Applications are open for the African Peacebuilding Network (APN) Research PolicyFellowship 2025. This fellowship enables scholars to seek affiliation with African regional and national policy think tanks, institutions, and advocacy organizations operating in the fields of peacebuilding, security, and development for up to 6 months. Apply now!
About APN Research Policy Fellowship
The APN Research Policy Fellowship supports African scholars who have been recipients of an APN IF fellowship within the past five (5) years. The fellowship enables scholars to seek affiliation with African regional and national policy think tanks, institutions, and advocacy organizations operating in the fields of peacebuilding, security, and development for up to 6 months.
Through the APN RPF program, fellowship recipients can expect the following:
Shaping Policy and Practice
- Be placed by the program in an African regional or national institution, policy think tank, or civil society advocacy organization operating in the fields of peacebuilding, security, and development in Central, East, Southern, and West Africa for the duration of the fellowship.
- Be embedded fully in the host institution during the period of the fellowship.
- Gain first-hand knowledge and experience of the activities and operations of policy/practitioner organizations, particularly in relation to the processes and mechanisms for formulating, developing, and implementing policies or actions linked to peacebuilding, security, and development at the national, inter-state, and regional levels.
Bridging Research and Policy
- Bridge the gap between research and policy making and work directly with practitioners and other stakeholders, helping fellows to gain practical experiences, build their capacities in policy design, engagement, networking, and advocacy.
- Research a policy issue based on an approved work plan, including engagement in policy discussions, networking, and advocacy, with a view to gaining first-hand practical knowledge of operations, decision making, and implementation. It will also be an opportunity for exposure to the practical aspects of African peacebuilding, and applying their research experience towards evaluating existing policies and identifying areas of priority.
- Engage and build relationships and rapport with policymakers and decision makers, and share the results of their research findings with policy and practitioner communities.
African Scholarship and Knowledge Production
- Produce at least one (1) Policy Review Analysis Paper and one (1) peer-reviewed article in a reputable policy-related journal on their research findings and analysis of issues linked to a policy framework, mechanism, or action.
- The applicant will share perspectives from their APN IRF-supported research during their affiliation at the host institution and contribute to in-house discussions and strategies for policy engagement and practices in the field of peacebuilding. Research and analysis would be focused on existing policies or potential policy options for addressing emerging questions and challenges in a rapidly changing conflict, peacebuilding, and security terrain. These will include engaging with continental, regional, and national frameworks and mechanisms on peacebuilding with the broad goal of critically examining existing interventions and practices and generating innovative strategies, options and reforms aimed at strengthening them.
Benefits of APN Research Policy Fellowship
- They offer up to $12,000 to recipients to take leave from their teaching and administrative roles for the period. Funding is intended to cover housing, travel, administrative, and meal costs for the duration of the fellowship.
APN Research Policy Fellowship Requirements
- To be considered eligible, applicants must be former APN IRF fellows of the past five years (2020-2024) and interested in policy-related research.
- All applicants must be currently residing in an African country. This competition is open to African academics, as well as policy analysts and practitioners.
- Historically marginalized persons and communities are strongly encouraged to apply, including women, Indigenous people, gender diverse, LGBTQIA+, persons with disabilities, among others.
Application Date and Process
To apply and obtain more information regarding the APN RPF program, please refer to the 2025 APN and Next Gen Application Guidebook. If you encounter any difficulties accessing the guidebook or online portal, please contact the APN and Next Gen staff at [email protected].
Click on the link to the application website to gey started.
Application Deadline
31 January, 2025
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