Are you an African researcher or practitioner working on conflict, peace and development on the continent? The Social Science Research Council (SSRC) runs the African Peacebuilding and Developmental Dynamics (APDD) Individual Research Fellowships, which fund African scholars and policy professionals to carry out field research on peacebuilding in Africa. Fellows receive up to US$12,000 and join a continental network of peace researchers. Applications for the 2027 round are now open and close on 15 January 2027.
Fellowship at a Glance
- Organiser: Social Science Research Council (SSRC), through its APDD programme
- Award: Up to US$12,000 per fellow, with up to nine fellowships in recent cycles
- Duration: About nine months, made up of roughly six months of field research and three months of analysis and writing
- Focus: Conflict, peacebuilding and development in Africa
- Open to: African citizens living in Africa
- Deadline: 15 January 2027
Benefits
- Research funding: Up to US$12,000 to carry out field-based research on peacebuilding issues in Africa
- Workshops: Two APDD workshops (one at the start and one midway through) where fellows sharpen their methods, present findings and get feedback from senior scholars
- Publication opportunities: Fellows contribute to the APDD Working Paper series and the African Peacebuilding Policy Review and Analysis
- Visibility: Share your research through APDD’s digital platforms, including the Kujenga Amani blog
- Network: Join a growing community of African peace and security researchers and practitioners
Eligibility
You must be an African citizen currently living in an African country. There are two applicant tracks.
Track 1: Academics
- Hold a full-time faculty or research position at an African university or research institution
- Hold a PhD earned within roughly the last ten years. Recent cycles required the PhD to be awarded no earlier than January 2016, and candidates without a completed PhD by the start of the fellowship are not prioritised.
Track 2: Policy Analysts and Practitioners
- Work in Africa at a regional or sub-regional body, government agency, NGO, media outlet or civil society organisation
- Hold a master’s degree. Recent cycles required it to be obtained at least five years before applying.
- Have at least five years of proven peacebuilding research and work experience on the continent
What Fellows Are Expected to Do
- Carry out field-based research and analysis on their proposed topic
- Attend both mandatory APDD workshops
- Produce a working paper or policy-focused publication for APDD’s series
- Contribute to APDD’s online platforms and discussions
- Optionally, publish further in journals, books, op-eds, blogs or podcasts
Application Documents
Recent cycles asked applicants to submit, through the SSRC online portal:
- A completed online application form
- A research proposal with a bibliography
- A CV
- A research timeline and budget
- Two reference letters
- A language evaluation, where required
Tips for a Strong Proposal
- Be specific about place and question. A focused question about a particular community, region or institution is stronger than a broad topic.
- Show that the fieldwork is feasible. Explain your access to sites, people and data, and how you will handle safety and research ethics.
- Link research to policy. APDD values work that can inform peacebuilding practice, so say who could use your findings.
- Ask referees early. Reference letters are often the last piece to arrive.
How to Apply
- Read the 2027 call on the SSRC APDD Individual Research Fellowships page.
- Prepare your proposal, CV, timeline, budget and reference letters.
- Submit everything through the SSRC online application portal by 15 January 2027.
Deadline: 15 January 2027. Check the official SSRC page for the full call, including the fellowship dates. Questions can be sent to [email protected].
View the official APDD Individual Research Fellowships page
