African Peacebuilding and Development Fellowships

The African Peacebuilding and Development Fellowships by the Social Science Research Council (SSRC) support research and capacity-building in peacebuilding, developmental dynamics, and state-society relations. These fellowships are designed for early to mid-career scholars, practitioners, and doctoral students in African universities (Ghana, Kenya, Nigeria, South Africa, Tanzania, Uganda). The program offers structured fellowships for independent research, policy engagement, and dissertation progression, tailored to different career stages and research needs. Key focus areas include field-based research, policy analysis, and knowledge mobilization for public good.⁠‌​​‌​‌‌‌​​​​​​​​​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌⁠

What it offers

• Individual Research Fellowship (IRF): Up to 9 months of field-based research and writing for early to mid-career scholars/practitioners, contributing to peacebuilding policies in Africa.
• Research Policy Fellowship (RPF): Up to 6 months for former IRF recipients to engage with policy institutions, linking research to policy practice and shaping reforms.
• Doctoral Dissertation Fellowships: A three-stage sequence supporting PhD students in Ghana, Kenya, Nigeria, South Africa, Tanzania, or Uganda:
  • Proposal Fellowship: 6 months for proposal development, pre-fieldwork, and literature review.
  • Research Fellowship: 12 months for fieldwork, data collection, and dissertation writing.
  • Completion Fellowship: 12 months (with possible extension) for data analysis, writing, and degree completion.

All fellowships provide substantial support for research activities but do not specify monetary amounts or explicit benefits like stipends, accommodation, or travel in the provided text.

Who can apply

Applicants must be African nationals or residents currently enrolled in or affiliated with a university in Ghana, Kenya, Nigeria, South Africa, Tanzania, or Uganda. Fellowships are open to early to mid-career scholars/practitioners (IRF, RPF) and doctoral students (proposal, research, completion fellowships). Prior IRF eligibility (for RPF) requires an award date no earlier than June 2021.

What you'll do

• Conduct independent research on peacebuilding, developmental dynamics, or state-society relations.
• Engage with policy institutions, practitioners, or academic communities to mobilize research findings for public good.
• Develop, refine, and complete dissertation proposals or research projects through structured stages.
• Participate in outreach, conferences, and seminars as part of capacity-building initiatives.

How to apply

Applications must be submitted via the SSRC APDD application portal. No additional details on submission steps or deadlines are provided in the text.

Good to know

• Fellowships are not explicitly funded with monetary stipends, accommodation, or travel allowances (benefits are implied but unspecified).
• The program emphasizes fieldwork, policy engagement, and knowledge transfer but does not detail specific deliverables or reporting requirements beyond research outcomes.
• No explicit eligibility criteria for nationality, age, or academic rank beyond the stated groups (early/mid-career scholars, doctoral students).