Mainstreaming Priorities
Are you able to mainstream youth priorities and gender in development programs?
Fellowship Benefits
What the fellowship offers to successful candidates:
Financial Support
Monthly stipend to support accommodation and basic living costs, plus paid leave and earmarked learning budget.
Learning & Development
Comprehensive training, mentorship by senior AUC and UNDP staff, and access to tailored learning opportunities.
Duties and Responsibilities
Key areas of responsibility for fellowship participants:
Data Collection & Analysis
Collection and analysis of data and research on SDGs and Agenda 2063.
Innovation Experimentation
Experimentation on promising areas of innovation around UNDP's six impact areas in Africa.
Research & Documentation
Drafting research papers, reports and presentations for various stakeholders.
Stakeholder Engagement
Participating in internal and external meetings and conferences.
Project Implementation
Supporting the implementation of projects and initiatives on gender, youth, climate change, resilience and security.
Field Support
Participating in field missions and providing support to government officials and various stakeholders.
Eligibility Criteria
Requirements for fellowship applicants:
Education Requirements
Completed Master's degree or equivalent in Economics, Political Science, Business Administration, International Relations/Development, Law, Communications, Digitalization or other related development field.
Experience Requirements
Maximum cumulative two years (post bachelor/postmaster degree) of relevant and paid working experience in research, analysis and programme/project development, implementation and management.
Ready to Lead Change?
Join the next generation of African women leaders driving sustainable development and gender equality across the continent.
Keep an eye on the AU Careers page for upcoming application opportunities.