Bourses 2027 African Peacebuilding and Development – 21 octobre 2026

Contexte

Applications are now open for the 2027 African Peacebuilding and Developmental Dynamics (APDD) Fellowships, offering research and doctoral support opportunities for African scholars and practitioners working on peacebuilding, development and state-society relations.

The programme, hosted by the Social Science Research Council (SSRC), supports early- to mid-career researchers, practitioners and doctoral students through independent research, policy engagement and doctoral dissertation fellowships.

The APDD initiative seeks to strengthen research capacity, encourage innovative approaches to peacebuilding and development, and promote evidence-based policies that address Africa’s changing political and social landscape.

The APDD programme responds to emerging transformations in peacebuilding, developmental dynamics and state-society relations across Africa. It promotes innovation and capacity-building through research, training, conferences, seminars and outreach activities.

The programme offers several fellowship pathways designed to support researchers at different career stages, from scholars conducting independent field research to PhD students preparing proposals, undertaking fieldwork or completing their dissertations.

Missions et responsabilités

• 1. Individual Research Fellowship (IRF) : The Individual Research Fellowship supports early- to mid-career scholars and practitioners undertaking independent research related to peacebuilding in Africa. Successful applicants can receive support for up to nine months of field-based research and writing. The fellowship aims to advance knowledge production and contribute to policies that shape peacebuilding across the continent. This opportunity may be particularly relevant to researchers examining conflict, governance, peacebuilding strategies, political transitions and relationships between states and societies.
• 2. Research Policy Fellowship (RPF) : The Research Policy Fellowship supports former APN Individual Research Fellows who received their awards no earlier than June 2021. The fellowship provides an opportunity to undertake up to six months of policy-focused research while affiliated with a policy institution or practitioner organisation. Its objectives include helping fellows connect previous research with policy practice, understand the daily operations of policy and practitioner organisations, mobilise research findings to influence policy reforms, and propose practical alternatives to existing approaches. Applicants should note that this fellowship is specifically intended for eligible former Individual Research Fellows rather than all researchers.
• 3. Doctoral Dissertation Proposal Fellowship : The Doctoral Dissertation Proposal Fellowship supports African doctoral students who are enrolled at universities in Ghana, Kenya, Nigeria, South Africa, Tanzania, Uganda. The fellowship provides six months of support to develop dissertation proposals and undertake preparatory academic work. Activities may include literature reviews, pre-fieldwork surveys and dissertation proposal writing. It is designed to help doctoral students establish a strong foundation for their research before proceeding to the fieldwork stage.
• 4. Doctoral Dissertation Research Fellowship : The Doctoral Dissertation Research Fellowship supports eligible African PhD students enrolled at universities in Ghana, Kenya, Nigeria, South Africa, Tanzania or Uganda. The fellowship provides 12 months of support for doctoral research activities, including fieldwork, data collection and analysis, literature reviews and dissertation writing. It offers an opportunity for doctoral researchers to advance their empirical research and make substantial progress towards completing their dissertations.
• 5. Doctoral Dissertation Completion Fellowship : The Doctoral Dissertation Completion Fellowship is intended for eligible African doctoral students who need dedicated time to finish their PhD research. The fellowship supports a period of up to 12 months during which recipients can take leave from their regular activities to concentrate on data analysis, scholarly writing and meeting their doctoral degree requirements. An extension may be possible. This fellowship is particularly relevant to doctoral candidates who have progressed substantially with their research and need protected time to complete their dissertations. Applicants must be enrolled at universities in Ghana, Kenya, Nigeria, South Africa, Tanzania or Uganda.

Profil recherché

• Early- and mid-career scholars conducting research on peacebuilding in Africa.
• Practitioners seeking to strengthen the connection between research and policy.
• Former APN Individual Research Fellows eligible for the Research Policy Fellowship.
• African PhD students preparing dissertation proposals.
• Doctoral researchers planning fieldwork and data collection.
• PhD candidates seeking dedicated time to analyse findings and complete their dissertations.
• Eligibility requirements differ across the five fellowship pathways. Applicants should consult the official fellowship announcements to confirm the relevant academic, institutional and professional requirements before applying.

Conditions et avantages

Peacebuilding and development challenges across Africa require research that can inform policy, strengthen institutions and improve relationships between states and societies. By supporting independent research, policy engagement and doctoral studies, the APDD programme creates opportunities for scholars and practitioners to contribute evidence-based insights to these challenges. For eligible applicants, the fellowships can provide structured support to develop research ideas, conduct fieldwork, strengthen policy engagement or complete doctoral studies. Researchers and practitioners interested in shaping Africa’s peacebuilding and development agenda are encouraged to explore the available opportunities and share the announcement with eligible colleagues.

Dossier de candidature

• Identify the fellowship that matches your research stage and career background.
• Carefully review the eligibility criteria.
• Prepare the required application materials in accordance with the official instructions.

Comment postuler

Interested candidates should visit the official African Peacebuilding and Developmental Dynamics programme website to review the available fellowship categories and access the relevant application information.

Programme : African Peacebuilding and Developmental Dynamics (APDD)

Application cycle : 2027

Application deadline : The supplied announcement does not specify a deadline. Applicants should check the official APDD fellowship pages for the applicable closing dates.

VISIT OFFICIAL WEBSITE HERE