The EU Fellow (m/f/d)

The EU Senior Fellow will enhance APRI’s analytical capacity on Europe’s role in Africa-EU relations, providing African-informed insights into European policymaking and acting as a bridge between African perspectives and European policy debates. Core responsibilities include leading research on European strategies, particularly around geopolitics, geoeconomics, climate, and global governance, while drafting high-quality outputs such as policy briefs and reports. The Fellow will represent APRI in Brussels, expand networks with EU institutions and civil society, and organize dialogues and events in Brussels and Berlin to advance APRI’s perspectives. Beyond research and outreach, the Fellow will contribute to media engagement and stakeholder briefings, ensuring APRI’s work is visible, policy-relevant, and grounded in African agency. 

• Produce high-quality analysis on Europe’s evolving policies toward Africa, with a strong focus on economic cooperation, geopolitics, and critical raw materials.

• Monitor EU institutional debates, legislative developments, and strategic initiatives relevant to Africa-Europe relations.

• Translate European policy trends into African-informed perspectives and identify opportunities for mutually beneficial cooperation.

• Draft research papers, policy briefs, and commentary pieces that advance APRI’s thought leadership.

• Draft background notes, talking points, concept notes, terms of references, and briefs to support APRI’s Africa–Europe research agenda.

• Assist the team by reviewing and providing feedback on draft research papers as part of the publication process.

• Collaborate with the wider APRI team to provide European insights that enhance APRI’s Africa-led narratives.

• Support data collection and deliver data-driven analysis to inform the development of visualisation tools.

• Serve as APRI’s primary representative in Brussels, engaging regularly with policymakers, EU institutions, think tanks, private sector and civil society.

• Organise and participate in policy dialogues, roundtables, and high-level meetings to disseminate APRI’s work and shape narratives around shared Africa–Europe priorities.

• Build and maintain a strong network of European stakeholders to support APRI’s long-term influence and visibility.

• Lead the design and implementation of a practical toolkit for establishing and monitoring Africa–EU partnerships.

• Conduct interviews with European policymakers and stakeholders to inform the toolkit’s content and usability.

• Ensure the toolkit reflects African priorities while aligning with evolving European policy frameworks.

• Contribute to APRI’s strategic planning on Africa–Europe relations by providing regular insights from on-the-ground EU engagement.

• Strengthen internal understanding of European policymaking dynamics and help integrate these insights across APRI projects.

• Demonstrated ability to analyse EU policy through an African lens and communicate African perspectives effectively in European policy spaces.

• Capacity to identify synergies, tensions, and emerging opportunities within Africa–Europe policy debates.

• Demonstrated ability to initiate and sustain meaningful relationships with EU institutions, policymakers, civil society, and think tanks.

• Established professional networks within Brussels policy circles (EU institutions, member states, civil society, think tanks).

• Produces rigorous, timely, and policy-relevant research outputs with minimal supervision.

• Able to synthesise complex information, provide actionable recommendations and communicate it clearly to diverse audiences.

• Demonstrates skill in shaping narratives, crafting compelling messages, and ensuring APRI’s work resonates with European stakeholders.

• Comfortable engaging with the media and representing APRI at public events.

• Outstanding written and spoken French and English; proficiency in German and other languages is an asset.

• Thrives in a fast-paced, mission-driven NGO environment with a high degree of autonomy and is capable and comfortable working remotely.

• Actively contributes to organisational learning, internal collaboration, and long-term strategy.

• Embodies APRI’s values: African agency, integrity, fairness, and commitment to mutual partnership.

• Ensures that African priorities and voices remain central in Europe-based discussions.

• Maintains sensitivity to political, cultural, and institutional dynamics across African and European contexts.

The candidate should have minimum 5-7 years of relevant professional experience in EU institutions, think tanks, academia, or policy advisory roles and experience with stakeholder engagement and organizing policy dialogues or high-level events. The candidate must be based in Brussels with a valid work permit.

please follow the link to submit your application. Upload the following documents in a single PDF:

1. A CV (maximum 3 pages) with 2 reference names and their contact details. 

2. Cover letter (maximum 2 pages), listing 3 examples of professional collaborations or engagements with EU institutions, member states, or Brussels-based organizations. Include your specific role, the nature of the engagement, and its outcome. Please also outline how you would leverage existing EU networks and stakeholders to advance APRI’s visibility and Africa-EU policy dialogue. 

3. Short writing sample, a policy brief or op-ed aimed at a European policymaking audience focusing on Africa.

In the "remark" section of the application, please indicate whether or not you already have the Belgian work permit. 

APRI is building a diverse and inclusive team. We particularly welcome applications from candidates with perspectives that are underrepresented in policy debates. 

Kindly note that only shortlisted candidates will be contacted. 

APRI - Africa Policy Research Institute is an independent, nonpartisan institute researching key policy issues affecting the African continent. Its goals are to provide input to the German and EU policy-making processes on Africa and options on key policy issues to African stakeholders.

To achieve this, APRI taps into the expertise of African intellectuals, scholars, and networks, collaborating with a wide range of organizations at home and abroad to conduct policy research that looks beyond prevailing narratives and transcends disciplinary hegemonies to center Africa. Its outputs include reports, policy briefs, and short analyses, with the goal of expanding to other innovative ways of disseminating its work.