Agenda 2063 in Power Spaces Cohort 3: Apply for the 7-Week UNDP Online Volunteer Opportunity

Agenda 2063 in Power Spaces – Cohort 3

Are you passionate about Africa’s development, leadership, public policy, education, entrepreneurship, community development, or the long-term vision of The Africa We Want? The Agenda 2063 in Power Spaces – Cohort 3 offers an opportunity to take part in a structured seven-week online learning and volunteer experience designed to help participants understand how they can contribute to Africa’s transformation within their own spheres of influence.

Hosted by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and delivered through the wider Agenda 2063 learning ecosystem, the programme focuses on turning knowledge of Agenda 2063 into practical individual leadership and action.

The online assignment is designed for people who want to explore their personal contribution to Africa’s development while supporting other participants during the seven-week traineeship. It does not require applicants to be experts on every aspect of Agenda 2063. Instead, it emphasizes curiosity, critical engagement, communication, willingness to learn, and the ability to help others connect ideas to their own real-world environments.

Opportunity Overview

• Opportunity Title: Agenda 2063 in Power Spaces – Cohort 3
• Host Entity: United Nations Development Programme (UNDP)
• Assignment Country: Ethiopia
• Modality: Online
• Duration: 7 weeks
• Time Commitment: 11–15 hours per week
• Task Type: Development of plans
• Relevant Sustainable Development Goal: SDG 17 – Partnerships for the Goals
• Expected Start Date: The listing does not provide a valid start date
• Number of Assignments: 0 as indicated in the provided listing
• Language: English, fluent level desirable
• Deadline: No application deadline is specified in the provided opportunity details

What Is Agenda 2063?

Agenda 2063 is Africa’s long-term development framework and vision for building “The Africa We Want.” It provides a continental framework for transforming Africa economically, socially and politically while promoting inclusive development, sustainable growth, integration and stronger partnerships.

However, understanding Agenda 2063 as a policy or development framework is only one part of the challenge. Its implementation also depends on the actions of individuals and institutions operating in different environments.

This is the central idea behind Agenda 2063 in Power Spaces.

The programme recognizes that important decisions are made every day in many different environments, including:

• Governments and public institutions
• Businesses and private-sector organizations
• Universities and research institutions
• Schools and educational organizations
• Communities and civil society
• Development organizations
• Families
• Professional networks
• Entrepreneurship and innovation spaces
• Youth organizations
• Other environments where people make decisions and create value

These environments are described as “Power Spaces.”

The programme encourages participants to identify the Power Spaces available to them and consider how they can deliberately use those spaces to contribute to Africa’s long-term transformation.

What Is Agenda 2063 in Power Spaces – Cohort 3?

Agenda 2063 in Power Spaces – Cohort 3 is a seven-week online traineeship and volunteer learning experience designed to move participants beyond simply knowing about Agenda 2063.

The programme seeks to help participants answer an important question:

How can I personally contribute to achieving The Africa We Want through the spaces in which I have influence?

Rather than treating leadership as something limited to senior government officials, executives or institutional leaders, the programme takes a broader approach.

It recognizes that individuals can create value and influence outcomes from wherever they operate.

A student can influence a university or student organization. An entrepreneur can influence a business ecosystem. A teacher can influence learners and communities. A researcher can influence policy and knowledge. A community leader can influence local development. A communications professional can influence public awareness and engagement.

The programme therefore focuses on developing individual agency and helping participants recognize themselves as potential contributors to Agenda 2063.

Main Objective of the Programme

The central objective is to help participants progress from understanding Agenda 2063 to recognizing themselves as agents capable of contributing to its implementation.

The seven-week journey provides a structured framework through which participants examine:

1. The value they currently create.
2. The future they want to help create.
3. The changes required to move from the present toward that future.
4. The leadership values required to make meaningful decisions.
5. The routines needed to turn intentions into action.
6. The future they want to experience as a result of their efforts.
7. The lessons they gain and the changes they need to make going forward.

This makes the programme particularly relevant to people interested in leadership, development practice, public policy, entrepreneurship, education, community development and African transformation.

The Seven Leadership Tools Participants Will Develop

One of the most important features of Agenda 2063 in Power Spaces – Cohort 3 is its seven-tool leadership architecture.

Throughout the seven-week journey, participants progressively work with seven leadership tools.

1. Contribution Statement – What Value Do I Create?

The first tool encourages participants to identify their personal contribution to Africa’s transformation.

Participants examine their current Power Space and consider the value they create within it.

This may involve asking questions such as:

• What am I currently contributing?
• Who benefits from my contribution?
• What capabilities do I possess?
• What problems am I helping to solve?
• Where do I have influence?
• How does my work or activity connect with Africa’s broader development needs?

