Your mission
Agora Verkehrswende hosts a fellowship programme for young professionals from the African continent who are keen on gaining insights into strategies for the climate friendly transformation of the transport sector. This summer, six young transport experts from across Africa will have the opportunity to take part in the second edition of our fellowship and gain a deeper understanding of the politics and policies surrounding transport decarbonisation.
Participants will discuss developments on the African continent in general and in their countries in particular. Over the course of the four-week programme, participants will elaborate the building blocks of a strategy to promote discourse on transport transformation in their home countries. The programme is part of the Rethinking Transport project of Agora Verkehrswende and the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ).
Please apply below by March 17 if you are interested in participating in the second edition of the Agora Sustainable Transport Fellowship and in joining a network of energetic young professionals who are shaping discourse on the African continent.
The programme will take place from August 19 to September 13, 2024 at the offices of Agora Verkehrswende in Berlin.
This full-time fellowship programme will feature deep-dive sessions hosted by in-house and external experts as well as renowned guests from Germany and abroad. In addition to opportunities for co-creation and mutual learning, participants will be provided with space for reflection and individual creative work; various excursions will also take place.
A comprehensive programme for developing new strategies for transport transformation in Africa
The four-week programme will be divided into three thematic blocks:
Block 1: Transport transformation at a glance – How can we learn from global examples?
The Agora Verkehrswende team and external experts will provide in-depth insights into decarbonisation strategies for the transport sector. Based on experiences from Germany, the European Union, and international examples, participants will analyse key drivers, identify decisive players, and elaborate the core principles of transport transformation.
Block 2: What does transport transformation on the African continent mean?
Participants will discuss, review, and scrutinise the factors and trends that are crucial for transport transformation on the African continent. Based on the publication Leapfrogging to Sustainable Transport in Africa – Twelve Insights into the Continent’s Sector Transformation, they will explore the transformation of the sector on the continent as a whole and in their home countries more specifically.
Block 3: From concept to action – How to kick-start the discourse in your home country?
Based on the takeaways from the first two blocks, in this final block participants will have the opportunity to develop a strategy to kick-start the discourse on transport transformation in their home country. The Agora Verkehrswende team will support and guide the fellows and will provide a platform for developing ideas. At the end, the participants will pitch their ideas and concept to an audience of renowned experts.
Your profile
Application criteria- You are citizen and resident of an African country where you are actively engaged in the transformation of transport to climate neutrality.
- You have stable employment.
- You have at least 5 years of relevant experience in transport and its transformation to zero emissions (mid-level expert) – for example, as an analyst, researcher, engineer, activist, entrepreneur, consultant, decision-maker or civil servant.
- You are fully fluent in English (at least B2).
Selection criteria- Demonstrated interest and engagement in the decarbonisation and transformation of transport
- Proven capacity to initiate and implement change
- Prior experience, current motivation, and future ambition
- Balance of genders, regions, and sectors
To apply, please follow the link below. You will find two separate forms to upload the following documents. Closing date for applications is March 17. - CV: Your CV as PDF file (max. 2 pages)
- Cover letter: A single PDF file containing:
- Letter of motivation (max. 2 pages) outlining your vision for sustainable transport transformation in your country
- One photograph that captures some of the challenges and opportunities related to transport transformation in your home country. (A single photo is sufficient; there is no need to provide commentary or explanation.)
- Letter of support from your current employer, preferably with a signature, stamp, and contact details. Self-employed applicants must provide credible proof of stable occupational activities
- Copies of relevant professional degrees and certifications
Please note: current employees of GIZ or Agora Verkehrswende are not eligible to apply. Candidates must be capable, upon request, to provide evidence that verifies the information provided. Agora Verkehrswende reserves the right to exclude candidates in case of reasonable doubt regarding the authenticity of stated information or the good faith of the candidate’s application.
Why us?
As the second cohort of our fellowship, you will become part of a growing network of transport experts across Africa, engaged in initiating and implementing change. As part of this network, Agora Verkehrswende is ready to stand at your side with its resources, expertise, and experience to support you in turning your strategy into action.
The following expenses will be covered for the time of the fellowship:- Flights to Berlin (reimbursement following your submission of receipts)
- Accommodation in Berlin (paid by us in advance)
- Visa costs (reimbursement following your submission of receipts)
- Travel health insurance (reimbursement following your submission of receipts)
- Cost of travel in Germany as part of the programme (local public transport, excursions, etc.)
Participants are responsible for their own daily expenses, which are not covered by the programme.
Please note that this fellowship is a full-time programme that will require you to take leave from your regular employment for the entire four weeks of your stay in Berlin.
About us
Agora Verkehrswende is a Berlin-based think tank that seeks to promote climate-friendly mobility. Non-partisan and non-profit, it works together with key stakeholders in the fields of politics, business, academia and civil society to decarbonise the transport system. To this end, the think-tank team develops evidence-based policy strategies and recommendations. Agora Verkehrswende was initiated in 2016 by Stiftung Mercator and the European Climate Foundation.