AU-AIP Youth Fellowship and Mentorship

Reports to: Global Water Partnership  Regional Coordinator, Country Water Partnership,  with secondary reporting to AU-AIP Youth Coordinator

Location: Benin, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Chad, Eswatini, Guinea, Ghana, Kenya, Malawi, Mali, Mozambique, Morocco, Republic of Congo, Sierra Leone, Somalia, Tunisia, Uganda, and Zambia

Duration: 12 months

Contract Type: Desirable full-time engagement. An independent contractor may also be mutually agreed upon

Application deadline: 31 October 2024

BACKGROUND TO THE CONTINENTAL AFRICA WATER INVESTMENT PROGRAMME (AIP)

On 6 September 2023, African Heads of State and Government committed to supporting the implementation of the Continental Africa Water Investment Programme (AIP), as part of the Nairobi Declaration on Climate Change.

The AIP was adopted during the 34th Ordinary Session of the Assembly of the African Union (AU) Summit of Heads of State and Government on 7 February 2021, as part of the Programme for Infrastructure Development in Africa (PIDA) Priority Action Plan 2. The AU Climate Change and Resilient Development Strategy (2022-2032) recognizes the AIP as a flagship initiative for transforming water systems.

Delivery of water investments across Africa is significantly below target to meet the continent’s growing social and economic needs. It is estimated that at least an additional US$30 billion per year by 2030 needs to be invested to meet the Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 6 on water and sanitation. Currently, only US$10-US$19 billion is invested each year.

The AIP aims to close the water investment gap by mobilising at least an additional US$30 billion annually by 2030 and creating five million jobs towards the African Water Vision 2025 and SDG water-related targets in 2030.

AIP Implementation

The AIP is implemented by national governments, Regional Economic Communities (RECs), and River Basin Organisations (RBOs), with technical backstopping by the AIP Secretariat hosted by the Global Water Partnership Africa Coordination Unit (GWPSA-Africa). The AIP is implemented through five interrelated programmes and initiatives:

• High-level political commitment and leadership on water investments through the International High-Level Panel on Water Investments for Africa, which was established in 2022, comprising current and former Heads of State and global leaders. During 2023, the Panel developed and launched a report, Africa’s Rising Investment Tide, and an Africa Water Investment Action Plan with actionable pathways for countries to mobilise at least an additional US$30bn annually by 2030 for implementing the AIP.


• AIP-PIDA Water Investment Scorecard to enhance mutual accountability, transparency and efficiency of water finance and investments. The AIP-PIDA Water Investment Scorecard supports countries to track progress, set benchmarks, identify bottlenecks, and take action to meet Africa’s water investment needs. AUDA-NEPAD adopted the Scorecard as part of PIDA in February 2022. The Scorecard was developed and piloted in 10 countries in 2023, ahead of its rollout across AU Member States.


• Regional and national water investment programmes to close the water investment gap. The AIP supports the AU Member States in developing national water investment programmes. Many African countries are extremely vulnerable to climate variability and climate change; and are further faced with weak institutional capacities, water infrastructure, and information systems to support water management. National water investment programmes address these gaps and are informed by insights from the AIP-PIDA Water Investment Scorecard.


• AIP International Blended Investment Mechanism to leverage public-private finance. The AIP will assess the need for an International Blended Investment Mechanism to support countries to leverage ODA (Official Development Assistance) and grant finance to de-risk priority water investments using a variety of innovative financial instruments and sources. These include sovereign wealth funds, guarantees, commercial finance, institutional investors and private equity investors, foundations, value-based impact investment, and climate finance.


• Gender equality and empowerment of women and girls in water investment through the AIP Gender Transformative Water Climate Development Program (AIP WACDEP-G). The AIP WACDEP-G develops tools to assist governments in addressing systemic inequalities in decision-making, planning, and implementation of investments by fostering a transformative approach in agencies, structures, and social relations. The AIP WACDEP-G was piloted in five countries during 2020-2024 and is expected to be expanded to many other countries in Africa.

INTRODUCTION TO THE AIP YOUTH FELLOWSHIP AND MENTORSHIP

The AIP Youth Fellowship and Mentorship aims to support and empower Africa’s next generation of water leaders. The Programme will capacitate young people to advocate for water investments in Africa and job creation through gender-sensitive investments in water security, industrialisation, and climate-resilient development.  

The AIP Youth Fellowship and Mentorship takes place in Benin, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Chad, Eswatini, Guinea, Ghana, Kenya, Malawi, Mali, Mozambique, Morocco, Republic of Congo, Sierra Leone, Somalia, Tunisia, Uganda, and Zambia. These countries are receiving support through the AU Multi-Country Programme to Accelerate Water, Climate Resilient, Gender Transformative Investments through the Continental Africa Water Investment Programme, and/or are hosts to GWP African Regional Offices. The AIP Youth Fellows will work under the mentorship of a multi-disciplinary team of experts on different assignments in an international and diverse environment.