The Contribution Statement helps participants understand where they currently fit within the broader transformation agenda.

2. Moonshot – What Future Am I Committed to Creating?

The second tool focuses on developing a sufficiently ambitious vision for the future.

The concept of a “Moonshot” encourages participants to think beyond incremental improvements and identify a consequential future they are committed to helping create.

Participants consider:

• What future do I want to see?
• What would meaningful transformation look like?
• What ambitious outcome would challenge current assumptions?
• What future is worth working toward despite present obstacles?

The exercise is intended to help participants challenge the limitations imposed by present circumstances.

3. Delivery – What Must Change?

Having identified a desired future, participants then examine what needs to change to move toward it.

The Delivery tool focuses on the gap between the current situation and the desired outcome.

Participants may consider:

• What is preventing progress?
• Which systems, behaviours or practices need to change?
• What obstacles must be addressed?
• Which changes are most critical?
• What actions can contribute to the desired transformation?

This stage helps translate vision into a practical understanding of what needs to happen.

4. Leadership Values – Who Must I Be?

The fourth tool focuses on the personal qualities and values required to pursue meaningful change.

Participants reflect on the type of leader they need to become in order to make consequential decisions and remain committed to their goals.

This can involve examining:

• Personal values
• Integrity
• Responsibility
• Courage
• Accountability
• Resilience
• Collaboration
• Commitment
• Respect for others
• Willingness to learn and adapt

The emphasis is not simply on what participants want to achieve but also on who they need to be throughout the journey.

5. Leadership Routines – What Must I Repeatedly Do?

A vision only becomes meaningful when it is translated into consistent action.

The Leadership Routines tool helps participants identify repeated behaviours and practices that can gradually produce results.

Participants consider:

• What actions must I perform consistently?
• Which habits will support my goals?
• What behaviours need to become routine?
• How can I turn intention into practice?
• What repeated actions can accumulate into meaningful results?

This stage emphasizes the importance of sustained action rather than one-time motivation.

6. Letter from the Future – What Does Life Look Like Because I Succeeded?

The sixth tool asks participants to imagine their desired future as though they have already achieved it.

Through a Letter from the Future, participants explore what life looks like because their efforts succeeded.

This exercise can help participants:

• Visualize the impact of their contribution.
• Understand the consequences of achieving their goals.
• Reconsider current choices.
• Identify actions that are consistent with their desired future.
• Strengthen their connection to their long-term objectives.

The exercise links future aspirations with present-day decision-making.

7. Future Review – What Have I Learned and What Should I Now Revise?

The final tool focuses on reflection, learning and continuous improvement.

Participants are introduced to the practice of:

Return → Review → Revise → Recommit

This process encourages participants to revisit their leadership plans and assess whether their circumstances, experiences and capabilities have changed.

Instead of treating the seven-week programme as an endpoint, participants are encouraged to continue applying the tools after the formal traineeship ends.

What Will Online Volunteers Do?

Online Volunteers will play a supporting role throughout the seven-week traineeship.

Their responsibilities will include the following.

Study the Learning Materials

Volunteers will become familiar with the Agenda 2063 in Power Spaces learning materials, including the Reader and associated resources.

This requires participants to:

• Read the provided materials.
• Understand the major concepts.
• Engage critically with the learning content.
• Prepare to support participant learning.
• Develop familiarity with the seven leadership tools.

Volunteers are not expected to arrive as experts. The assignment specifically emphasizes curiosity and disciplined engagement with the materials.

Support Participant Engagement

Volunteers will help support participants throughout the seven-week learning journey.

This involves understanding the weekly concepts, questions and exercises and helping participants remain engaged with the programme.

The emphasis is on supporting learning rather than simply delivering course content.

Participate in Small-Group Learning Conversations

Where assigned, volunteers will participate in small-group conversations.

These discussions are intended to encourage participants to connect the leadership tools to their own Power Spaces.

Volunteers should therefore be capable of:

• Listening actively.
• Encouraging participation.
• Asking constructive questions.
• Helping participants connect concepts to their own experiences.
• Providing concise and useful feedback.
• Supporting a collaborative learning environment.

Contribute to the End-of-Cohort Review

Volunteers will also participate in a structured review at the end of the cohort.

They will help identify:

• What worked well.
• What challenges participants experienced.
• What could be improved.
• Which learning approaches were effective.
• How future cohorts could be strengthened.
• How the materials and participant experience could be improved.

This means volunteers can contribute not only to the current cohort but also to the continued development of the programme.

Who Can Apply?

The opportunity welcomes applications from people with an interest in Africa’s transformation and related areas.

