APDD Launches 2027 Fellowship Cycle with Expanded Pathways
The African Peacebuilding and Developmental Dynamics programme is now accepting applications for its 2027 Individual Research Fellowships, offering up to nine awards of $12,000 each for field research and analysis.
Applications for the APDD Individual Research Fellowships 2027 are open. The programme, hosted by the Social Science Research Council, will award up to nine fellowships of $12,000 each for research running from July 2026 to March 2027. This cycle continues a fellowship initiative active since 2012, supporting early- to mid-career African scholars and practitioners in independent peacebuilding research.
Eligibility and Commitment
Fellows must be African citizens residing on the continent. Academic applicants need a full-time faculty or research position at an African university or research organization and a PhD earned no earlier than January 2016. Policy analysts or practitioners must be based in Africa at a regional institution, government agency, or NGO, holding a master's degree obtained before January 2021 and possessing at least five years of peacebuilding experience. All selected fellows commit to six months of field-based research followed by three months of analysis and writing.
Program Structure and Activities
The fellowship includes two mandatory workshops in July and January, held in different African regions. Participants will contribute to APDD publications like the Working Paper series and the African Peacebuilding Policy Review and Analysis, as well as engage in digital forums. The programme fosters mentorship from senior scholars and peer-to-peer learning, aiming to build capacity and spur innovation in peacebuilding, development, and state-society relations across Africa.
Additional Fellowship Pathways
Beyond the Individual Research Fellowship, APDD offers three distinct doctoral dissertation fellowships for African doctoral students enrolled at universities in six specific countries. The programme also provides a Research Policy Fellowship for previous IRF award recipients from June 2021 or later, designed to translate research into policy recommendations.
| Fellowship Type | Duration | Key Eligibility |
|---|---|---|
| Doctoral Dissertation Proposal Fellowship | 6 months | African doctoral students at universities in Ghana, Kenya, Nigeria, South Africa, Tanzania, or Uganda |
| Doctoral Dissertation Research Fellowship | Up to 12 months | Eligible African doctoral students in the six participating countries |
| Doctoral Dissertation Completion Fellowship | Up to 12 months (extendable) | Eligible African doctoral students finalizing their dissertation |
| Research Policy Fellowship (RPF) | Up to 6 months | Previous APDD Individual Research Fellows (IRF award date no earlier than June 2021) |
Prospective applicants should consult the official SSRC website for the latest information on available fellowships, eligibility requirements and application deadlines.
