The early 21st century is a time of both promise and challenge for Africa – a time when economic and political reforms are being shaped in many of Africa's more than fifty nations. These reforms are best devised and implemented by those who have the deepest understanding of the circumstances, and the greatest personal investment in successful solutions – Africans. But in order to be effective, they must have access to the finest theoretical tools of their professions – as must everyone.

New York University, an institution of higher education with a global perspective, believes that it has the capacity to contribute its intellectual and academic resources and to assist the efforts of Africans as they bring about systemic change in the social, political and economic landscapes of their homelands. Towards this end, the Faculty of Arts and Science (FAS) has established a joint Master of Arts degree program in Economics and Africana Studies. This program is targeted to the needs of African graduate students of the social sciences. We now seek funding to establish and pilot the first five years of this new program.

In partnership with African institutions, the JEAMA program will provide young African men and women who are at the beginning of their public service careers with intellectual tools and a broad perspective that will serve them, and their countries, for many years to come. They will join the growing cadre of African leaders – economists and government and agency officials – who have brought the most advanced thinking to bear on the economic and social problems of their continent.New York University has already set up the JEAMA curriculum and received New York state approval for the JEAMA degree. Three African institutions have agreed to work in close collaboration with NYU. As part of their commitment, they will identify of a pool of qualified applicants, as well as appropriate internship opportunities.

The next step is to acquire funding for stipends for the JEAMA scholars, and to begin soliciting applications from potential scholars, as well as asking our African partner schools for recommendations. Accepted scholars will then be brought to New York and provided with a stipend. We have the potential to bring over the first class in Fall 2005, if funding for the stipend and travel from Africa is in place.Each class of JEAMA scholars will study at the University for three semesters – Fall, Spring and the following Fall, and then return to their country of origin to work on a special project or internship, with faculty guidance.

The University will support those students who are interested in pursuing university-level teaching careers when they return to Africa by creating two special Teaching Assistantships within the program. In doing so, we hope not only to open doors of professional opportunity for these individuals, but also to strengthen the tradition of excellence in the teaching of social sciences at African institutions of higher education.

The University is seeking funding for graduate fellowships and travel grants to support students in this innovative new program.