The African Union Digital and Innovation Fellowship Program is a 12-month program aiming to identify and deploy tech innovators from Africa to African Union headquarters. The program focuses on understanding systems, identifying data management challenges, and co-creating innovative products and processes for sustainability.

The Program improves the AU mandate on citizen engagement and good governance. The program, implemented through the BMZ Commission’s GIZ DataCipation program, aims to build the internal capacity of host African Union organs in the long term. The first cohort, launched in September 2021, has produced 13 fellows deployed to different units to provide digital solutions to data management and operations gaps. The program aims to engage African citizens in the implementation of its mandate.

ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENT

• 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.

BENEFITS

• Participate in several capacity building training that will be facilitated by top experts from the African innovation ecosystem.
• Receive mentorship support from experienced industry experts drawn from the AfriLabs community.
• Network and benefit from several peer-to-peer learning opportunities.
• Receive monthly stipends throughout the period of the Fellowship.
• Embark on several all-expense-paid trips to ecosystem events, onboarding/offboarding, study/learning tour, etc.
• Attend a grand graduation ceremony where certificates will be awarded to fellows.
• Be recognized as a fellow/alumni of the African Union Digital and Innovation Fellowship Program.

Deadline: 28 April, 2024

Application link: https://auinnovationfellowship.com/