2027 African Peacebuilding and Developmental Dynamics (APDD) Fellowship Awards
About this opportunity
Research fellowships and opportunities for scholars/practitioners in peacebuilding, development, and state-society relations across Africa; supports knowledge generation, skill-building, and evidence-based policymaking.
The African Peacebuilding and Developmental Dynamics (APDD) program by the Social Science Research Council (SSRC) offers a series of fellowships to support research and doctoral studies in peacebuilding, developmental dynamics, and state-society relations in Africa. These fellowships are designed for early to mid-career scholars and practitioners as well as African doctoral students in specified countries. The program includes Individual Research Fellowships (IRF), Research Policy Fellowships (RPF), and a structured sequence of Doctoral Dissertation Fellowships (Proposal, Research, and Completion). Each fellowship provides substantial support for research, policy engagement, or dissertation work, tailored to different stages of academic and professional development.
What it offers
The APDD program provides financial and logistical support for research, policy engagement, and doctoral dissertation work. Fellowships include:
- Individual Research Fellowship (IRF): Up to 9 months of field-based research and writing for early to mid-career scholars or practitioners.
- Research Policy Fellowship (RPF): Up to 6 months for former IRF fellows to engage with policy institutions or practitioner organizations, linking research to policy practice.
- Doctoral Dissertation Fellowships: A three-stage sequence supporting doctoral students in Ghana, Kenya, Nigeria, South Africa, Tanzania, or Uganda:
- Proposal Fellowship: 6 months for proposal development and pre-fieldwork.
- Research Fellowship: 12 months for fieldwork, data collection, and literature review.
- Completion Fellowship: Up to 12 months (with possible extension) for dissertation writing and analysis.
The program emphasizes capacity-building, innovation, and knowledge production relevant to peacebuilding and African development.
Who can apply
The fellowships target:
- Early to mid-career scholars and practitioners for IRF and RPF.
- African doctoral students in universities in Ghana, Kenya, Nigeria, South Africa, Tanzania, or Uganda for doctoral dissertation fellowships.
What you'll do
- Conduct independent research on peacebuilding, developmental dynamics, or state-society relations.
- Engage with policy institutions or practitioner organizations for RPF fellows to shape policy reforms.
- Develop and refine dissertation proposals and conduct fieldwork/data analysis for doctoral fellows.
- Focus on writing and completing dissertations during the Completion Fellowship.
How to apply
Applications are submitted through the SSRC APDD application portal. Details on eligibility, documentation, and deadlines are available on the program’s official website.
Good to know
- Fellowships are funded by Connect @SSRC.
- The program operates through partnerships with universities and research institutions in eligible African countries.
- Support includes financial stipends, travel allowances, and logistical assistance (exact amounts vary by fellowship).
Key details
What you get
- Financial support for research, policy engagement, or dissertation work
- Fieldwork/data collection assistance
- Stipends and travel allowances (exact amounts vary)
- Capacity-building through training, conferences, and seminars
How to apply
- Submit applications via the **SSRC APDD application portal**.
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