Simuka Africa Team Briefing: April 3, 2026
Hello, All:
Welcome to your Q2 2026 Volunteer Service with SimukaAfrica.org! We are honored to have you with us. Please note the following:
1) This is a Humanitarian Crisis Assignment. Due to escalating geopolitical conflict and our suicide reduction mission, notifications of loss of life may occur on during the quarter.
2) The establishment of a professional self-care regime is also part of our Career Development Program to assist you with avoiding career burnout.
3) Be advised that our Weekly Friday Briefings contain instructions regarding your assignments and our operations. Reading them each week is vital.
4) Returning Staff: We are still transitioning your Drive Folders. You will be contacted when your folder has been moved.
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Q2 2026 UNV Registration
If you applied for Q2 Service through UNV, be sure to complete the Essential & Mandatory Courses on the UNV E-Campus by July 1, 2026.
If you applied and did not see an acceptance letter from UNV regarding your Q2 service, notify us.
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Administrative Updates
The following information addresses the Start -of-Assignment transition:
Q2 Creative Career Focus Staff Meetings are scheduled for April 11, May 9 & June 13. Register here. Attendance is recommended, particularly if you have questions.
Art Therapy with 34 Gallery Art Advisor Mind Soul Meditations is scheduled each Friday through May. Register here. You are welcome to attend even if you are not volunteering for Q2.
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The May Social Media Calendar
The Simuka Africa Journal focuses on general SDG content. Interludes only publishes SDG 3.4 Mental Health Content. The 34 Gallery accepts poetry, art, and audiovisual submissions on specific themes. Topics are creatively open within these perimeters. We publish based on the following criteria:
Please note: Our online staff and artists represent 35 countries. All content must adhere to laws set by the Government of Zimbabwe and rely on UN SDG language to be accessible and inclusive for everyone.
Submission Guidelines: 34 Gallery Open Call Art instructions are here. Articles are 700 words minimum. Graphics should be submitted in batches of 4, 8 or 12. SDG Videos must be 2 minutes or less. Content must be appropriate for ages 14+ and politically neutral. We will revise or ask you to revise submissions that do not meet these standards.
Submission is not a guarantee of publication: If a submission is rejected, we encourage you to submit your content to other publishing venues or your personal websites and social media. Also, content that is explicit, hate-based or isn’t fact-checked and sourced will not be published.
Needed by April 30th
Because our volunteers continue to be impacted by ongoing intentional crisis, we list specific SDG assignments and topics in our briefings. If you have time in your schedule to complete one of these, notify us:
A recap of The "Time Use and Social Inequality – a Gendered Perspective" Report from UN Women
A recap of The World Economic Forum’s Future of Jobs Report (2025)
A recap of The World Happiness Report 2026
A recap of the UNU-INWEH report, “Global Water Bankruptcy: Living Beyond Our Hydrological Means in the Post-Crisis Era”
A recap of the Artificial Authenticy Report
UN International Day of Families - May 15
UN World Telecommunication and Information Society Day - May 17
UN World Fair Play Day - Sports, May 19
SDG 2: World Bee Day - May 20
SDG 2: International Tea Day - May 21
UN International Day for Biological Diversity - May 22
SDG 2: International Day of Potato - May 30
Can’t make the deadline? Things happen. Just notify us so your task can be reassigned.
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Food for Thought
The United Nations System
Introduction to UNU-INWEH (The United Nations University Institute for Water, Environment and Health)
Introduction to UN OCHA
Introduction to the Geneva Learning Foundation
Introduction to the the Vienna Convention and the Montreal Protocol
Introduction to The Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants
United Nations Employment
UN Careers - the primary UN career hub
UNJOBNET - daily job listings for the entire UN System
UNJOBNET: Remote Positions - daily updated Un remote work
UNU Careers - Open positions
UNFPA People Strategy Internships 2026 are now open—offering a fully remote opportunity to gain hands-on experience in HR, data analytics, AI, and policy within a global organization.
The Book Reviews Editor position at UNESCO Institute for Lifelong Learning (UIL) is now open—offering a €10,500 contract to contribute to a leading global academic journal in education and lifelong learning. - Deadline: April 17th
The NATO Internship Programme 2027 offers a paid 6-month opportunity in Brussels.
The L’Oréal-UNESCO For Women in Science Sub-Saharan Africa Programme 2026
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A.I. Policy, News & Jobs
Our Simuka Africa A.I. Organizational Policy can be found here. It also includes direct links to the A.I. Tools most asked about in job interviews. For those working in the global nonprofit sector, this is why A.I. training gives you an edge:
40% of nonprofits say that no one in their organization is educated in AI. 76% of nonprofits do not have an AI policy. 69% of nonprofit marketers that use generative AI have not received formal training.
The study, Artificial Authenticity: The Rise of Images Generated by Artificial Intelligence in Charity and Development Communications, maps current practice and offers practical recommendations for charities, fundraisers and sector leaders navigating this rapidly evolving digital landscape.
A.I. Ongoing Coverage from Devex
If A.I. is still intimidating for you, try creating A.I. Art for our Open Calls. 34 Gallery Art Advisor Lawrence Lee also has an ongoing series with easy and fun ways to learn prompting through self-care and creativity.
A.I. & Tech Creative Job Opportunities:
The Cambridge ERA: AI Fellowship 2026 - Deadline: April 12th
Internet Society Mid-Career Fellowship 2026 is now open—offering a fully funded global leadership programme focused on Internet governance, digital transformation, and strategic leadership.
Data Annotation: Train AI as a Medical Expert
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Opportunities
I. Career Tip: While we have listed the internships on some of these opportunities below, be sure to check the full scope of their career pages for Job vacancies.
Inter-University Council for East Africa (IUCEA) EAC Scholarship Programme Phase II 2026
Digital Action Lab (DAL) Cohort 3 by CIVICUS Global Alliance (South Africa)
The Chatham House Academy Fellowship 2026/2027 is now open—offering a fully funded 10-month experience in London at one of the world’s leading policy institutes. - Deadline: April 17th
HCoC Youth Group Fellowship 2026–2027 is now open—offering a fully funded opportunity to engage in missile non-proliferation, arms control, and global security research alongside experts and diplomats.
Rooted Futures Lab EJIT Fellowship 2026 is now open—offering a fully remote, paid fellowship for changemakers ready to work on real-world solutions at the intersection of tech and environmental justice
GROW – Global Research Opportunities for the South by German Academic Exchange Service
The African Union Youth Volunteer Corps (AU-YVC) - Deadline: April 10th
The GYBN Youth Fellowships 2026 - Deadline: April 7th
Alex's Lemonade Stand Foundation Grants (pediatric cancer research)
Pfizer Independent Medical Education Grant Request for Proposals Competitive Grant Program – Pfizer Internal Review Process.
The EU Visitors Program (EUVP) 2027 offers global professionals a unique, fully funded opportunity to explore EU institutions, engage with policymakers, and expand their international networks.
The African Development Bank Internship Program 2026 (Session 2) - Deadline: April 8th
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Food For Thought, II
I will close with a phrase everyone hears from me: Artists Create Golden Ages. In every historical period, artists remind us to live authentically, appreciate beauty, and embrace uniqueness. So this is reminder to get creative with your assignments:
Practice art therapy with our Open Call Themes.
Educate and Mentor through article submissions.
Entertain using video and audio creations.
Learn or Teach A.I.
Simply by doing this, you can inspire someone else to live another day and heal.
Enjoy your holiday weekend!
-M.
May hope, peace & unity be with you.
