About this opportunity
Manaaki New Zealand Scholarships runs a set of Africa programmes designed to strengthen professional capability in two targeted sectors, and both are open for the 2027 cohort. The Trade Policy course is delivered online, while the Geothermal Energy Project Management course is delivered in New Zealand. Each one is a short, structured programme for mid-level practitioners, so the applicant continues in their role while gaining sector specific training.
The Trade Policy course runs from 25 January to 26 February 2027 and is delivered entirely online. Applications close on 25 October 2026. The Geothermal Energy Project Management course runs from 26 April to 24 May 2027 and is delivered in New Zealand. Applications for that course close on 6 December 2026.
Eligibility
is set at country level, and the two programmes do not share the same list. For Trade Policy, applicants must be a citizen of Algeria, Angola, Botswana, Djibouti, Egypt, Eswatini, Ethiopia, Ghana, Kenya, Lesotho, Malawi, Mauritius, Mozambique, Namibia, Nigeria, Rwanda, South Africa, Tanzania, Tunisia, Uganda, Zambia or Zimbabwe. For Geothermal Energy Project Management, the list is Ethiopia, Djibouti, Ghana, Kenya, Nigeria, Rwanda, Uganda, Egypt, Tunisia, Algeria, Angola, Botswana, Eswatini, Lesotho, Malawi, Mauritius, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa, Tanzania, Zambia or Zimbabwe. Nigeria appears on both lists, and both lists cover most of the continent.
Both programmes also expect the applicant to be a mid level professional with at least five years of relevant work experience and to have an intermediate level of English language proficiency. For Trade Policy the work experience must be in the trade policy sector. For Geothermal the applicant should be a mid level professional or an official working in the geothermal sector, and the course additionally requires basic level computer literacy and numeracy skills.
What you receive
- Fully supported Trade Policy short course delivered online from 25 January to 26 February 2027
- Fully supported Geothermal Energy Project Management short course delivered in New Zealand from 26 April to 24 May 2027
- Structured training in a targeted sector with a cohort of mid-level African professionals
- Opportunity to build practical skills while remaining in the applicant's current role
- Access to the Manaaki New Zealand Scholarships alumni network
Who can apply
- Citizen of one of the eligible countries for the selected programme (Nigeria appears on both the Trade Policy list and the Geothermal list)
- Trade Policy applicants must be a mid-level professional with at least five years of relevant work experience in the trade policy sector
- Geothermal applicants must be a mid-level professional or an official with at least five years of relevant work experience
- Intermediate level English language proficiency for both programmes
- Basic level computer literacy and numeracy skills for the Geothermal programme
Who should not apply
- Applicants who are not citizens of one of the listed African countries for the programme they choose
- Applicants who do not meet the five year relevant work experience requirement
- Applicants who cannot demonstrate intermediate level English proficiency
Documents to prepare
- Passport or national identity document confirming citizenship of an eligible country
- Evidence of at least five years of relevant work experience in trade policy or geothermal energy as applicable
- Confirmation of intermediate level English language proficiency
- For the Geothermal programme, evidence of basic computer literacy and numeracy skills
- Any additional materials listed on the official Manaaki New Zealand Scholarships application page for the selected programme
How to apply
- Open the official Manaaki New Zealand Scholarships Africa Programmes page at https://manaaki-tstts.nz/programmes/africa/
- Choose the programme you want to apply for, Trade Policy (online) or Geothermal Energy Project Management (in New Zealand)
- Click the Apply now button under the chosen programme, which opens the Qualtrics application form for that course
- Complete the application form with your personal, citizenship, employment and language details
- Submit before the closing date for the chosen programme, 25 October 2026 for Trade Policy or 6 December 2026 for Geothermal Energy Project Management
- Watch for the Manaaki selection email, which will confirm the next steps and any additional documentation
Selection process
- Manaaki New Zealand Scholarships reviews each application against the country list, the experience requirement and the English proficiency requirement
- The Geothermal programme additionally checks the computer literacy and numeracy requirement
- Shortlisted applicants are contacted directly by Manaaki with the outcome and the next steps
- Applicants should ensure their citizenship country matches the specific list for the programme they choose, since the two lists are different
Sources and verification
Related opportunities
- Mastercard Foundation Associates Program (with Jobberman), Cohort 2
A 12-month paid early-career work placement programme run with Jobberman for recent graduates aged 18 to 35 with zero to two years of work experience across Nigeria, Ghana, Liberia, Sierra Leone and The Gambia.
Questions applicants ask
What are the available Africa programmes for 2027?
Two programmes are open on the Manaaki New Zealand Scholarships Africa page, the Trade Policy short course delivered online and the Geothermal Energy Project Management short course delivered in New Zealand.
What are the course dates for each programme?
Trade Policy runs from 25 January to 26 February 2027 and Geothermal Energy Project Management runs from 26 April to 24 May 2027.
When do applications close?
Applications for the Trade Policy course close on 25 October 2026 and applications for the Geothermal Energy Project Management course close on 6 December 2026.
Is Nigeria eligible?
Yes, Nigeria appears on the citizenship list for both the Trade Policy programme and the Geothermal Energy Project Management programme.
Are the two eligibility lists the same?
No, the country lists differ slightly between the two programmes, so applicants should confirm their country appears on the list of the specific course they choose.
How much work experience is required?
At least five years of relevant work experience is required for both programmes, and the experience should be in trade policy for Trade Policy applicants and in geothermal or the public sector for Geothermal applicants.
Important disclaimer
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