UNU-WIDER/African Union Winter School on Public Finance: A Deep Dive

The UNU-WIDER and African Union are presenting a valuable opportunity for African policy analysts and researchers interested in public finance. This winter school, set to take place in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, offers a blend of online and in-person learning focused on practical skills in applied public economics. The program aims to equip participants with the tools needed for quantitative analysis of public finance issues within developing countries.

Course Structure and Content

The winter school is divided into two distinct parts, ensuring a comprehensive learning experience. The first part is a three-day online methods workshop, scheduled from July 28-30, 2026. This virtual session will lay the groundwork for the more intensive in-person component.

Following the online workshop, participants will travel to Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, for a one-week in-person course. This segment will be hosted by the African Union from September 14-18, 2026. During this week, attendees will engage directly with UNU-WIDER researchers and invited experts. The curriculum will cover a range of critical topics, including the relationship between public finance and development, strategies for addressing tax evasion and improving enforcement, understanding economic informality, and methods for redistribution and social protection. A significant focus will also be placed on empirical methods, data analysis, and the emerging role of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in public finance.

The first day of the in-person course will also mark the celebration of SOUTHMOD at 10. Participants will have the chance to join this event, which will feature a keynote address and panel discussions centered on public finance and domestic revenue mobilization.

Eligibility and Application Requirements

This winter school is designed for researchers and analysts working in various African institutions. This includes those from ministries, revenue authorities, other government agencies, universities, and research institutes across the continent. The organizers particularly encourage applications from suitably qualified early-career female researchers, aiming to promote greater gender diversity in the field.

To be eligible for a course certificate, participants must attend at least 80% of both the lectures and practical sessions across both the online and in-person parts of the course. Participants are expected to bring their own laptops, ideally with Stata and R software pre-installed, as they will be used for practical exercises throughout the program.

Financial Assistance and Application Procedure

Successful applicants will receive significant financial support to ease their participation. This includes a travel grant to cover round-trip travel from their home institution to Addis Ababa. Accommodation and most meals during the stay in Addis Ababa will also be provided. Additionally, back-office support will be available to assist participants in obtaining the necessary entry visa for Ethiopia.

Applications for the winter school must be submitted online through the UNU-WIDER portal. The deadline for submission is June 7, 2026, at 23:59 UTC+3. Applicants will need to prepare several documents for their submission. These include a Curriculum Vitae (CV), a motivational letter explaining their interest in the course, and a one-page original Stata or R code sample.

A unique requirement is a note, not exceeding 500 words, detailing how AI tools have been used in writing the provided code sample, or outlining what the applicant wishes to learn about AI’s application in public finance. A letter of recommendation is also mandatory. This letter must be submitted directly by the recommender to [email protected] before the application deadline, and the applicant must provide the recommender’s name in their application.

Shortlisted candidates may be asked to complete a brief online test assessing their quantitative skills, including coding abilities and interpretation of empirical results. Once selected, applicants will be notified via email and must confirm their acceptance of the offer within two weeks.

Key Dates for Applicants

Prospective participants should take note of the following important dates:

June 7, 2026: Application submission deadline (23:59 EEST).
June 26, 2026: Target date for decisions on selected applications.
July 8, 2026: Target date for confirming participation.
July 28-30, 2026: Online methods workshop.
September 14-18, 2026: UNU-WIDER/African Union Winter School in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the UNU-WIDER/African Union Winter School about?

It’s a program in Addis Ababa teaching policy analysts and researchers practical skills in public finance and applied public economics.

When and where does the winter school take place?

It has an online part from July 28-30, 2026, and an in-person part in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, from September 14-18, 2026.

Who can apply for the winter school?

Researchers and analysts from African institutions like ministries, universities, and research institutes are encouraged to apply, especially early-career female researchers.