Applications Ongoing: AfricaLics 2022 Fellowship Program for Africans

The aim of the visiting fellowship program is to help African PhD students working in the field of Innovation and Development to strengthen their academic/research qualifications; improve quality of their dissertations and prepare for a career in innovation and development either within academia or outside (e.g. in the private sector or in government/policy making).

The visiting fellowship program does this by increasing the mobility and level of exposure of the PhD students to international knowledge in the field of innovation and development. The program forms part of the efforts by AfricaLics to contribute to the development of a vibrant research community in Africa in this emerging and highly multidisciplinary field.

About Africalics

AfricaLics is the acronym for the African Network for Economics of Learning, Innovation, and Competence Building Systems. AfricaLics brings together scholars, researchers and policy analysts who study development, innovation, learning and competence building in an African context. Africalics was founded during an Innovation and development workshop that took place in March 2012 in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. The workshop was co-organized by the Globelics Secretariat and the Science, Technology and Innovation Policy Research organization (STIPRO), a Tanzanian independent think tank.

Aim and Benefits of AfricaLics PhD Fellowship Program

• The AfricaLics secretariat will secure and pay for accommodation during the study visit to Nairobi. The accommodation will be near the Nairobi campus of JOOUST where the students will have their working space.
• Return flight costs from your nearest international airport (economy class) and health insurance will be covered on a reimbursement basis.
• Students must take out their own health insurance for the study period, but the costs will be covered (reimbursed) by the AfricaLics secretariat.
• The visiting scholars will receive a stipend of 90,000 KShs per month (equivalent to approximately $800 USD per month as of the exchange rate at the end of August 2021). This amount should cover all costs while in Nairobi related to living expenses and travel around Nairobi including to and from Jaramogi Oginga Odinga University of Science and Technology (JOOUST) campus.
• A fixed amount is available to cover student participation in selected course activities (over and above the stipend).
• Funding is available for organizing trilateral meetings between the PhD student, the main supervisor from home institution and the AfricaLics mentor(s) during the study period at JOOUST.
• The scholarship covers only costs related to the visit of the student him/herself. Costs related to accompanying spouses, children or others are unfortunately not possible for the program to cover.  The scholarship does not cover costs of any additional travel in Kenya that the student may wish to undertake unless as part of selected and approved course activities.

Requirements for AfricaLics PhD Fellowship Program Qualification

• Be enrolled as a PhD student at a university in Africa.
• Have completed their first year of studies by December 2021.
• Have a background (BSc, MSc etc.) within Economics, Sociology, Political Science, Science and Technology Policy, Geography, History or Development Studies. Applicants may also work within the STEM (science, technology, engineering or mathematics) subjects or even manufacturing but from a social science perspective.
• Possess adequate skills in English (documentation may be requested).
• Be working actively on a subject relevant to the field of innovation and development as defined above.
• Submit a brief application 1 page/500 words explaining own background, motivation for applying and expected outcomes of participation in the AfricaLics PhD visiting fellowship program.

Interview date, Process and Venue for AfricaLics PhD Fellowship Program

Successful candidates will be notified by end of November 2021, following which they will be required to confirm their interest (sign study agreement form) and deal with any issues related to visa issues and access to Kenya.

Documents Required for Application

• Brief outline of your current PhD project including training plan (max. 5 pages)
• Curriculum Vitae – CV (including PhD courses attended so far)
• Letter of support from the main PhD supervisor confirming that the PhD student will have completed her/his upgrade/probation by end December 2021
• Letter of support from the University Administration at the university where the PhD student is enrolled
• Copies of academic certificates (copies of Bachelor and Master Certificates as a minimum)
• One writing sample (article or chapter) from current PhD program

How to Apply

Application Deadline

October 15, 2021