Simuka Africa Team Briefing: August 14, 2026
Hello, All:
We hope you’ve had a chance to get a glimpse of the August eclipse this week. The international photos have truly been amazing. Please note the following:
The next Q3 Creative Career Focus Staff Meeting is scheduled for next Saturday, August 22nd on the HeyPeers platform. Register here.
Staff Open Call: SDG 3 & 13 Nature Photography — Any volunteers with outdoor photos showing the beauty of Zimbabwe or your local region, submit them! Let’s encourage the global community to use nature, photography, & exercise for mental health wellness. Deadline: August 31st.
The Q3 volunteer service period ends on Oct. 1st. Remember to complete the Essential & Mandatory Courses on the UNV E-Campus by this date if you are volunteering with us through UN Volunteers.
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Administrative Updates
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🚩 Be Advised: Magdelene (Curator M.) is currently under medical supervision. While she recovers, inquiries will be handled by general staff. If any volunteers have time in their schedule to assist with temporary administrative tasks for the remainder of Q3, let us know.
Note: Members of our team will attend World Water Week from Sunday, August 23rd - 27th. All questions, concerns, and recommendation requests should be submitted prior to these dates for timely response.
Questions about assignments or protocol? Respond to this Briefing or email [email protected].
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The September Social Media Calendar
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The next deadline for assignments is August 30th.
Email all submissions to [email protected]. Check our website and social media for examples of what we publish.
Art Submissions: The 34 Gallery Open Call instructions are here.
Virtual Publications: Articles are 700 words minimum. Submissions can also include up to 4 graphics or artworks.
Graphic Design & Video: Graphics should be submitted in batches of 4, 8 or 12. Video must be 2 minutes or less.
Email us your selected topic first to reserve a spot on the publication calendar.
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Suggested Topic List
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Simuka Africa Volunteers have successfully attained employment, internships, Fellowships, and other positions based on their active publication history with us. Report summaries in particular provide an edge in the job interview process.
If you have time in your schedule to complete one of these, notify us with your selected topic by responding to this briefing or emailing us directly:
SDG 3: Chronic Fatigue - definition & interventions
SDG 3: Insomnia - definition & interventions
SDG 4: Wildlife in Africa (minimum 3-5 animals)
SDG 4: The Importance of Play for Children
SDG 5: Life After Retirement - Tips for Women
SDG 8: Establishing Your Own Business - tips & strategies
UN Women Report Summary: Tipping point: Online violence impacts, manifestations, and redress in the AI age
UN Women Report Summary: Generation Equality: Compendium of lessons learned 2026
UN Women Report Summary: Women farmers caring for people and planet: Sustaining land, water and biodiversity
UN Women Report Summary: UN Women Climate and Environment Strategy
Can’t make the deadline? Things happen. Just notify us so your task can be reassigned. However, be advised that Simuka Africa is unable to issue recommendation letters or UNV reports on your behalf without a record of submitted assignments during the quarter.
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The United Nations System: An Introduction
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Global Insights:
The UN & Zimbabwe: UN Mourns Lives Lost in Lake Kariba Boat Tragedy
UNESCO & Zimbabwe: World Heritage Sites
Intro to UN Crisis Relief
UNV Masterclass: HELP YOUR WORK SPEAK FOR ITSELF - Aug. 18th
UNV Masterclass: Building Influence Across Teams - Aug. 25th
UNV Masterclass: Negotiation Skills for Everyday Work - Sept. 8th
Training: The UN Tourism Online Academy (Hospitality Careers)
Training: The UNDP SDG Finance Academy is offering 16 free self-paced online courses designed for learners worldwide.
Training: The World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) is offering 16 FREE online courses covering every aspect of intellectual property—from beginner to advanced level.
Training: The UN CC:Learn Open Online Course on Gender and Environment is now open for global learners.
Training: Women Leadership in Climate Action — Free global online course from UNITAR & C40 including a UN digital certificate.
Training: Global Youth Climate Training Programme 2026 — Free online training in climate policy and advocacy from the University of Oxford.
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United Nations Employment
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UN Careers - the primary UN career hub
UNJOBNET - daily job listings for the entire UN System
UNJOBNET: Remote Positions - daily updated UN remote work
Applications are now open for the AERC–World Bank Visiting Scholars Program 2026/2027.
The United Nations–Nippon Foundation Fellowship 2027 offers 14 fully funded places for mid-level government officials and professionals from developing countries to gain advanced training and research experience in ocean affairs, marine science, maritime law, and ocean governance.
