The purpose of the Fellowship is to strengthen the communication capacity of the Cabinet of the Deputy Chairperson, with a particular focus on digital and social media engagement. The Fellow will support the Office in translating high-level institutional work into clear, accessible, and appropriately framed communication outputs. Through structured content development, digital engagement support, and coordination with relevant AUC entities, the Fellow will contribute to enhancing the visibility, consistency, and responsiveness of the Deputy Chairperson’s public communication, while remaining sensitive to the political and diplomatic context of the African Union.
Requirements
To be considered for the ‘AU Digital and Innovation Fellowship Program’ applicants must meet the following basic criteria to apply:
- Be a citizen of an African Union member state and currently based in Africa
- Be under the age of 35 at the time of application
- Hold a tertiary education degree (bachelor’s degree) or its equivalent
- Demonstrate the ability to analyze complex problems and propose innovative solutions
- Have experience and technical know-how in designing technology products or solutions and experience with the specific technical stack of the AU host department mentioned above
- Be available to dedicate 12 months to the fellowship, including relocation to Addis Ababa
- Be willing and able to travel to participate in induction and delegation workshops
- Be sufficiently proficient in at least one AU official language (Arabic, French, Portuguese, Spanish, or Swahili). Proficiency in English is a strong asset.
The program is committed to equity and ensuring that all perspectives are included in the innovation process. We encourage applications from individuals who are underrepresented in this field, including women and persons with disabilities.
Qualifications and Experiences
- A university degree in communications, international relations, media studies, public policy, political science, or a related field.
- Demonstrated experience in social media management, digital communications, or strategic communications, preferably in an institutional, public sector, or international context.
- Strong writing and editing skills, with the ability to translate complex or technical information into clear and accessible messaging.
- Familiarity with digital platforms, social media analytics tools, and content management workflows.
- Strong discretion, judgment, and ability to work in a politically sensitive and confidential environment.
Beneficial qualifications and experiences / Complementary skills
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- Prior experience working with international organizations, multilateral institutions, or diplomatic environments.
- Understanding of African Union structures, processes, and policy priorities.
- Experience supporting senior leadership or executive offices.
- Basic graphic design, multimedia, or digital storytelling skills.
- Interest in institutional reform, governance, or public sector communication.
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If you meet the requirements in terms of criteria, qualifications and experience, you are invited to fill out the online application form by the 1st of March 2026. The application must be filled out completely in English. As part of the application form, please be ready to upload the following documents:
- Your ID or passport
- Proof of residence in Africa
- Your tertiary education degree
- Your curriculum vitae (CV) with contact details of three traceable referees
- All relevant certificates demonstrating your qualifications
All complete and eligible applications will be evaluated. The highest ranked applicants will be invited for a 30-minute interview with representatives from the respective AU department. Interviews will be held from the 16th to the 19th of March. Please note that we offer you one time slot for the interview and rescheduling is only possible in exceptional circumstances.
The results of the selection process will be shared in the last week of March 2026. The selected fellow will then be asked to sign a fellowship agreement with enpact, as well as a secondment contract with the AU. The fellowship will begin on April 1st 2026.
Download the full job details & requirements (0.14 MB PDF)
About the program
The African Union (AU) Digital & Innovation Fellowship is a 12-month immersive program that empowers Africa’s brightest digital innovators to work from within AU institutions and create long-term value.
Through a structured placement within the AU system, fellows receive tailored capacity building, professional development, international exposure, and financial support throughout the duration of the program.
The purpose is to co-develop data-driven and technology-enabled solutions with AU staff, based on identified challenges and technological gaps, to strengthen governance, public service delivery, and institutional capacity across the AU institutions.
The AU Digital & Innovation Fellowship 2026/2027 is developed and hosted by the African Union and is implemented by enpact with the support of the GIZ DataCipation program, which is commissioned by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ).
About the department
The Deputy Chairperson of the African Union Commission serves as the Chief Controlling Officer of the Commission and is responsible for the overall oversight of administration and finance. In this capacity, the Deputy Chairperson coordinates and provides strategic direction to all controlling officers across the Union, ensuring sound financial management, administrative efficiency, and institutional compliance. The Deputy Chairperson assists the Chairperson in the execution of his functions to ensure the smooth running of the Commission and acts on behalf of the Chairperson in his absence. The Cabinet of the Deputy Chairperson supports this mandate by facilitating coordination, oversight, and institutional coherence across the African Union Commission.
About us
The non-profit organization enpact was founded in 2013 with the goal of empowering entrepreneurship in the context of international economic cooperation.
We work with entrepreneurs and business support organizations (BSOs) across all development stages.
Our approach is designed to facilitate quick and efficient access to the crucial resources needed for the sustainable growth of any business: financial support, training, mentoring, and network development. Through a variety of support projects built on this approach, we work with entrepreneurs and business support organizations (BSOs) in Africa, Asia, East Europe, Western Balkans and Latin America.
The goal is to create a global network of founders and ecosystem enablers to exchange knowledge, combine resources and collaborate to solve global challenges.
enpact is headquartered in Berlin, Germany, with regional offices in Egypt and representation in Moldova.
At present, enpact’s network consists of more than 3,200 businesses supported, 1,100 mentors and experts, and 200 partner organizations in over 30 countries. Over 15,000 jobs have been created or preserved as a direct result of 40 projects implemented by enpact.