Young African Leaders Programme from European Union

Programme Description

The Young African Leaders Programme (YALP) of the EUI School of Transnational Governance (STG) provides a unique opportunity for aspiring leaders from Africa to further develop their policy work and professional skills amidst international experts and global leaders.

In the dynamic academic environment of the European University Institute (EUI) in Florence, selected participants will take part in seminars, trainings and skills development sessions, conferences, and study visits in Europe. Interaction with the other fellows, policymakers and the academic community at the EUI will make this a highly enriching experience.

The fellowship is a full-time and fully-funded programme.

Places in the three-month leadership programme are fully-funded with a grant of € 2,500 per month. African leaders must live in the area of Florence for the duration of their stay. The language of the programme is English. The programme targets mid-career, high potential emerging leaders, policymakers, diplomats, and professionals from Africa, working in national and local authorities, regional, continental, international organisations and development partners, civil society organisations, academia, media and the private sector, in Africa.

The fellowship is open to mid-career professionals and executives under the age of 35 at the start of the programme on 1 September 2023. Women and people with disabilities will exceptionally be considered up to the age of 40 on 1 September 2023.

Applicants need to be African nationals residing in Africa.

Special attention will be paid to ensuring access to the programme for young people with disabilities and dedicated measures will be foreseen during the fellowship as needed.

Join us in Florence

Get ready for exchanges with African and European leaders, skills development and visits to European capitals. Become part of the YALP network

Location: Palazzo Buontalenti

Applications Deadline:

Applications must be submitted through the online application form. There are no paper forms to complete or to mail – hard copy or email applications will not be accepted.

There are two distinct phases in the application process:

1. Register your application
2. Submit your application

Once you have registered your application, you may continue to work on the details and attachments until the deadline. Submit the application only when you have filled in all the information correctly and have successfully uploaded the final version of the attachments.

After submission, it will not be possible to update or modify your application.

Requested Documents

Candidates should submit the following documents in the English language and in PDF:

• A CV in PDF of maximum 3 pages.
• A short biography in the application form: the bios serves in the selection process and will also be used for communications purposes if the applicant is accepted for the fellowship. Please write the bios in third person singular using maximum 1000 characters including spaces. Where possible, it should point out the work or studies the candidate has carried out on EU-Africa relations, which will be an asset in the selection process.
• A statement of purpose, in PDF: in the statement of purpose, you explain who you are and why you deserve to be part of the Young African Leaders Programme and the EUI-STG. Use the statement to elaborate your views and perspectives on the link between your participation in the programme and the EU-Africa partnership and relations. It gives the admissions committee a chance to get to know you and understand how you could add value to the programme.
  
  The statement of purpose needs to be maximum four pages and include:
  • Introduction – a brief introduction of yourself and your background relating to your motivation to apply for the Young African Leaders Programme.
  • Body, stating your:

1) relevant experience and accomplishments related to your field of work

2) professional goals as they relate to the programme

3) reason of interest in the programme

4) your added value to the programme, also in relation to the Africa-EU partnership

• Conclusion – summarising the statement including key pointers as to why the admission committee should select you.

• A short summary (minimum 1000 characters in the dedicated box in the application form) of the statement of purpose mentioned above.
• A copy of the highest educational certificate/ transcript and language in which this highest level of education was achieved.
• Name and contact details of one referee, preferably a person who has worked with the applicant, whom the EUI may contact. Give preference to non-academic referees.

A life-changing experience

Mwathi Kitonga and Hamid Khalafallah, Young African Leaders at the School of Transnational Governance in 2021, explain how being part of the leadership programme has impacted their careers.

Conditions of Award

Duration

The Young African Leaders Programme has a duration of 3 months: September to November 2023. During this period, the fellows are expected to commit to the programme full-time.

Residence

Fellows must reside in the area of Florence for the duration of the fellowship so that they can take an active part in the activities of the EUI-STG and the fellowship (with the possibility of short visits outside Florence and Italy as part of the programme). The fellowship cannot be carried out remotely/ online.

Grant

The basic grant is € 2,500 per month.

Successful applicants who receive other grants or salaries must disclose this to the EUI. The amount of the fellowship will be fixed at a lower rate (minimum €1,750 per month) depending on the amount of the additional income (upon production of relevant supporting documents).

If applicable, family allowances will be added to the basic grant (see below).

