Applications Open for African Women’s Public Service Fellowship

Applicants are invited to apply for African Women’s Public Service Fellowship, made possible by a donation from the Oprah Winfrey Foundation, expand the opportunity for African women to impact for public service in their home countries.

Fellowship recipients commit to return to their respective home countries at the conclusion of the program with the goal of assuming a leadership position on the continent where they can meaningfully contribute to the challenges currently confronting Africa.

Eligibility:

• Citizen and resident in an African country at the time of application;
• Strong academic record;
• Demonstrated commitment to public service;
• A NYU Wagner education would significantly enhance their ability to have a deep and lasting impact on public service issues in their home country and region country and region.

Benefits:

The Fellowship provides full tuition, fees, housing or a housing stipend (if enrolling in the Global EMPA program), travel to and from the United States, and a small stipend to cover books and miscellaneous expenses.

Application Process:

• Applicants can submit their applications essay along with their applications online via the given website.
• Applicants must also submit the one-minute video essay in order to be considered for fellows.

Eligible Countries:

Algeria, Angola, Benin, Botswana, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cabo Verde, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Chad, Comoros, Congo, Republic of the Congo, Democratic Republic of the, Cote d’Ivorie, Djibouti, Egypt, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Gabon, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Kenya, Lesotho, Liberia, Libya, Madagascar, Malawi, Mali, Mauritania, Mauritius, Morocco, Mozambique, Namibia, Niger, Nigeria, Rwanda, Sao Tome and Principe, Senegal, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Somalia, South Africa, South Sudan, Sudan, Swaziland, Tanzania, Togo, Tunisia, Uganda, Zambia, Zimbabwe.

Submit your Fellowship Application Essay along with your online application to NYU Wagner. The Fellowship Application Essay is included in fellowship section of the online application; there is not a separate application.  Fellowship applicants must also submit the one-minute video essay in the application in order to be considered for fellows. Applications are due by the December 15 deadline.
Complete the online application for admission to apply.

Commonwealth Youth Awards 2017

The Commonwealth Youth Awards for Excellence in Development Work aims to raise the profile and highlight the contribution young people make to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG’s). This award is presented to young people who are taking action to address development challenges in the world today from poverty, unemployment, climate change, violent extremism, lack of access to education etc. and are making a remarkable difference in the lives of the people in their local community, village, province, country, region and world at large.

The young people who will receive this award should demonstrate measurable/tangible impact through their development work.

The main Objectives of the Commonwealth Youth Awards are to:-

• Highlight the contribution of young people in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals
• Acknowledge the outstanding contributions made by young people to development and democracy goals in the Commonwealth;
• Create an environment which will encourage and sustain investments in youth led development;
• Illustrate the depth and breadth of talent, commitment and creativity that exists among young people across the Commonwealth by highlighting nominees' success stories;
• Motivate, encourage and challenge young people (age 15-29) to set high standards for their work/service at community, national, regional or international levels;

Nomination Requirements

• The nominee must have been engaged in development work for more than 12 months, either in a professional or voluntary capacity;
• The nominee must be a Commonwealth citizen and the development work must be taking place in a Commonwealth member country;
• The nominee should not be older than 29 on 31 December 2016;
• Individuals can nominate themselves or be nominated by someone who can accurately describe their development work;
• The winners must agree to take part in publicity generated by the Commonwealth.

Awards will be decided on the basis of:

1.      Level of Impact;

2.      Level of innovation/fresh approaches to problem solving;

3.      Quality of achievement;

4.      Quality of the evidence provided.

5.      Sustainability

Awards Process

There will be four finalists per Commonwealth region with the top entry receiving the Regional Winner Award and the top regional winner receiving the Pan Commonwealth Award and to be named the Commonwealth Young Person of the Year 2017.

The 16 Regional finalists will each receive a £1,000 grant, a trophy and a certificate.

The 4 Regional Winners will receive an additional £2,000 (a total of £3,000) a trophy and a certificate

The Pan Commonwealth Winner will receive an additional £2000 (a total of £5,000) a trophy and a certificate.

The 4 Regional Winners will be invited to receive their awards at an official ceremony in London, United Kingdom during Commonwealth Week, March 2017.

For more information, visit the official homepage:

https://commonwealth-youthexcellence.awardsplatform.com