The African Peacebuilding Network (APN) offers Individual Research Fellowships to African scholars, researchers, policy analysts, and practitioners focusing on conflict and peacebuilding issues. The program aims to enhance the visibility of independent African peacebuilding research globally and make this knowledge accessible to policymakers and practitioners. Here is an overview of the program:
Program Details:
Focus Areas for Research:
- Causes, drivers, actors, and trajectories of violent conflict.
- Natural resource conflict: community, national, and regional dimensions.
- Geopolitics and histories of conflict, conflict mediation, and peace.
- Minorities, under-represented groups, and the social dynamics of conflict and peace.
- Climate Change, Energy Transitions, Conflict, and Peace.
- Religion and peace.
- Resilience, conflict prevention and transformation.
- State and non-state armed actors, transnational crime, extremism, displacement, and migration.
- Post-conflict elections, democratization, governance, and development.
- Statebuilding, nation-building, identities, and the citizenship question.
- Transitional justice, reconciliation, and peace.
- The economic and financial dimensions of peace support operations and post-conflict reconstruction.
- Regional Economic Communities (RECs), regionalism, and peace.
- UN-AU-REC Partnerships and Peacebuilding Architectures.
- Media, digital technology, AI, war, and peacebuilding.
- Cultures, media, and art(s) of peace.
- Women, youth, and peacebuilding.
- Water politics, conflict, and peace.
- Theater, Music, and Peace.
- Human mobilities, insecurities, and peace.
- Peace Education and African Literatures.
- Prevention of mass atrocities.
- Diseases, Politics, and Peace.
Fellowship Details:
- Duration: Six months (from June 2024 to December 2024).
- Maximum Grant: $15,000 per fellowship.
- Up to seventeen (17) fellowships available.
- Women are strongly encouraged to apply.
Fellowship Requirements:
- Participants must engage in two mandatory workshops organized by the APN during the fellowship period.
- Fellows are encouraged to contribute to the APN’s Working Paper and Policy Briefing Note series, as well as the program’s digital forums and social media platforms.
Eligibility:
- African citizens currently residing in an African country.
- Academics: Hold a faculty or research position at an African university or research organization, with a Ph.D. obtained no earlier than January 2014.
- Policy Analysts/Practitioners: Based in Africa at a regional or sub-regional institution, government agency, or NGO, with a master’s degree obtained before January 2019 and at least five years of research and work experience in peacebuilding-related activities.
Application Process:
- All applications must be submitted through the Online Open Water portal.
- Required documents include a completed application form, research proposal, bibliography, expected publications, current CV, proposed research timeline, proposed research budget, two reference letters, and language evaluations if required.
Empowering African Scholars: The Transformative Role of Research Grants in Peacebuilding and Development
Research grants, such as those offered by the African Peacebuilding Network (APN), play a crucial role in empowering African scholars, researchers, policy analysts, and practitioners. Here are key points highlighting the importance of research grants to Africans:
- Capacity Building: Research grants contribute to the capacity building of African researchers by providing financial support and resources for undertaking field-based research. This enhances their skills, knowledge, and expertise in addressing critical issues related to conflict and peacebuilding.
- Local Knowledge and Perspectives: Grants enable African scholars to contribute to the production of knowledge that reflects local contexts, experiences, and perspectives. This is vital for a more comprehensive and nuanced understanding of the complex issues surrounding conflict and peacebuilding in Africa.
- Global Visibility: Through research grants, African scholars have the opportunity to contribute to global academic discourse. This not only enhances the visibility of African scholarship but also ensures that African voices are heard in international discussions on peacebuilding.
- Policy Impact: The research supported by grants has the potential to influence policy and practice. By addressing key issues related to conflict, peace, and development, African researchers can provide evidence-based recommendations that policymakers can use to formulate effective strategies for peacebuilding.
- Networking and Collaboration: Research grants facilitate collaboration and networking among African scholars, both within the continent and globally. This fosters a sense of community and allows for the exchange of ideas, methodologies, and best practices, contributing to the development of a vibrant research ecosystem.
- Addressing Local Challenges: Grants enable researchers to focus on specific challenges faced by African communities. This localized approach is essential for developing context-specific solutions that take into account the unique cultural, social, and historical factors influencing conflict and peace on the continent.
- Promoting Diversity of Topics: Research grants, as seen in the APN program, cover a wide range of topics related to peacebuilding. This inclusivity ensures that various dimensions of conflict, from natural resource disputes to cultural dynamics, are explored, fostering a comprehensive understanding of the complexities involved.
- Encouraging Interdisciplinary Research: Many research grant programs encourage interdisciplinary approaches. This fosters collaboration between scholars from different disciplines, leading to a more holistic understanding of the multifaceted issues surrounding conflict and peace.
- Gender Inclusivity: Grant programs often emphasize the inclusion of women researchers. This is crucial for addressing gender-specific aspects of conflict and peacebuilding, ensuring a more balanced and representative approach to research.
- Sustainable Impact: The research conducted with the support of grants has the potential for long-term impact. By generating valuable insights, researchers contribute not only to academic knowledge but also to the sustainable development and stability of African societies.
In summary, research grants are instrumental in empowering African researchers, promoting diverse perspectives, and contributing to the development of effective strategies for peacebuilding in Africa. They serve as catalysts for positive change, fostering a research culture that is both locally rooted and globally impactful.
The African Research (AR) Index is a comprehensive scholarly directory and database focused explicitly on journal publishers that publish and disseminate African research.
