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Building the Africa we want: A spotlight interview with Eddel-Quinn Kilingi
With a bachelor's degree in political science and economics, Eddel-Quinn Kilingi has always been drawn to the United Nations (UN) and its mission. Seeking to refine her career path, she applied for an internship with United Nations Office of the Special Adviser on Africa (OSAA), which transitioned into a UN volunteer position focused on business transformation.
Her passion for African development led her to actively participate in the course ‘The Peace and Development Nexus in Africa: Governance, Financing, and Country System’, where she embraced opportunities to deepen her understanding and contribute to meaningful change in the region.
In this spotlight interview with UNSSC’s Rana Elbeheiry, Eddel shares her learning experience.
Rana: What motivated you to sign up for the course ‘The Peace and Development Nexus in Africa: Governance, Financing, and Country Systems’?
Eddel: “The Africa we want is the Africa the world needs.” These words by Ms. Cristina Duarte have had a lingering effect on my mind. I have always aspired for a more developed nation, a more developed Africa. Even as a child, the images of hardship on my television screen of fellow Africans never sat right with me. Why? How come? It's not fair. Every person, at the very least, deserves to live peacefully with access to basic human needs. As I pursued my education, I came to understand the deep effects of colonialism, and through economics, I painfully grasped the extent of economic disparity.
When I joined the Office of the Special Adviser on Africa (OSAA) as an online volunteer, I enrolled in The Peace and Development Nexus in Africa: Governance, Financing, and Country Systems, a free self-paced course designed for policy practitioners and advisors across African nations. Though I wasn’t the primary audience, my curiosity led me to it. I have always been deeply interested in African politics and research. I knew that almost half of the UN peacekeeping efforts happened in Africa. I was aware that in Africa natural resources drive conflict. The very same resources that could fund economies. I had learned that prevention is better than cure and especially that African countries differed in so many ways, there was no one size fits all approach.
Rana: Can you tell us about some of the most memorable parts of your learning experience? What did you enjoy most about the course?
Eddel: I came into the course excited. I had completed advanced African courses in university so was familiar with some of the themes discussed, though, not in the way I expected. This is to say, the course was intentionally designed. To further explain this and to answer the question, the most memorable part for me was two things.
First, after a module, there would be a Zoom discussion* with experts working directly in the areas that were being discussed (module of the week). These discussions were so profound because they allowed for the introspection of African development issues. When people discuss introspection, they mean personal introspection (feelings, emotions) but for me, at least, I was engaging with the course and examining my feelings about the continent. What I had learned, what I was told, the data presented and what I genuinely felt. These Zoom conversations put me further in that state. For example, I was asking myself about the resurgence of coups and what that meant for true democracy of Africans or even poverty and yet Africa is so rich in resources.
The second thing is the course design. It's absolutely unique, something so cleverly put together. I knew what to expect in terms of the flow of knowledge. I was reminded of what was spoken about and it was data-backed. So much data pointed to what was being taught to us (the students of the course). Even one of the assignments asked us to seek data, and this solidified the importance of the knowledge being shared. OSAA is unique and I later learned how they put the course together and how they put all their products together. It’s meticulous and such a well-developed course. Not to mention, it's designed with the end-user in mind, so it's seamless and easy to follow, one can predict the flow. Big congratulations to everyone who put it together, it’s impressive.
*This is a self-paced course. The webinars have been recorded and made available on eLounge as an essential resource for participants to watch at their convenience. Please note that these recordings serve as a key component of the course content.
Rana: Can you share with us one or two key takeaways from the course that have influenced or changed the way you approach any of your tasks at work?
Eddel: For sure, it has changed the way I view data and metrics. I am now more careful with the way information is relayed. It seems obvious but it's imperative to keep data at the forefront of all of all information relayed. Where did this information come from? What is backing this? Can I justify this concept? Just the act of confirming and reconfirming belief systems.
Additionally, solutions exist and one needs to connect the dots. One concept could flow or lead to another, which could change the way you view another. The course reminded me to connect the dots.
Rana: Do you have any encouraging words for future participants?
Eddel: Take the course! Let the concepts sink in and see how they can be applied to your country or community to enact policy. We are all drivers of change in one aspect or another. Personally, I'm still reflecting on how to apply what I’ve learned to advance African development in a more peaceful, equitable way. So yes, take the course and if not for your sake, then for the sake of the future of Africa.
