Zainab Usman

Apologies for the long hiatus. Scholarships and Development Opportunities is back

1. WORLD BANK GROUP ANALYST PROGRAMME

The World Bank Group Analyst Program is a new and unique opportunity for exceptionally talented young people with a passion for international development to contribute to solving some of the world’s most pressing problems.

Through this structured three-year program, you will work in an intellectually challenging and culturally diverse environment within a specific practice, region, or corporate unit in the World Bank Group, which includes the World Bank, the International Finance Corporation (IFC), and the Multilateral Investment Guarantee Agency (MIGA) and International Center for Settlement of Investment Disputes. You will have the opportunity to contribute and grow your skills in areas ranging from analytics, research, data management, project management, communications, finance, management accounting, and information technology. In addition, the program offers various cohort activities aimed to broaden your exposure to the work of the World Bank Group and develop leadership skills.

Upon completion of the program, there may be opportunities for you to continue your career in the World Bank Group. Participants holding a Master’s degree who find the opportunity to continue their career at the WBG may also be eligible for advancement opportunities. Alternatively, you may leverage the experience you have gained to pursue further studies or other opportunities in international development.

To be competitive for this highly selective program, you need to demonstrate a commitment to development, analytical thinking, proven academic success, and leadership potential. We value diversity in our workplace, and encourage all qualified individuals, with diverse professional, academic, and cultural backgrounds to apply. Positions may be based in Washington, DC or in a regional office.

Application and Selection Process:

The 2016 application process will be opened from March 16, 2016 to April 5, 2016. More information on Application and Selection Process page.

Selection Cycle:

See Selection Cycle page for timelines, competencies assessed and format for interviews

Eligibility Criteria:

• Citizenship of a member country of the World Bank Group
• Passion to contribute to the World Bank Group mission to end extreme poverty and boost shared prosperity
• 28 years of age or younger (i.e., born on or after January 1st, 1988)
• Master’s or Bachelor’s degree in relevant field. Candidates who are currently pursuing a degree are eligible if the degree will be awarded by December 31, 2016
• One to three years of relevant work experience in one or more specialty areas (see Application and Selection Process )
• Analytical thinking, proven academic success, strong written and oral communication skills, and leadership potential
• Experience working or studying in developing countries is preferred
• Fluency in English is required. Fluency or proficiency in other languages, in particular Arabic, Chinese, French, Portuguese, Spanish or Russian, is preferred.

In addition, successful candidates must demonstrate the World Bank Group Core Competencies (Read more about the Selection Cycle):

• Deliver results for clients
• Lead and innovate
• Collaborate within teams and across boundaries
• Create, apply and share knowledge
• Make smart decisions

Programme Features:

Work Programme

WBG Analysts are selected from recruitment streams that vary every year and range from Operations, Finance, Communication and International Affairs, Information Technology, Management Accounting. The work program is therefore quite varied, too, and can take place in the World Bank, the International Finance Corporation, the Multilateral Investment Guarantee Agency, or the International Center for Settlement of Investment Disputes. Typically, it involves research and analytical work, preparation of visually compelling presentations of data, drafting reports and overviews, coordinating specific programs. Because the WBG Analyst’s work program is very much business-driven, opportunities may come up for cross-support, stretch assignment or even full rotation to another area of the business during the course of their three-year term contract.

At the end of the three-year contract/program, WBG Analyst have several choices:

• apply competitively to an analyst position;
• apply to an officer’s position (for those meeting the eligibility criteria including holding a master’s degree);
• pursue academic studies or other job opportunities outside of the WBG.

See Programme Features page for more information on development curriculum, compensation & benefits and other Frequently Asked Question (FAQs)

 

 

2. PHD INTERNSHIP AT THE UN UNIVERSITY-WORLD INSTITUTE FOR DEVELOPMENT ECONOMICS RESEARCH (UNU-WIDER)

The PhD Internship Programme gives registered doctoral students an opportunity to utilize the resources and facilities at UNU-WIDER for their PhD dissertation or thesis research, and to work with UNU-WIDER researchers in areas of mutual interest.

PhD interns typically spend 3 consecutive months at UNU-WIDER and return to their home institution afterwards. During their time in Helsinki, PhD interns prepare one or more research papers and present a seminar on their research findings. PhD interns may also have the opportunity to publish their research in UNU-WIDER’s working paper series.

