The African Centre for Cities (ACC) invites applications for a full-time Project Coordinator (City Hall Fellowship) for a 12-month contract (approximately June 2026 -June 2027) with the possibility of renewal. We are looking for candidates to work as part of the African Mayoral Leadership Initiative (AMALI) Data Programme team (see amalicities.africa) located within the African Centre for Cities (ACC) at the University of Cape Town in Cape Town, South Africa.
ACC was established in 2007 at the University of Cape Town as an urban research institute. The ACC is based in the School of Architecture, Planning and Geomatics in the Faculty of Engineering and the Built Environment, but is interdisciplinary in scope, drawing on expertise on urban issues from across the university. AMALI, located within ACC, focuses on supporting African Mayors in their legacy goals and involves in-depth and ongoing technical and skills support over the course of a calendar year. The AMALI Data Programme specifically focuses on supporting Mayors from African Cities and their executive and data teams in the collection, analysis, and use of data necessary for effective decision making and reporting at a city-scale. The staffing complement of the AMALI Data Programme is currently a Data Programme Lead and four City Data Advisors.
The purpose of this position is two-fold: to coordinate the City Hall Fellowship Programme and to provide administrative support to the AMALI Data Programme.
First, in terms of coordinating the City Hall Fellowship Programme, as part of the African Mayoral Leadership Initiative (AMALI), Masters and PhD students are embedded for up to 10 weeks each in AMALI cities across Africa to support city leaders who have participated in the AMALI programme. The Project Co-Ordinator will oversee the running of the programme including: setting up an advisory group of conveners of relevant masters programmes at UCT and ensuring they regularly meet to provide advice on the fellowship programme; liaise with AMALI team members and partners to ensure the fellowship programme is closely aligned with the functioning and objectives of the broader AMALI programme; advertising for and selecting students to participate in the programme (including setting up selection committees where necessary); engaging with AMALI cities to identify opportunities for student placement and matching students with cities and suitable advisors/mentors; organising all logistics for students to be embedded in the selected AMALI cities for up to 10 weeks each; ensuring, with support from supervisors/mentors for the students; ensuring that a high quality practical output is produced for each city leader to help support in the implementation of their legacy goal; ensure that the programme is well-documented and suitably promoted; and maintain records and ensure comprehensive reporting to ACC and to the funders on the programme.
The second part of the position is to help ensure the AMALI Data Programme runs effectively and all milestones are met on time by providing the necessary administrative support to the AMALI Data Programme Lead and other Data Programme team members. This includes organising logistics for travel and managing the AMALI Data Programme office space.
Requirements for the position
- NQF 6 qualification in administration/project management (or equivalent)
- Four years’ relevant experience in administration/project management
- Excellent people skills, including the ability to interact well with individuals from diverse professional and non-professional backgrounds, including internal (UCT staff and students) and external stakeholders (such as city leaders and local government officials)
- Excellent time management/ project management skills
- Ability to work well under pressure
- Excellent verbal, written and presentation skills.
- Computer literacy -high level of proficiency in MS Word and MS Excel
- Ability to exercise judgment and work with minimal supervision
- A commitment to the provision of excellent service
- Attention to detail
The following would be advantageous:
- Knowledge of urban issues in Africa and of local government in Africa
- Fluency in French.
The 2026 annual cost of employment range is between R336 151 and R625 071.
Application process
To apply, please visit the UCT Internal Careers site (For Internal Applicants) and (For External Applicants) to create a profile and submit your application. Please complete/attach the following to your profile before submitting your application:
- A letter of motivation, outlining how your expertise aligns with the position’s requirements.
- A detailed Curriculum Vitae (CV)·
- Three referee names which must include their title and name, position details, relationship to you, their e-mail address, and telephone number;
- Highest qualification; and
- ID/Passport.
An application which does not comply with the above will be regarded as incomplete and might not be considered. Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and maybe required to undergo competency assessments. References may be requested by UCT at any stage of the selection process.
Any inquiries for this position are to be addressed to Ms Ntsizi Hlubi at hlubi.ntsizi@uct.ac.za or 021 650 3831. Please do not send or submit job application/CV via this e-mail.
The University reserves the right to extend the closing date for applications if deemed necessary and reserves the right to make no appointment.
Telephone: 021 650 3831 Website: www.africancentreforcities.net
Reference number: 1403 Closing date: 26 June 2026
UCT is a designated employer and is committed to the pursuit of excellence, diversity, and redress in achieving its equity targets in accordance with the Employment Equity Plan of the University and its Employment Equity goals and targets. Preference will be given to candidates from the under-represented designated groups. Our Employment Equity Policy is available at https://uct.ac.za/oic/employment-equity
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