Family Allowances

A household allowance of up to € 300 per month is paid to a fellow with a partner if the partner lives with him/ her in Florence and on the condition that the partner’s income is less than € 2,000 per month. The sum of income and allowance cannot exceed € 2,000 per month (i.e. if the income is more than € 1,700, the allowance will be paid only to top up to € 2,000).

An allowance of € 200 per month is paid for each dependent child. Fellows are entitled to these allowances if they can declare that they are not receiving any similar allowance from another source, and upon submission of relevant supporting documents (i.e. marriage or partner certificate, or proof of cohabitation in Florence; birth certificates).

For dependent children in full-time education and over the age of 18, a school or university certificate is required. No allowance is paid for dependent children over the age of 26.

Taxation

The fellowship is not taxed by the EUI. Fellows are, however, required to comply with any other tax provisions which may be applicable to them.

Medical Insurance

Fellows must have adequate medical insurance coverage during their stay at the Institute. They can either provide proof of their own insurance scheme, or subscribe to the EUI’s private sickness and health insurance scheme at their own expense. See the Cigna Insurance Scheme for conditions.

Travel Expenses

Fellows (but not their families) receive a contribution towards their travel expenses for the incoming trip from their place of origin to Florence, and for the outgoing trip to their destination at the end of their fellowship. Fellows are responsible for organising their own travel. The subsequent travel reimbursement from Africa to Florence amounts up to €1,200, including both incoming and outgoing trips. Taxi expenses are not reimbursed. Eligible expenses are:

• First-class rail (travel by car is also reimbursed on this basis)
• Economy class air fare

Removal/ Re-installment expenses

There is no provision for removal or installation expenses.

Eligibility Criteria

The fellowship is open to mid-career professionals and executives under the age of 35 at the start of the programme on 1 September 2023. Women and people with disabilities will exceptionally be considered up to the age of 40 on 1 September 2023.

Applicants need to be African nationals residing in Africa.

Age, gender and disabilities

• The fellowship is open to mid-career professionals and executives under the age of 35 at the start of the programme on 1 September 2023.
• Women and people with disabilities will exceptionally be considered up to the age of 40 on 1 September 2023.
• Women and people living with disabilities will be given priority in the selection process. Applicants with disabilities need to submit a medical certificate via [email protected] (this email address should only be used for submission of medical certificates), as per EUI policy on Disability and specific educational needs policy. This information will be treated confidentially to apply the flexible age criteria in the selection process. It will be deleted after the selection procedure.

Language

• Applicants must be fluent in written and spoken English. English language proficiency is required for applicants for whom English is not their first language. The expected level of English proficiency is level C1 of the Common European Framework of Reference (CEFR).
• An English certificate is not requested as part of the application, but successful candidates may be invited for an interview in English and requested to provide a certificate/supporting document on registration. This can be one of the international certificates listed below, or another supporting document showing that the candidate’s level of English is sufficient for using it as a working language (for example, a certificate of attendance of English language schools, a degree in English as a foreign language, a proof of work in an English-speaking environment). Native English speakers are exempt of proof.
  • Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL)*
  • International English Language Testing System (IELTS)
  • Cambridge English Examinations (CAE)
  • Test of English for International Communication (TOEIC)
  • Business English Certificate (BEC)

*including special TOEFL Home Edition Test, for candidates who are unable to take the test at a test centre due to public health concerns.

Work experience

• We are looking for mid-career, high potential policymakers, diplomats, and professionals from Africa, working in national and local authorities, regional, continental, international organisations and development partners, civil society organisations, academia, media and private sector, in Africa
• Potential beneficiaries should have at least seven years of relevant work experience.

Nationality and residence

Applicants need to be African nationals residing in Africa.

Education and field

Applicants must hold a master’s degree or higher qualification at the time of applying for the programme. They should be committed to contribute to strategic themes and policy areas relevant to transnational governance. These include climate change and resilience, gender empowerment, cross-border economic and resource governance, diplomacy, digital politics, trade and investment, education, science and technology, skill development, migration and mobility, humanitarian disasters such as pandemics, regional integration and regional governance, democracy and human rights, peace and security. These areas are crucial to deliver sustainable and locally-owned development in African countries, as well as to contribute to the effective implementation of the Africa-EU partnership, the African Union’s Agenda 2063, African Continental Free Trade Area, and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Have a look at STG programmes and initiatives on topics related to governance beyond the state.