The requirements specifically mention applicants from a variety of professional and educational backgrounds, including:

• Professionals
• Development practitioners
• Researchers
• Entrepreneurs
• Educators
• Students
• Community leaders

Applicants may come from different sectors and Power Spaces.

The programme is therefore not restricted to one profession or academic discipline.

Required Experience and Skills

Candidates should be able to demonstrate a strong interest in one or more areas connected to Agenda 2063 and African development.

Relevant areas include:

• Agenda 2063
• African development
• Leadership
• Development practice
• Public policy
• Business
• Education
• Community development
• Related fields

Applicants should also demonstrate the following capabilities.

Critical Reading and Learning

Candidates should be comfortable reading learning materials and engaging with them critically.

The programme requires volunteers to understand concepts sufficiently to support discussions and participant engagement.

Strong Written Communication

Good written communication is important because volunteers may need to provide feedback, participate in discussions and communicate ideas clearly.

Strong Interpersonal Communication

The role involves interaction with other participants, particularly through small-group learning conversations.

Applicants should therefore be comfortable communicating respectfully and constructively with people from different backgrounds.

Constructive Feedback

Volunteers should be able to provide feedback that is:

• Concise
• Clear
• Constructive
• Relevant
• Helpful to the learning process

Commitment

Applicants must be able to commit to the assignment throughout the seven-week Cohort 3 period.

The expected workload is 11–15 hours per week, making it important for applicants to assess their availability before applying.

Language Requirement

The listed language requirement is:

English – Fluent, desirable.

Applicants should therefore be able to comfortably understand and engage with English-language learning materials and participate effectively in written and interpersonal communication.

Programme Modality and Time Commitment

The assignment is conducted entirely online.

This makes it suitable for participants who can contribute remotely without needing to relocate to Ethiopia or another physical programme location.

The expected commitment is:

11–15 hours per week for seven weeks.

Applicants should ensure they have sufficient time to:

• Study the learning materials.
• Participate in learning conversations.
• Support participant engagement.
• Complete assigned activities.
• Contribute to the end-of-cohort review.

What Makes This Opportunity Different?

One of the distinctive features of the programme is that it does not simply present Agenda 2063 as something participants should know.

Instead, it asks participants to consider how they can personally contribute to its implementation.

This approach is important because continental transformation depends not only on governments and large institutions but also on the decisions and actions taken in everyday environments.

The programme’s Power Spaces approach recognizes that individuals have different forms of influence.

A participant does not necessarily need to occupy a senior position to contribute to development.

Their influence could come through:

• Their profession
• Their organization
• Their business
• Their research
• Their classroom
• Their community
• Their professional network
• Their family
• Their youth or civic activities
• Their educational institution

This makes the programme relevant to participants at different stages of their careers and lives.

Leadership Portfolio and Letter from the Future

Participants are expected to retain important outputs from the learning journey, including their Leadership Portfolio and Letter from the Future.

These materials can serve as practical references after the seven-week programme.

Rather than treating leadership development as a one-time training activity, the programme encourages participants to revisit their materials periodically as their circumstances, experience, capabilities and Power Spaces evolve.

This creates an opportunity for continuous reflection and development.

Contribution to Future Cohorts

Another important aspect of Cohort 3 is its contribution to the continued improvement of the programme.

Participants and volunteers will help test and improve:

• Learning materials
• Facilitation approaches
• Participant engagement methods
• Overall learning experience
• Approaches for making the leadership practice accessible to larger numbers of people

Consequently, participation can contribute to the development of future iterations of Agenda 2063 in Power Spaces.

Connection to Sustainable Development Goal 17

The assignment is linked to Sustainable Development Goal 17: Partnerships for the Goals.

SDG 17 emphasizes the importance of partnerships in achieving sustainable development.

The connection is particularly relevant because Agenda 2063 implementation requires collaboration among governments, businesses, communities, civil society, educational institutions, development organizations and individuals.

By encouraging people to identify their Power Spaces and collaborate across different environments, the programme reinforces the importance of partnerships in achieving long-term development objectives.

Is This a Paid Opportunity?

The provided description identifies this as an online volunteer assignment.

It specifically explains that volunteerism involves activities undertaken freely for the public good where monetary reward is not the principal motivating factor.

Therefore, applicants should not approach this as a paid employment opportunity.

The programme is better suited to individuals interested in learning, leadership development, contribution to African development, collaboration and volunteer experience.

Inclusivity and Equal Opportunity

The programme states that United Nations Volunteers is an equal opportunity programme that welcomes qualified applicants.

It is committed to diversity and respect for human rights and individual dignity.

The inclusivity statement specifies that discrimination should not occur on the basis of characteristics including:

• Race
• Sex
• Gender identity
• Religion
• Nationality
• Ethnic origin
• Sexual orientation
• Disability
• Pregnancy
• Age
• Language
• Social origin
• Other status

The programme therefore emphasizes an inclusive environment in which qualified individuals from diverse backgrounds can participate.