Selection criteria:

Applicants must be enrolled in a PhD programme and have shown ability to conduct research on developing economies. Candidates working in other social sciences may apply but should keep in mind that UNU-WIDER is an economics-focused institute. Candidates should be fluent in oral and written English and possess good quantitative and/or qualitative analytical skills. Preference is given to applicants who are living or working in developing countries and who are at later stages of the PhD.

Financial assistance:

UNU-WIDER provides a travel grant, medical insurance (for medical and hospital services resulting from sickness and accident during your stay at UNU-WIDER), and a monthly stipend of EUR 1,600 to cover living expenses in Helsinki during the period of their internship. The programme does not cover expenses related to dependents.

Application procedure:

UNU-WIDER only receives online applications for the PhD Internship Programme twice each year. Deadlines for submission of applications are 31 March and 30 September 23:59 EET each year. When applying in September, you would  be visiting UNU-WIDER in the period February-June of the following year and when applying in March, you would be visiting UNU-WIDER in the period August-November of the same year.

Short-listed applicants will be informed by email of the final decision within four weeks of the closing deadline. The selected applicants must confirm their decision to take up UNU-WIDER’s offer two weeks after being contacted.

If you are interested in participating in this programme you should complete and submit the application form.

Please note that the link to the online application form will only become active one month prior to the submission deadline (e.g., application procedures start on 1 March and 1 September of each year).

As part of your application, you will be asked to upload your curriculum vitae. Your PhD supervisor will need to provide UNU-WIDER with a letter of reference, which should be emailed to the following address: PHD-interns-reference-letter@wider.unu.edu. The reference letter will also be used to certify that you are enrolled in a PhD programme at your university.

Contact

If you have any questions about the UNU-WIDER PhD Internship Programme or experience any problems with your online application then please contact us at the following email address: interns1(at)wider.unu.edu

See UNU-WIDER website

 

3. FOREIGN LANGUAGE TEACHING ASSISTANT PROGRAM (FLTA) FOR HAUSA AND YORUBA SPEAKERS

Want to teach Hausa or Yoruba languages to American students in U.S. universities? Apply for the Foreign Language Teaching Assistant (FLTA) programme by 30 April 2016.

The Public Affairs Section of the U.S. Embassy Abuja invites applications from qualified Nigerians wishing to teach Hausa or Yoruba languages and cultures to American students in U.S. universities and colleges.

The Foreign Language Teaching Assistant (FLTA) program is a nine month non-degree course funded by the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs and administered by the Institute of International Education. The objective of the program is to strengthen foreign language instruction at U.S. colleges, universities, and some high schools, while providing future teachers from abroad the opportunity to refine their skills, increase their English language proficiency, and expand their knowledge of U.S. society and culture.  FLTA fellows must return to their home countries upon completion of their programs to teach English at the secondary or university level.
All applications must meet the following criteria:

• Applications must be completed and submitted online.
• Applicants should request that the academic office of their institution send a stamped copy of their transcripts in a sealed envelope to: The Public Affairs Section, U.S. Embassy, Plot 1075 Diplomatic Drive, Central Area, Abuja, Attention: Cultural Affairs Officer.
• Other documents to be submitted include academic credentials, signed and stamped letters of reference, and the photo page of a valid Nigerian passport.
• The application can be accessed at: http://apply.embark.com/student/fulbright/flta.
• Applicants must be teachers of English or in training to become teachers of English.
• Applicants must possess a university degree in English, Language Arts, or combined honors.
• Applicants must be fluent in English, demonstrated by a TOEFL score of 79-80 (Internet based testing) or 6.0 (overall score International English Language Testing System-IELTS).
• Applicants must be between 21 and 29 years old at the time of application.
• Applicants must demonstrate maturity, dependability, integrity and professionalism.
• Applicants must be physically present in their home country throughout the nomination and selection process.

For further inquiries, please contact Cultural Affairs Assistant, U.S. Embassy, Plot 1075 Diplomatic Drive, Central Area, Abuja: email: CulturalAbuja@state.gov or U.S. Consulate General, #2 Walter Carrington Crescent, Victoria Island, Lagos

See U.S. Nigeria embassy website for more information.

Don’t forget to check other websites with far more resources, such as Scholarship-Positions, Scholars4dev and OpportunitiesForAfricans.

Best of luck!!