European Centre for Development Policy Management (ECDPM) - Young International Professionals Programme

Who we are

We are ECDPM – a leading independent 'think and do tank' that wants to make policies in Europe and Africa work for inclusive and sustainable development. We have two offices: in Maastricht and Brussels.

What we do – and why

Good policies are extremely powerful. They can tackle society’s biggest problems at the root, lay a foundation for change, and play a crucial part in making the global development agenda a reality for all. That is why we want to help institutions and governments across Europe and Africa create policies that work.

Our independent policy experts contribute sharp analysis, thorough research and fresh ideas. But making policies work requires stepping off the sidelines too. It means working closely with the people who create, implement or are impacted by policies. We bring different groups around the table, smooth the way for debate and make sure everyone’s voice is heard. We provide advice and training, and design practical solutions together.

We have over thirty years of experience in Africa-Europe relations, international cooperation and development policy. Our focus is climate, energy and food, economy and trade, geopolitics and development, governance, migration and mobility, and peace and security.

Our partners include ministries and institutions, international organisations, think tanks, academia, and social and economic actors from Africa, Europe and beyond.

Young International Professionals Programme

We believe this programme will provide young professionals from developing countries with the possibility to develop specialist knowledge, expertise and experience they cannot acquire otherwise. Secondly, we are convinced their interaction with our staff at ECDPM will strengthen our own sensitivity and cultural awareness vis-á-vis our stakeholders in Africa and the Caribbean, and beyond.

From the perspective of building partnerships this programme will be an instrument for strengthening our relationships with our partner organisations and, contribute to capacity development. In intensifying our contact with partner and peer organisations in this way we also expect to identify opportunities for our own staff to spend longer periods of time working with one or other of our partner organisations in the South. As a result, we expect opening this door to the ‘circulation of talent’ to benefit young non-European professionals, partners and peer institutes, as well as ECDPM itself.

Through the Young International Professionals Programme ECDPM aims to reach candidates with a post-graduate qualification in a relevant academic discipline (such as development studies, social sciences, international economics, agriculture economics, political economy of development, finance) and at least one year’s work experience. We expect such candidates to work with ECDPM as junior researchers, and to contribute to ECDPM policy-oriented research, to participate in writing papers, reports and other publications, and to be involved in other activities of the programme s/he will be integrated in. The candidate(s) will be full team members of the ECDPM programme they are attached to, participating in the activities of a wider group of young professionals who work as Research Assistants and Junior Policy Officers at the ECDPM office in Maastricht, in the South of The Netherlands. The mutual commitment is temporary by nature and designed especially to offer young professionals policy-relevant work experience. The contract period will be for a maximum of one year.

There are a limited number of YIP positions due to the size of our organisation. ECDPM will advertise YIP vacancies on this website page and through its external communications (our Weekly Compass newsletter for example). If you are interested in the YIP programme then please check our website regularly. It is also possible to send in an open application.