Callforapplicants

ResilienceinScienceLeadershipduringtheCOVIDeraworkshop

Background

Covid-19pandemichasaffectedsciencegloballyatmultiplelevelsandscales.However,ithassteerednewopportunities forscientificdiscoveryaswellascalls forpromotingunprecedented actions on the science-policy, science-communication, and science-diplomacyinterfacesworldwide.InAfrica,thespeedandqualityofthedevelopmentofscience capacity do not depend only on infrastructure and the technical training ofpeople but are intimately linked to leadership. It is imperative to prepare the nextgenerationof scientists for the complexities that inter-and transdisciplinary researchapproaches to science entail. There is an internationally emerging paradigm thatrecognizes that the focus on individual leadership is often inadequate to addresscomplex challenges, and that instead a collaborative leadership approach is moreappropriate; this, however, requires skills across many sectors and collaborativeprocesses.TheSouthernAfricaScienceLeadershipProgramme(S-ASLP)aimsatdevelopingearlyand mid-career researchers in the areas of thought leadership, team development,engagement and collaboration, which are essential in the professional and careergrowth of African research leaders. S-ASLP also aims to create a network of Africanscience leaders from Southern Africa, and across all academic disciplines. This is aplatformthatwillhelptoincreasethevisibilityofAfricancontributionstoscienceandpromote the production of impactful research geared towards finding innovativesolutions to build a resilient continent. Following the training, fellows will gain acomprehensiveunderstandingonhowtoapplytheirskillstoaprojectrelevanttotheircontext,atAgenda2063andUNSustainableDevelopmentGoals(SDGs)withtheaimtocontributetoanewparadigmforAfricascienceWorkshopOverviewTheS-ASLPworkshop isa joint initiativeof theAfricaScienceLeadershipProgramme(ASLP), the initiating Young Academy in Mauritius, the Organization for WomeninScience for theDevelopingWorld,MauritiusNationalChapterandtheDoctoralSchooloftheUniversityofMauritius.

The ASLP is part of the Future Africa initiative led by the University of Pretoria inpartnershipwiththeGlobalYoungAcademyandhasbeenrunningforthelastfiveyearsinSouthAfrica.InabidtoexpandtheASLPtothedifferentregionsofAfrica,theASLPhaspartneredwiththeinitiatingyoungacademyinMauritiusforthefirstvirtualAfricanScience Leadership workshop for early- and mid-career researchers in the SouthAfricansubregion.The programme aims to create a lasting network of science leaders on the Africancontinent,spanningnotonlyacrosscountries,butalsoacrossdisciplinaryboundaries.Theleadershipprogramme:

� Identifiesearly-tomid-careeracademicswhohavedemonstratedleadershippotentialandaninterestindevelopingkeyleadershipskills.

� Supportsthemtoapplytheacquiredskills to initiativesthatarerelevanttotheacademicdevelopmentonthecontinentanditsimpactonsociety.

� Creates a network of academic leaders within the Southern Africa regionspanningnotonlyacrosscountries,butalsoacrossdisciplinaryboundaries.

� Advancesa curriculum foracademic leadershipdevelopment,which canbeutilisedininstitutionsinAfricaandbeyond.

ProgrammeStructureTheprogrammewilluseahighlyinteractiveapproachtotraining,applicationofskillstoa leadership initiative, peer support, and mentorship. Selected participants will berequiredtoattenda3dayintensiveonlineprogrammeforfourhourseachday,from23to 25 August 2021. The three hours involve direct interaction and participants areadvised to take full days off as they will also be involved in groups and individualassignmentsbeyond theonline interaction.Theprocesswill involveanapproach thatcycles between theory, application and reflection. Participants will be challenged towork collaboratively to design initiatives that advance a new paradigm for Africanscience.Thetrainingwillcover:● Coreelementsofcollectiveleadership● Creativeandsystemsthinking;Effectiveproblemsolvinganddecisionmaking● Advanceddialogueandcommunicationskills

ExpectedcommitmentTheS-ASLPisinvitingapplicantswhoarecommittedtodevelopingleadershipinAfrica.The training itself requires the time commitment during the online training sessions.Furthermore, fellowswillbeexpected toengagewithacontemporaryAfricanScienceLeadershipChallengetoidentifythewaysinwhichtheymightcontributetoaddressingitinthispandemicera.Therewillbenocostsfromtheapplicants.

SelectioncriteriaandapplicationprocessTo be selected, applicants need to display a compelling vision of their futureinvolvement in the development of research projects, programmes, human capacity,specific policies or societal structures. The selection process will consider individualqualitiesbutalsofocusonensuringadiversityofculture,subjectbackground(Naturaland Social Sciences, Humanities) and gender among the fellows. Where possible theprogramme will also attempt to create small ‘cores’ of leadership; multiple strongapplicantsfromthesamecentreorcountrywillthusbeconsidered.Thefollowingcriteriaareusedasaguideforthenominationandselectionoffellows:

• APhDdegreeorequivalentqualification;• Afacultyoracontinuingresearchpositionataresearchinstitution;• Active inresearchandteachingatanAfrican institutionofhighereducationor

research;• Asustainedrecordofoutstandingscientificoutputs;• Interestintranslatingandcommunicatingtheresultsoftheirworkforimpactin

society;• Demonstratedleadershipabilityinresearchandbeyond;• Interestintheroleofresearchinaddressingcomplexissuesaffectingsociety;• Interest in collaborations across disciplines and sectors (e.g. industry,

governmentand• Intenttosharewhatislearnedintheprogrammewiththeirbroadernetworks.

All applicants have to provide one support letter by an academic referee (details areprovidedintheapplicationform).All applications will be reviewed and shortlisted by representatives of the ASLPManagementTeamandtheLocalOrganizingCommittee.Theywillalsomakethefinalselectionofcandidates.Eligible countries in Southern Africa include Angola, Botswana, Comoros, DemocraticRepublic of Congo, Eswatini, Lesotho, Madagascar, Malawi, Mauritius, Mozambique,Namibia,Seychelles,SouthAfrica,Tanzania,ZambiaandZimbabweKeydates:24June–14July-Callopen

24July-Successfulapplicantsinformedofdecision

23August–25August–S-ASLPworkshop