Programs

Next Generation Social Sciences in Africa

Supporting the next generation of African academics working on peace, security and development issues

2013-2014 Fellows meet for a workshop at the University of Ghana.

The program, launched in June 2011, responds to a shortage of experienced faculty in African higher education. The Next Generation Social Sciences in Africa program provides fellowships to nurture the intellectual development and increase retention of early-career faculty in Ghana, Nigeria, South Africa, Tanzania, and Uganda. The program assists fellows to develop research opportunities and skills, obtain doctoral degrees, and participate in robust research communities. Toward this end, the project features a thematic focus in order to renew basic research agendas addressing peace, security, and development topics as well as strengthen interdisciplinary social science research capacity on these issues. Funded by Carnegie Corporation of New York, this project offers a replicable model at scale and complements foundation initiatives to develop and strengthen the next generation of African scholars.
The program features three distinct competitive fellowship opportunities for early-career social science faculty who hold positions in accredited colleges and universities in Ghana, Nigeria, South Africa, Tanzania, and Uganda:

• Doctoral dissertation proposal fellowship: Supporting short-term research costs of up to US$3,000 to develop a doctoral dissertation proposal.
• Doctoral dissertation research fellowship: Supporting 9-12 months of dissertation research costs of up to US$15,000 on a topic related to peace, security, and development.
• Doctoral dissertation completion fellowship: Supporting a one-year leave from teaching responsibilities with a stipend of up to US$15,000 to permit the completion of a dissertation that advances research on peace, security, and development topics.

The program encourages innovative research on peace, security, and development topics, moving the boundaries of scholarship and research by exploring concrete linkages between these themes. We envision supporting a diverse set of projects grappling with a range of processes using evidence-based research across both global and local perspectives. Some, we hope, will examine large-scale phenomena and others small-scale social processes. The strongest projects typically will explore connections across these scales. Applicants, for example, might propose projects exploring global flows of refugees across country borders and continents or the state of internally displaced persons affected by local and regional disruptions of livelihood and economic security. Others might look at street theater in refugee camps. Similarly, some fellows might test the proposition that global financial markets contribute to peace and stability while others might examine the role of local market culture in unstable regions. We also support work that advances contemporary research on peace and security issues, including research on human security, economic security, livelihoods and resilience, and failure of governance. Projects might explore any range of issues, including soaring unemployment rates, widespread discrimination against populations, the effects of climate change on food security and water basins, and the threats any one of these issues pose to peace, security, and development efforts. Above all projects should advance important fields of study and social science knowledge.

 We strongly encourage applicants to explain how their work aligns with the program's thematic priorities and demonstrate their capacity to contribute to a network advancing innovative research on peace, security and development. Applicants therefore should submit a project proposal that has been written specifically for this fellowship competition, rather than simply submit the approved research proposal that they developed for their university. The project proposal for this competition offers applicants an opportunity to further hone their approach to their dissertation topic. 

This program also offers two workshops each year to help fellows master research methodologies, engage key literature in their fields, and produce research publications. The Next Generation African Social Sciences program will support approximately 45 fellows each year across all three fellowship opportunities.
All applications must be submitted using the online application portal.
The next application deadline is December 1, 2013.
For inquiries or technical questions pertaining to the online application portal, please contact SSRC staff from the Next Generation Social Sciences in Africa Program: nextgenafrica@ssrc.org

Program Director

Thomas Asher

Contact

• Natalie Reinhart

Fellowships

• Next Generation Social Sciences in Africa: Doctoral Dissertation Completion Fellowship
• Next Generation Social Sciences in Africa: Doctoral Dissertation Proposal Fellowship
• Next Generation Social Sciences in Africa: Doctoral Dissertation Research Fellowship