African Peacebuilding and Developmental Dynamics Individual Research Fellowship 2026: Up to $12,000 for African Researchers, Policy Analysts and Practitioners
The Social Science Research Council invites applications for its Individual Research Fellowship to support African researchers, policy analysts, and practitioners focusing on peacebuilding and development. Selected fellows receive up to $12,000 to conduct field-based research across the continent.
Overview
The African Peacebuilding and Developmental Dynamics (APDD) program, administered by the Social Science Research Council (SSRC), is offering the Individual Research Fellowship (IRF) for 2026. The fellowship supports African researchers, policy analysts, and practitioners working in areas such as conflict, peacebuilding, governance, and developmental dynamics. The program plans to award up to nine individual fellowships with a maximum award of $12,000 each.
The total fellowship duration is nine months, comprising six months of field-based research and three months dedicated to analysis and writing. Fellows also participate in two mandatory APDD workshops in different regions of Africa, receive mentorship from senior scholars, build professional networks, and contribute to knowledge dissemination through various platforms.
Eligibility
Applicants must be African citizens currently residing in an African country. Eligibility requirements vary by applicant category:
- Academic Applicants: Must hold a full-time faculty or research position at an African university or research organization, and must have obtained a PhD no earlier than January 2016.
- Policy Analysts and Practitioners: Must hold at least a master's degree obtained before January 2021, possess at least five years of proven research and work experience in peacebuilding-related activities, and be based at an eligible regional, sub-regional, government, non-governmental, media, or civil society organization in Africa.
Benefits
- Maximum fellowship award of $12,000 per fellow.
- Nine-month research and writing structure running from July 2026 to March 2027.
- Participation in two mandatory APDD workshops in Africa.
- Mentorship from experienced senior scholars and peer networking opportunities.
- Opportunities to contribute to APDD publications, working papers, and digital platforms.
How to Apply
Interested candidates must complete the online application process and submit a comprehensive set of materials, which includes:
- Online application form
- Research proposal and research bibliography
- Current CV
- Proposed research timeline and budget
- Two reference letters
- Language evaluation(s), if required
For technical inquiries regarding the portal, applicants can contact the APDD team via email at [email protected].
Deadline
The information provided does not state a specific application deadline.