African Peacebuilding Network (APN) Research Fellowship 2023

In the dynamic landscape of African peace and security, the African Peacebuilding Network (APN) Collaborative Working Group Research Fellowship emerges as a beacon of collaborative research and policy-shaping. Spearheaded by the APN of the Social Science Research Council (SSRC), this fellowship for 2024 seeks to bring senior African academics and researchers to the fore, facilitating groundbreaking research that could potentially reshape the narrative of conflict and peacebuilding in Africa.

The Essence of the Collaborative Working Group Research Fellowship

The Collaborative Working Group Research Fellowship stands as a testament to the APN’s commitment to fostering in-depth collaboration amongst scholars, as well as bridging the gap between research and practice in the realm of peacebuilding challenges.

Key Aims:

• Deep Collaboration: Fostering partnerships between researchers and practitioners, addressing peacebuilding challenges head-on.
• Policy Connectivity: Linking pivotal research to actionable policy measures.
• Mentorship: Encouraging senior colleagues to guide and mentor junior scholars.
• Network Creation: Creating robust networks among scholars and practitioners across at least three African nations.
• Impacting Policy: Enhancing the prospects of influencing policy and actionable measures through knowledge dissemination.

Fellowship Insights

The APN Collaborative Working Group Research Fellowship is distinguished in its offerings. Only one fellowship will be awarded, with a generous stipend of $60,000 spanning eighteen months. This award aims to:

• Foster collaboration and facilitate the successful execution of the proposed research.
• Fund novel field research, training activities, literature reviews, and the creation of diverse outputs, from policy briefs to academic publications.
• Culminate in the production of a book-length manuscript upon project completion.

Eligibility Criteria

To ensure the fellowship goes to the most deserving, a stringent set of eligibility criteria has been set:

• African Base: Applicants must be based in Africa, with the lead investigator being a full professor at an African university, holding a PhD.
• Team Composition: The competition is open to teams comprising six members, representing a blend of researchers and practitioners from diverse African institutions.
• Diversity and Mentorship: Teams should reflect diversity, promote mentoring between senior and junior members, and facilitate scholarly and practitioner engagement.
• Publication Contribution: Team members are encouraged to contribute to APN’s publication series, the digital forum Kujenga Amani, and other APN platforms.

Application Process

Those eager to apply must note:

• The lead investigator, a university-affiliated full professor with expertise in African peace, security, and development, should apply on the team’s behalf.
• Application submission is via the SSRC’s Open Water Application Portal.
• The application should include the Application Form, CV, Research Proposal & Bibliography, Proposed Timeline and Budget, Team Member Details, Two Reference Letters, and Language evaluation(s) if required.
• All application materials, except non-English reference letters which must be accompanied by an English translation, should be in English.

For more in-depth details about the fellowship, visit the official APN Fellowship website.

Application Deadline: February 11, 2024