Who Is the Ideal Candidate?

The ideal candidate is someone who is genuinely interested in contributing to Africa’s long-term development and is willing to learn rather than simply demonstrate existing expertise.

A strong applicant could be someone who:

1. Has an interest in Agenda 2063 and African development.
2. Is passionate about leadership and positive change.
3. Can critically read and understand learning materials.
4. Communicates clearly in English.
5. Works effectively with other people.
6. Can provide constructive feedback.
7. Is comfortable participating in online learning.
8. Can dedicate 11–15 hours every week for seven weeks.
9. Is open to learning from people with different experiences.
10. Can connect abstract ideas with real-world contexts.
11. Is willing to reflect on their own contribution and leadership.
12. Wants to continue applying the programme’s tools beyond the formal traineeship.

Benefits of Participating

Although the opportunity is a volunteer assignment rather than a paid position, participants can gain several forms of professional and personal value.

Leadership Development

The seven-tool framework provides participants with a structured approach to examining their contribution, aspirations, values, routines and future goals.

Understanding of Agenda 2063

Participants gain an opportunity to engage directly with Agenda 2063 and explore its relevance to individual action and African transformation.

Practical Reflection

The programme goes beyond theoretical learning by encouraging participants to apply the concepts to their own Power Spaces.

Collaboration

Small-group learning conversations provide opportunities to engage with people from different professional, educational and community backgrounds.

Communication Skills

Supporting discussions and providing constructive feedback can strengthen written and interpersonal communication.

Development Perspective

The programme can help participants connect individual leadership with broader development objectives.

International Volunteer Experience

Participation in an online UN-linked volunteer assignment can provide experience of contributing to an international development-oriented initiative.

How to Prepare for the Opportunity

Applicants interested in this programme should carefully consider how their existing experience connects with the assignment.

Before applying, it can be useful to reflect on the following questions:

• What does Agenda 2063 mean to me?
• What aspect of African development interests me most?
• What Power Space do I currently operate in?
• What value do I create in that space?
• What development challenge would I like to help address?
• What leadership qualities do I already demonstrate?
• What leadership qualities do I need to strengthen?
• Can I dedicate 11–15 hours per week for seven weeks?
• Can I effectively communicate and collaborate with people online?
• How could my professional, academic, entrepreneurial or community experience contribute to the programme?

Applicants should also ensure that their application clearly demonstrates their motivation, relevant interests, communication abilities and commitment.

Important Scam Warning

Applicants should be particularly careful about fraudulent individuals or websites claiming to represent the United Nations.

The opportunity information explicitly warns that the United Nations does not charge application, processing, training, interviewing, testing or recruitment fees.

If anyone requests money in exchange for applying, being shortlisted, receiving training or securing recruitment, applicants should disregard the request.

Applicants should also exercise caution when submitting personal information online because logos, names, addresses and other organizational materials can be copied and reproduced by scammers.

Always verify that an application is being submitted through the legitimate United Nations or UN Volunteers recruitment platform.

Application Deadline

No application deadline is specified in the opportunity information provided.

Applicants should therefore check the official listing for the current application status and any deadline or closing date before submitting an application.

The provided listing also shows an invalid/unspecified expected start date, so applicants should verify the latest programme schedule through the official recruitment platform.

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Conclusion

The Agenda 2063 in Power Spaces – Cohort 3 provides an opportunity to engage with Africa’s long-term development vision from a personal and practical leadership perspective.

Its central message is that achieving The Africa We Want is not solely the responsibility of governments or major institutions. Transformation can also emerge from the many Power Spaces in which individuals learn, work, build businesses, conduct research, educate others, participate in communities and make decisions.

Over seven weeks, participants will explore seven practical leadership tools covering contribution, vision, delivery, values, routines, future thinking and continuous review. They will also support other learners, participate in group conversations and contribute feedback that can improve future cohorts.

For professionals, students, researchers, entrepreneurs, educators, practitioners and community leaders interested in Africa’s development, this online volunteer assignment can provide a structured opportunity to deepen their understanding of Agenda 2063 while reflecting on how their own work and influence can contribute to the continent’s transformation.

With a commitment of 11–15 hours per week for seven weeks, applicants should ensure that they have sufficient time and motivation to participate fully. Most importantly, successful participation requires more than familiarity with development terminology. It requires curiosity, critical thinking, communication, collaboration and a genuine willingness to connect ideas with action.

The programme ultimately encourages participants to move from asking “What is Agenda 2063?” toward a more personal and consequential question: “What can I contribute to achieving The Africa We Want through the Power Spaces available to me?”

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