Deadline: January 31, 2025
Applications are open for the African Peacebuilding Network (APN) Research Policy Fellowship 2025. The APN Research Policy Fellowship supports African scholars who have been recipients of an APN IRF fellowship within the past five (5) years. The fellowship enables scholars to seek affiliation with African regional and national policy think tanks, institutions, and advocacy organizations operating in the fields of peacebuilding, security, and development for up to 6 months.
Through the APN RPF program, fellowship recipients can expect the following:
Shaping Policy and Practice
- Be placed by the program in an African regional or national institution, policy think tank, or civil society advocacy organization operating in the fields of peacebuilding, security, and development in Central, East, Southern, and West Africa for the duration of the fellowship.
- Be embedded fully in the host institution during the period of the fellowship.
- Gain first-hand knowledge and experience of the activities and operations of policy/practitioner organizations, particularly in relation to the processes and mechanisms for formulating, developing, and implementing policies or actions linked to peacebuilding, security, and development at the national, inter-state, and regional levels.
Bridging Research and Policy
- Bridge the gap between research and policy making and work directly with practitioners and other stakeholders, helping fellows to gain practical experiences, build their capacities in policy design, engagement, networking, and advocacy.
- Research a policy issue based on an approved work plan, including engagement in policy discussions, networking, and advocacy, with a view to gaining first-hand practical knowledge of operations, decision making, and implementation. It will also be an opportunity for exposure to the practical aspects of African peacebuilding, and applying their research experience towards evaluating existing policies and identifying areas of priority.
- Engage and build relationships and rapport with policymakers and decision makers, and share the results of their research findings with policy and practitioner communities.
African Scholarship and Knowledge Production
- Produce at least one (1) Policy Review Analysis Paper and one (1) peer-reviewed article in a reputable policy-related journal on their research findings and analysis of issues linked to a policy framework, mechanism, or action.
- The applicant will share perspectives from their APN IRF-supported research during their affiliation at the host institution and contribute to in-house discussions and strategies for policy engagement and practices in the field of peacebuilding. Research and analysis would be focused on existing policies or potential policy options for addressing emerging questions and challenges in a rapidly changing conflict, peacebuilding, and security terrain. These will include engaging with continental, regional, and national frameworks and mechanisms on peacebuilding with the broad goal of critically examining existing interventions and practices and generating innovative strategies, options and reforms aimed at strengthening them.
Benefits
- They offer up to $12,000 to recipients to take leave from their teaching and administrative roles for the period. Funding is intended to cover housing, travel, administrative, and meal costs for the duration of the fellowship.
Eligibility
- To be considered eligible, applicants must be former APN IRF fellows of the past five years (2020-2024) and interested in policy-related research.
- All applicants must be currently residing in an African country. This competition is open to African academics, as well as policy analysts and practitioners.
- Historically marginalized persons and communities are strongly encouraged to apply, including women, Indigenous people, gender diverse, LGBTQIA+, persons with disabilities, among others.
Application
Applications consist of an online application form, a research proposal and bibliography, current CV, proposed research timeline, proposed research budget, two reference letters, and a language evaluation(s) (if required).
For more information, visit APN Research Policy Fellowship.
