Transformative Opportunity: United Nations African Policy Innovation Fellowship 2025 -

About the United Nations African Policy Innovation Fellowship

The United Nations African Policy Innovation Fellowship 2025 presents a transformative opportunity for junior to mid-level African policymakers seeking to sharpen their policy design and implementation skills. This prestigious initiative, spearheaded by the United Nations Office of the Special Adviser on Africa (OSAA) in collaboration with the UN Development Coordination Office (DCO) Regional Office for Africa and select host UN entities, is tailored to equip emerging African leaders with cutting-edge tools for crafting policies that are data-informed, context-specific, and fiscally sound.

At its core, the fellowship aligns with the United Nations Secretary-General’s UN 2.0 Strategy and the Six Transitions, focusing on critical sectors such as food systems, energy, digital infrastructure, education, employment, and climate resilience. Through a hands-on, phased approach, the fellowship not only enhances participants’ technical capacity but also integrates them into the global policy ecosystem—bridging the gap between global strategies and national realities.

Fellows will undergo a rigorous six-month journey that spans conceptual learning, field immersion, and localized preparation for policy implementation. With placements at UN Headquarters in New York and continuous support from the UN Resident Coordinator’s Office in their home countries, fellows will experience a unique blend of global exposure and local action that culminates in real-world policy transformation.

Eligible Fields

Applicants must submit a proposal targeting one of the six core policy areas, also known as the Six Transitions, which guide the program’s thematic priorities:

Food systems
Energy access and affordability

Digital connectivity
Education
Jobs and social protection

Climate change, biodiversity loss, and pollution

These areas reflect urgent challenges across the African continent and are central to national development agendas and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Eligibility Criteria

To be considered for the fellowship, applicants must meet the following criteria:

Be junior to mid-level government officials currently serving in an African country.
Be no older than 40 years of age at the time of application.
Submit a supervisor’s endorsement letter confirming institutional support and granting release for the in-person residency phase in New York.

Provide a complete application that includes all required documents and a project proposal aligned with one of the Six Transitions.

Selection Criteria

Fellows will be selected based on the strength and feasibility of their proposed policy projects, which must include:

A clear articulation of a pressing national policy challenge.

A data inventory identifying existing data sources and gaps.
A well-defined plan for leveraging national data systems to develop actionable and contextually grounded policy interventions.
A robust financing strategy that may involve domestic resource mobilization, fiscal policy coherence, or innovative mechanisms such as SDG-aligned bonds, remittance instruments, or carbon markets.

Applications will also be evaluated on alignment with national development priorities and the potential for real-world impact and sustainability.

Eligible Countries

The fellowship is open exclusively to government officials from African countries. Candidates from all African Union member states are encouraged to apply, provided they fulfill the eligibility and documentation requirements.

Required Documents

Applicants must prepare and submit the following documents:

A Concept Note outlining the policy challenge and proposed intervention.
A completed Terms of Reference (ToR) document.
A detailed Project Proposal using the provided template.

A Supervisor’s Endorsement Letter using the official template to confirm support and availability.

Each of these documents plays a critical role in assessing an applicant’s readiness and institutional alignment.

Benefits of the United Nations African Policy Innovation Fellowship

Participation in this fellowship offers an unparalleled set of benefits for aspiring African policy leaders:

Capacity Building: Receive hands-on training from UN policy experts, development economists, and data specialists to strengthen your analytical, operational, and implementation skills.
Global Immersion: Spend three months embedded within relevant UN Secretariat departments at UN Headquarters in New York, contributing to and learning from global policy dialogues.
Tailored Mentorship: Get personalized mentorship that ensures your policy proposal aligns with your country’s planning frameworks and sectoral strategies.

Local Implementation Support: Upon return, benefit from structured support by the UN Resident Coordinator’s Office to refine and prepare your project for execution.
Long-Term Impact: After the six-month fellowship, reintegrate into your institution with the capacity and connections needed to lead and implement impactful policy reforms.
Ongoing Support: Access continued technical assistance and monitoring from OSAA and the UN Country Team to ensure implementation success and to share lessons learned.

The program runs on a biannual cycle, accommodating two cohorts each year—one from January to June, and the other from July to December.

How to Apply

Interested candidates should prepare a comprehensive project proposal that addresses a national policy challenge within one of the Six Transitions. The application must be supported by a strong data strategy and financing plan.

To apply:

Draft your Concept Note and Project Proposal using the official templates.
Secure the Supervisor’s Endorsement Letter confirming institutional support for your participation.
Assemble all required documents and submit your application through the official platform.

While the specific application deadline has not been announced, early preparation is strongly encouraged to maximize your chances of selection.