Call for Regional Representatives for the Afronomicslaw Academic Forum (Eastern Africa) November 2021

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November 9, 2021

Call for Regional Representatives for the Afronomicslaw Academic Forum (Eastern Africa) November 2021

The Afronomicslaw Academic Forum is an inclusive space that brings together undergraduate and graduate students and early career researchers who are interested in international economic law (IEL) matters as they relate to Africa and the Global South. The Academic Forum is part of Afronomicslaw, an academic and political project that ‘focuses on IEL themes as they relate to Africa and the Global South. A major goal of Afronomicslaw is to amplify the voices and issues that are not often part of the conversation in the scholarship and practice of IEL. Indeed, these voices are often not heard in the teaching and researching of IEL in most academic institutions in Africa and the Global South. The teaching and researching of IEL in our institutions have been termed, by many and with good reason, doctrinal, uncritical and Eurocentric, hence unfit for solving our complex and peculiar issues.

The Afronomicslaw Academic Forum was conceived as a liberated zone that is helping to fill this gap. It does this through two main ways. One is the Afronomicslaw Academic Forum Guest Lecture Series which covers several lectures on (or related to) IEL from an Afrocentric or Global South view. The other is taking the members of the Forum, otherwise known as the Academic Representatives, through a continuous training on critical legal research and writing. The Regional Representatives are afforded the opportunity to get mentored from the scholars and policy experts who feature in our Guest Lecture Series and to publish blogs and journal articles on Afronomicslaw.org and the African Journal of International Economic Law (AfJIEL).

I. Membership Options Available to Applicants

The Eastern Africa wing of the Afronomicslaw Academic Forum is pleased to announce that it is calling for applicants interested in joining the Forum as Regional Representatives for the year 2021-2022. There are two major ‘streams’ or ‘departments’ within the Eastern Africa wing of the Academic Forum:

  • The Editorial Stream is generally charged with editing all blog pieces written by the Forum’s representatives and any external source. It also takes a lead on any initiatives within the Forum that touch on legal research and writing (e.g., legal writing and writing workshops, research projects, etc.).
  • The Partnerships Stream is in charge of actively looking for and sharing career opportunities that may tie in with representatives' personal development plans and contribute, in this way, to their professional growth. The stream also plays a key role in assigning mentors to members of the forum. Mentors are usually experienced professionals and academics in the field of IEL.

When applying to the Forum, applicants can express an interest to join either of the two streams. However, since there are limited slots for these two streams due to efficiency purposes, most applicants will be accepted as ‘general members’. General members do not belong to a particular stream in the Forum but have the same responsibilities and duties that all other regional representatives are bound to under Part II below.

Where a slot later opens up in either stream, a general member may apply to for a position in the relevant stream. Provided that where they apply to the editorial stream, they will be required to meet the additional criteria specified under Part III below.

II. Prospective Duties and Responsibilities of Regional Representatives

Regional Representatives are expected to exercise the duties and responsibilities of their positions in the highest standards of excellence, integrity and prudence. Their duties include:

  • Writing blogs on international economic matters as they relate to Africa and the Global South.
  • Completing all agreed and assigned work excellently, consistently and on time.
  • Making attendance at all sessions and lectures a priority.
  • Being prepared to discuss the issues and business on the agenda and having read all background material relevant to the topics at hand.
  • Cooperating with and respecting the opinions of fellow representatives, leaving personal prejudices out of all discussions, and following the principles of collective responsibility.
  • Representing the Forum in a positive and supportive manner at all times and in all places.

III. Eligibility Criteria

Eligible candidates must meet the following criteria:

a) General Membership

  • Must be from a country in Eastern Africa (Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Ethiopia, Eritrea, South Sudan, North Sudan, Rwanda, Burundi, Djibouti).
  • Must either be a citizen, student or researcher in any country in the region they are representing.
  • Must be an undergraduate student, graduate student or early career researcher with a demonstrated interest in international economic law as it relates to the Africa and the Global South.

b) Editorial Stream

In the event of a vacancy in the editorial stream, applicants to the editorial stream will need to meet the following requirements:

  • Demonstrated editorial experience or knowledge in substantive matters of legal research and writing and/or notable experience in legal research-related projects or initiatives.
  • Excellent written and spoken English.
  • Excellent written and spoken communication skills.
  • Evidence of published writing will offer an advantage to applicants but is not necessary.
  • Passing an editorial test.

c) Partnerships Stream

In the event of a vacancy in the partnerships stream, applicants to the partnerships stream will need to meet the following requirements:

  • Have good interpersonal and communication skills.
  • Display great emotional intelligence.
  • Must be willing to adhere to deadlines.
  • Must display that they have good problem-solving skills.
  • Passing an interview.

IV. Application Process

To become a member of the Academic Forum, applicants should proceed as follows:

Stage 1

  • Submit a statement of interest in English (with not more than 250 words) as follows:

- Tailored to the Forum’s objectives

- Well written ( grammatically and should be concise).

-  Demonstrate how they will apply the skills that they will get from being a member of the Academic Forum.

- Demonstrate where they see themselves in 2-3 years and how the Forum can help achieve that.

  • Submit a Curriculum Vitae (3 pages maximum) with two referees who can be contacted.

Stage 2

Applicants who are shortlisted will proceed to the next stage. The second stage involves virtual interviews at a specified date and time.

Applicants should send their applications to afronomicslawacademicforum@gmail.com. The deadline for receiving applications is 19th November 2021 at midnight (East African Time). In case you have any queries, please do not hesitate to contact the Regional Board at afronomicslawacademicforum@gmail.com.