# january to august 2024 updates Hey everyone, I know I’ve been a bit quiet on here lately, but I’ve got some pretty exciting updates to share with you all from the past few months, and I couldn’t wait to fill you in. First off, I’m writing this from Germany, where I moved in early July! The reason behind this big move is something I’m thrilled about—I was awarded the [German Chancellor Fellowship](https://www.humboldt-foundation.de/en/connect/explore-the-humboldt-network/singleview/1239186/rafael-oliveira-leite) by the Humboldt Foundation! Until the end of September, I’m in Bonn taking an intensive German language course (see some of my fellow colleagues in the photo). After that, I’ll be splitting my time between Berlin and Speyer for a year, conducting research on senior civil service reform in Germany as a visiting researcher at the [German Research Institute for Public Administration (FÖV)](https://www.foev-speyer.de/news-details/interview-gastforscher-rafael-leite). If you find yourself in any of these cities (Berlin, Speyer) over the next year, let me know! I’d love to catch up, and I’m also all ears for any recommendations on people to meet or places to visit. This is my first time in Europe, so I’m soaking in every new experience with a lot of excitement. Making the decision to come here wasn’t easy. Earlier this year, I was also accepted into the [Master of Public Administration (MPA) in Innovation, Public Policy and Public Value](https://www.ucl.ac.uk/prospective-students/graduate/taught-degrees/innovation-public-policy-and-public-value-mpa) program at UCL in London, with a Chevening Scholarship. It was tough to pass up this opportunity, especially given that [UCL’s Institute for Innovation and Public Purpose](https://www.ucl.ac.uk/bartlett/public-purpose/) is one of the most forward-thinking places globally when it comes to public administration reform. But the chance to come to Germany, learn a new language, and dive into non-Anglo-Saxon perspectives on public administration ultimately drew me here. In addition to this big move, I’ve been involved in some really cool projects that I’d love to share with you: At the New South Institute, we released a [new white paper and a summarized policy brief](https://nsi.org.za/publications/reforming-south-africa-senior-civil-service/). Writing these reports under the guidance of Ivor Chipkin, who is always generous with his insights, was a huge learning experience. We proposed several improvements to the recruitment mechanisms for leadership roles in the South African government, which is going through a particularly interesting time with a coalition government that, for the first time, includes the center-right Democratic Alliance and the traditional ruling party, the ANC. As a member of the YouthLED Integrity Advisory Board, we launched a [collaborative report](https://www.unodc.org/unodc/frontpage/2024/August/10-steps-to-take-action-against-corruption_-for-youth-by-youth.html) in July. This guide, created by youth for youth, aims to inspire and empower young people to lead anti-corruption initiatives globally. Back in Brazil, I had the chance to work on a [literature review for the Digital Council](https://conselhodigital.org.br/?r3d=muito-alem-do-tempo-de-tela-revisao-de-literatura-cientifica-e-propostas-de-politicas-publicas-sobre-bem-estar-das-criancas-e-adolescentes-nas-redes-sociais-nota-de-politicas-publicas), examining the impact of social media on the mental health of young people. I was even invited to present a summary of our findings at a committee in the [Chamber of Deputies](https://www12.senado.leg.br/noticias/materias/2024/05/20/ccdd-debateu-protecao-de-criancas-contra-uso-excessivo-de-telas). It was a great experience, although not everyone agreed with our conclusions—some folks didn’t hesitate to [criticize the work](https://www.intercept.com.br/2024/05/28/big-techs-bancam-estudo-que-minimiza-impacto-das-telas-em-criancas/), even mentioning my name without reaching out directly. But hey, that’s part of the deal when you’re putting your work out there. More recently, I had the pleasure of conducting a two-day workshop with the team of a newly established [strategic people management unit](https://www2.recife.pe.gov.br/noticias/25/06/2024/prefeitura-do-recife-abre-processo-seletivo-para-secretaria-executiva-de-gestao) in the Recife city government, in Brazil’s northeast. We discussed international trends in people management and leadership in public service, and how implementing reforms is as much a political challenge as it is a technical one. The invitation came from [Motriz](https://www.motriz.org/), and it was fantastic to feel the energy and motivation of this team that’s planning some really interesting initiatives to make Recife a leader in strategic public sector personnel management. That’s a quick look at what’s been happening on my end. I’m looking forward to what the rest of the year holds and hope to keep sharing these updates with you all. Take care, [![[240831 Humboldt Foundation Fellows.jpeg]]](https://www.humboldt-foundation.de/en/connect/explore-the-humboldt-network/singleview/1239186/rafael-oliveira-leite) ![[240831 Apresentação Motriz Recife (2).png]] ![[240831 Apresentação Motriz Recife (1).jpeg]] [![[240831 NSI Policy Brief SCS 1.png]]](https://nsi.org.za/publications/reforming-south-africa-senior-civil-service) [![[240831 Policy Guide YouthLED.png]]](https://www.unodc.org/unodc/frontpage/2024/August/10-steps-to-take-action-against-corruption_-for-youth-by-youth.html) ![[240831 Conselho Digital Camera de Deputados.jpg]] [![[240831 Conselho Digital Policy Brief.png]]](https://conselhodigital.org.br/?r3d=muito-alem-do-tempo-de-tela-revisao-de-literatura-cientifica-e-propostas-de-politicas-publicas-sobre-bem-estar-das-criancas-e-adolescentes-nas-redes-sociais-nota-de-politicas-publicas)