Evaluation criteria

Evaluators will analyse following criteria

• Statement of purpose
• Work experience
• Education

Additional criteria:

• Gender
• People with disabilities
• Countries not represented in YALP 2021 and 2022

Additional considerations

• The EUI-STG is an equal opportunity environment committed to inclusion and diversity. All fellowships are decided on the basis of qualifications, motivations and merit.
• Women are encouraged to apply.
• Persons living with a disability are encouraged to apply. The EUI is committed to providing equitable and inclusive conditions for all candidates and is keen to attract, encourage and retain a diverse and highly qualified community of scholars.
• Applicants must show keen interest in developing their skills in: (i) strategic planning and execution; (ii) negotiation and change management; (iii) policy formulation, and development implementation of new strategies and procedures; (iv) ability to communicate and interact with officials at all levels of governance and to work effectively with a wide range of constituencies in a diverse community; (v) research/analytical work in relevant areas of transnational governance and policymaking; (vi) working on multilateral, regional or continental African issues.
• Applicants must be self-motivated and able to present a clear “statement of purpose” for the fellowship to show what the applicant will achieve and how this work will improve transnational governance and leadership in their respective areas of work also in relation with the Africa-EU partnership upon completion of the programme, also considering gender mainstreaming and inclusiveness (see below). Participants are also expected to actively engage the EUI community and its activities including discussions on topics of interest. Please see the “requested documents” under the ‘information for applicants’ for more information on the statement of purpose.
• The programme expressly aims at ensuring a balanced mix of participants in terms of gender, geographical and national origins, countries’ fragility levels so as to represent the diversity of Africa and provide opportunities to less-advantaged applicants and ensure equity in national and regional representation. Applicants’ past experience, professional backgrounds and the mandate of the institutions they work for will also be taken into account. Applicants from countries that were not included in the programme cohort 2021 and cohort 2022 (see more information on the nationality of previous cohorts) will be given a favorable assessment to ensure geographical balance among the five regions of Africa.
• In particular, the programme promotion and selection process will be gender-sensitive with the aim to ensure at least 50% of the fellows will be female. Moreover, the training will cover gender equality and empowerment.
• Special attention will be paid to environmental protection and climate change in collaboration with the specialised EIB Chair on Climate Change at the STG.
• The programme will foster a unique network across generations, continents, and cultures, aimed at connecting, empowering and inspiring rising leaders and professionals and stimulating intergenerational dialogue, while promoting a strong sense of commitment to social, economic, and development issues facing their communities in particular and the world in general.

Selection procedure

• In the 2023-2024 academic year, the STG plans to allocate approximately 30 fellowships within the Young African Leaders Programme. All the applications are reviewed as long as they are submitted on time using the online platform. The EU will be part of the selection process.
• In the first step of the selection procedure, all applications are reviewed based on how well they match the application criteria.
• In the second step of the selection procedure, the selection committee members provide a list of recommended applicants for the fellowship. The committee discusses the merit of the individual applications and also takes into account the match between the perceived needs of the given candidate and the opportunities the programme offers. In selecting potential beneficiaries, the selection committee will also pay particular attention to gender balance, fair presence of the different categories of actors (authorities, civil society, international organisations, etc.), as well as representativeness across sub-regional geographical areas in Africa. It will also look at creating opportunities to young emerging leaders in Africa who have not joined similar programmes in the past.
• The result is a mutually agreed short list and a reserve list to be presented to the EUI Executive Committee for its consideration. Their decision is final, and no appeal is possible.
• The STG is not in the position to give advice on individual applications or to give feedback about the applications. Applicants cannot contact the decisionmakers in this process. The application deadline for the 2023-2024 fellowship is 22 February 2023 at 15:00 Italian time (CET). No extensions will be granted, and late applications will not be accepted. The final decision is communicated to the applicants within four months of the application deadline by the Academic Service of the EUI.

About Young African Leaders

The Young African Leaders Programme (YALP) funded by the European Commission is a tailor-made fellowship and training programme which catalyses changes as envisioned in the African Union Agenda 2063 and in the AU-EU Partnership. The programme provides a unique opportunity for policy experts from the entire African continent to further develop their policy work as well as professional and leadership skills.

The programme aims at creating new networks, connecting a strong cohort of leaders committed to driving change in their own countries and across the continent. YALP also addresses gender gaps and fosters inclusivity in leadership and governance in Africa.

In the dynamic academic environment of the European University Institute (EUI) in Florence, selected participants take part in workshops, training and skills development sessions, conferences, and study visits in Europe. Interaction with the other fellows, policymakers and the academic community at the EUI make this a truly unforgettable experience.