The UNESCO Doctoral Internships 2026–2027 offer UCL doctoral researchers an opportunity to gain international research experience at UNESCO Headquarters in Paris, France, while contributing to the Global Happy Schools Initiative.
The FAO Young Professionals Programme 2026 is offering 9 P-1 positions for qualified early-career professionals working across food security, climate change, finance, economics, communications, nutrition, aquaculture and sustainable development.
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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. Additional news:
AI News: Updates
UN News: UN calls for urgent action to protect children from online information risks
Cybersecurity: AI organizations reveal agents hacked other companies, and other cybersecurity news — World Economic Forum
Introduction to The Hyper Index
Introduction to the vAI · Davidson AI Innovation Center:
Learning & Certification
A.I. & Tech Job Opportunities
Data Annotation: Train AI as a Medical Expert
Data Annotation: Train AI as a Legal Expert
All Tech Is Human Job Board — Ethical AI Jobs
The Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat is inviting organisations to propose and host 60-minute panel sessions at the Pacific E-commerce Symposium, focused on advancing digital trade across the Pacific.
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Opportunities
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Career Tip, I: This Artist Says Ambition Is a Trap — Portraits of Another Life, Youtube
Career Tip, II: How to handle a bad boss — Natalie Parker, TEDxParrish Street
Career Tip, III: Skills First, Then Leverage AI: Why Better Skills Create Better Output — Angeline Mafemba, LinkedIN
University of Waikato Doctoral Scholarship (New Zealand)
Griffith University Vice Chancellor’s International Scholarship (Australia)
La Trobe Vice-Chancellor Scholarship 2026–2027 (Australia)
Oppenheimer Memorial Trust Scholarships 2027 (South Africa)
Maastricht University NL-High Potential Scholarship 2027–2028
Swiss Re Foundation is inviting early-stage social entrepreneurs to apply for Shine 2027, a program supporting innovative urban climate solutions through grant funding, business expertise, and leadership coaching in eight global cities.
The Harvard Academy Scholars Program offers a prestigious two-year, fully funded postdoctoral fellowship at Harvard University.
BRAC’s BRIDGE X 2026 offers a year-long exposure programme connecting university learning with real-world social challenges, professional development and youth leadership. (India)
The Stephenson Exploration Advancement Program Award is requesting applications to support conservationists and field scientists who are doing the hands-on work of researching, protecting and caring for our oceans.
The WomenLift Health 2027 Southern Africa Leadership Journey is a fully funded, 12-month leadership development programme designed to strengthen women’s leadership, influence and impact across the health sector.
The Young Leaders in Research (YLR) Program is a 12-month opportunity supporting early-career African researchers in economics and related fields to lead policy-relevant research that advances Africa’s transformation agenda.
The CitiesToBe Photo Award supports photographers who explore the complexity and lived experience of cities through lens-based projects focused on the theme of 'third places.'
The Conservation Guest Scholars Program offers established professionals in cultural heritage conservation a three-month residency at the Getty Conservation Institute to pursue independent research projects.
The University of Johannesburg (UJ) is pleased to announce that applications are now open for its Artists in Residence Programme to advance arts practice as research and artist-academics working across a range of creative disciplines.
The Residency Françoise x Cité des arts offers mid-career or established artists-authors from any discipline and nationality a funded residency in Paris focused on the intersection of contemporary art, psychiatry, and society.
The Antonio Gaudí Foundation invites photographers worldwide to submit original images inspired by nature in Gaudí’s work for a chance to win cash prizes.
The ViCAS Fellowships offer international scholars from all academic disciplines the opportunity to undertake interdisciplinary research residencies at the University of Vienna.
The She Writes Press Toward Equality in Publishing Contest invites two women writers of color the chance to win a full publishing package and a 500-book print run with She Writes Press.
The Kensington Conservation Grant provides funding to graduate students, early-career scientists, and independent explorers for impactful field science and conservation projects.
The Weather Photographer of the Year Awards recognize outstanding weather and climate photography from professional and amateur photographers worldwide.
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Food For Thought
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Self-care, I: 3 ways to be less hard on yourself — Lisa Weagle, 2x Olympian, TEDxMechanicsville
In closing, please note that establishing a professional self-care regime is also recommended during your time with us. Ensure these practices are part of your daily life by establishing routine:
Schedule time to break for meals.
Set an alert to remind you of a reasonable bedtime.
Exercise or walk in the morning before the grind begins.
This weekend, declutter & organize your space to realign your focus.
— The Simuka Africa Team ❤
May hope, peace & unity be with you.
