LONG ESSAY (250 WORDS)

PDE

What are your goals for the Professional Development Experience, Including the
specific skills and knowledge you hope to gain? How would you apply an experience
working in a U.S. organization to your work after returning to your home country?

First of all, thank you for this opportunity given to us. The best way for gaining practical
experiences in the United States context.
My goal for the Professional Development Experience is to gain comprehensive knowledge
useful to a Policy Analyst.
I completed my Master’s degree in International Economic Law and Policy at the University
of Barcelona in Spain. After my studies, I returned to Cote d’Ivoire, I worked with National
Governmental Agencies such as the National Committee of the African Continental Free
Trade Area, Ministry of Trade, and Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

My last professional experiences in the Ivorian context allowed me to be confronted with the
challenges facing policy analysts. The difficulty regarding decisions making in absence of
public-private partnerships and data for analysis. Thus, I would like to learn best practices
applicable in my country through alternative strategies. Moreover, learn practical things about
good governance, public finance, budgeting, and all skills related to public management.
Be part of this program, will also enable me to share my experiences, learn with/from others
youth leaders and expand my professional networks.

Returning home, I will help young girls interested in these fields, encourage them, organize
training programs for capacity building and share best experiences with them. In addition, I
will create a think-tank for sharing their findings with the public, academia, and perhaps most
importantly, the government officials and policymakers who will consider its merits.

PERSONAL STATEMENT

1.Please give a brief description of any major professional accomplishments within

the last year and your long-term goals and aspirations. Why have you chosen this
work?

Passionate about international trade and development, I organized debates and conferences on
gender regulation for development and I represented my country as a delegate in many youth
international conferences. At the early stage of my carrier, my major professional
accomplishment within the last years has been my involvement in the African Continental
Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) implementation at the national level and during the second phase
of negotiation on Investment, competition policy, and e-commerce.
While working with the national committee, I have coordinated information management by
collecting and disseminating key trade issues to the National Working Groups. I have
monitored the outcomes of technical assistance and work Agenda of the National Working
Groups and most important I have participated in the AfCFTA online negotiation, seminars,
and capacity building training for officials.

My long-term goals are to become an investment policy analyst and investment arbitrator. I
would like to work in a regional or international institution for implementing best investment
practices and help the least developed countries to attract foreign direct investment for
creating jobs and develop their economies.

I have a background in law, but the first time I read the book of Daron Acemoglu and James
A. Robinson ‘’ Why Nation Failed: The Origin of power, prosperity, and poverty”, I develop
a great interest in international development. They inspire me to become an analyst for
helping underdeveloped countries to reach an appropriate level of development.

2. Based on your understanding of your preferred track of study, what skills and
knowledge do you hope to gain from the Fellowship that you would not be able to
develop through other education or training? How will you use those skills and that
knowledge to adapt your activities in your home country and/or community within
the next three to five years?

I studied International Economic Law and Policy at the University of Barcelona in Spain,
the study focuses on International Trade and Investment, I want to add leadership in
public management to my background. The advantage concerning learning leadership in
public management through your program is that you are well known to build the capacity
of youth and the program is not only an academic study but more a comprehensive
executive program with leadership training, mentoring, and collaboration with U.S.
scholars and best practitioner in public management.

I am working in the international trade field, reinforced my skill in this domain will help
me to become efficient in policy implementation through transversal training for leaders
on sustainable development goals.

I will transfer and adapt U.S. public management practice in the Ivorian context in
compliance with our needs and priorities, training other young women and apply it with
the decision-maker in my country.
SHORT ESSAY (150 words)

1.Public and community service are essential responsibilities for leaders. What
communities do you most hope to reach and engage through your work? How are you
working toward this goal now, and what else do you hope to accomplish in the
future?

I have not yet worked toward my goal, I project to reach policymakers, for effective
participation and opportunities creation for the youth to be involved in influencing, shaping,
designing, and contributing to policy and the development in Cote d'Ivoire

After the completion of the program, I will teach all skills gained in partnership with local
institutions and I will engage to fight for the elimination of gender disparities and stereotypes
in public or policy careers.

I will commit to train women in public management and leadership and support women to
assume leadership positions to increase the number of female leaders at all levels of decision-
making in the public sphere.

My ambition is to create an organization/think tank for discussing issues concerning women

and empower them to hold a standard of excellence.

2.The Mandela Washington Fellowship values diversity, equity, and inclusion and
strives to reach diverse audiences through all programming. Provide a specific
example of how you have committed yourself to these values in your professional
and/or personal life.

I consider myself, as a world citizen that means my geographical origin does not
completely define me. This point of view allows me to learn from other cultures and
habits.
With my ubuntu mentality, I am aware that the collective effort gives a better result. When
I was a student, I organized debates related to gender we invited people with different
backgrounds, to collect people's opinions in an inclusive way. After that, we invited an
expert for training, information about the topic. Regardless of our opposite perspective,
these debates opened our minds, we were aware of the importance of the active
participation of women in all domains for development.

3.Nelson Mandela said, “Do not judge me by my successes, judge me by how many
times I fell down and got back up again.” Strong leaders are able to effectively handle
challenges. The COVID-19 global health pandemic has posed significant challenges,
both globally and locally. Describe a specific instance when the pandemic or its
repercussions posed a problem that helped you grow as a leader. What did you do,
and how are you applying lessons learned from this experience in your current work?

During the pandemic, I decide to apply for an online volunteer position. I have finally found
one in Ghana. The job online was very challenging but I have learned to disciplined myself
and worked under pressure to achieve the goals.

I was obliged to daily report on the ongoing projects, which enable me to better organized
myself for finishing my daily duties. I prefer physical interaction while working in a team,
however, this experience changes my mindset, I have learned to work dynamically online. It
allowed me to enhance my communication skill, I have used text, audio, or video
call/messages for maintaining communication and the workflow.

According to me, the pandemic has highlighted the necessity of technology improvement to
prepare ourself for other crisis, and better technology infrastructures will help in all sectors of
the economy.
4.Nelson Mandela was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for working with leaders of the
South African government to agree on a peaceful transition to multiparty rule and an
end to apartheid, demonstrating that leaders can achieve progress despite differing
views or identities. Please explain a situation where you have worked with people
from different backgrounds, identities, or perspectives and had to use your
leadership skills to resolve a conflict or disagreement. What actions did you take, and
how did you encourage respectful discussion?

As I mentioned, I participated in many international cultural exchanges, international

competitions, and conferences. In addition, I studied in Barcelona with people from over
20 countries. To be honest cultural differences were an obstacle but I have learned to
collaborate with others without consideration of their social background, race, and
language.

For instance, during my Master's, we used to work in a group for preparing students to
work in a multicultural team. This helped me to appreciate and respect people's
perspectives. At the end of the program, the last moot competition, I had people from
Kyrgyzstan, France, Ukraine, and Colombia in my team, we won the prize of the best team
not just because of our performance but rather our synergy as a team in the development
of the competition.