AIP YOUTH FELLOWSHIP AND MENTORSHIP OBJECTIVES

The AIP Youth Fellows will provide support to implementation of the AIP to Accelerate Water, Climate Resilient, Gender Transformative Investments through the AIP. The AIP Youth Fellows will work under the guidance of the GWP regional Coordinators and the AU-AIP National Coordinator. The AU-AIP Africa Youth Coordinator and Advisor will provide overall pan-Africa coordination and guidance in coordination with the AU-AIP Secretariat. The Youth Fellows will also provide communication and knowledge management support to the AU-AIP High-Level Panel Campaign, Mind the Gap-Invest in Water.

ELIGIBILITY

AIP Youth Fellowship and Mentorship candidates must have the following credentials and characteristics:

• Well-motivated to support the AU AIP Mind the Gap – Invest in Water campaign, willing to be mentored and to learn from their peers;


• Recent graduates (within the last 3-5 years) with a Master’s degree in areas relevant to the work of AIP and GWP Africa. A PhD is desirable and an advantage;


• Registered postgraduate students (pursuing a master’s or PhD) need to be positioned to graduate within 6 months of application. A reference letter from the academic supervisor may be required;


• Have a solid understanding of international and regional development, gender, water security, water resources management, climate change, environmental management, sustainable development, climate change adaptation and climate financing;


• Be fluent in English. Additional knowledge of additional African Union language such as French and Portuguese is desirable.


• Citizen or resident of any AU Member State. Priority will be given to nationals and or residents of the following countries: Benin, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Chad, Eswatini, Guinea, Ghana, Kenya, Malawi, Mali, Mozambique, Morocco, Republic of Congo, Sierra Leone, Somalia, Tunisia, Uganda, and Zambia.

DUTIES AND DELIVERABLES

Under the direct supervision of the respective GWP Regional Coordinator, AU-AIP National Coordinator and AIP Africa Youth Coordinator, the AIP Fellows are expected to perform the following tasks:

• Support implementation of AIP and related ongoing projects at regional and country level;


• Support implementation of the AU-AIP High Level Panel five-point action plan and recommendations, the AU-AIP High Level Panel Campaign, Mind the Gap-Invest in Water;


• Support implementation of the AIP-PIDA Water Investment Scorecard including data collection and research analysis to inform the national scorecard and potential of digital solutions including adoption of Artificial Intelligence (AI);


• Undertake research on the potential deployment and use of AI in water resources and water management;


• Undertake analytic work on innovative solutions to improve climate resilience water security, gender transformation in the context of the AIP;


• Conduct background studies on agreed priority areas relevant to advance AIP implementation


• Compile best practices, lessons, and experiences on key thematic areas;


• Provide support in coordinating meetings, workshops, conferences, trainings;


• Participate in continental peer-to-peer learning initiatives to learn from each other on climate resilience and water investments;


• Actively engage in national, regional and continental capacity building initiatives on youth empowerment on climate resilience and water investments.

Please note that each AIP Youth Fellow should have their own personal laptops. GWP Regional offices in coordination with the Country Water Partnerships and relevant national ministries will provide a working space.

At the end of the fellowship, the following deliverables are expected:

• A report in the AIP priority areas that will be determined jointly by the supervisor, mentor and the Fellow;


• Minimum two co-authored publications in peer reviewed journals;


• Report on activities and results of the Fellow’s national engagements and support to advance the AU-AIP High Level Panel Campaign Mind the Gap-Invest in Water.

DURATION

The duration for the AIP Fellowship will be 12 months.

BENEFITS

The AIP fellows will be part of the AU-led teams supporting AIP implementation and will benefit from the network dividends at both regional and global level. At the end of the fellowship, the AIP Youth Fellows will receive a certificate and a recommendation letter from the AU and GWP-Africa. For best performing and exemplary fellows, AU and AIP will endeavour to make introductions to partners for further professional development. AIP, GWP-Africa and AIP partners may also retain some of the best and exemplary AIP Youth Fellows in regional programmes.

AIP fellows will receive a monthly stipend of EUR 500 for incidental costs.  No other financial allowances are available in the Fellowship.  A volunteer option, with no expectation of monthly stipend may also be considered for Youths who wish to join the fellowship but constrained by budget availability.

APPLICATIONS

Applicants meeting all the above requirements are invited to express their interest through submission of the following:

• A one-page motivation letter addressing the requirements as stated above;


• A Curriculum Vitae;


• Three professional references who may be contacted if you are short-listed for the position.


• Applications should be submitted through to the Bamboo HR online system: https://gwpsanpc.bamboohr.com/careers/95 


• Requests for further information or clarification/questions can be directed to the following email address: Joseph Mbinji [email protected], Albain Tchangou [email protected], and Mark Naidoo [email protected]


• Applications deadline: 31 October 2024.