2026 African Peacebuilding and Developmental Dynamics (APDD) Individual Research Fellowship

If you are an African researcher, policy analyst, or practitioner passionate about advancing peacebuilding scholarship, the Social Science Research Council (SSRC) African Peacebuilding and Developmental Dynamics (APDD) Individual Research Fellowships (IRF) 2026 are now open for applications. This prestigious fellowship offers a platform for emerging African scholars and professionals to produce high-impact research, engage with leading experts, and contribute to policy and practice in conflict resolution and peacebuilding across the continent.

🎓 Fellowship Summary

• Location: Africa

• Host Institution: Social Science Research Council (SSRC) – African Peacebuilding and Developmental Dynamics (APDD) Program

• Study Level: Postdoctoral/Professional Researchers

• Target Group: African academics, policy analysts, and practitioners working on peacebuilding, governance, and developmental dynamics

• Fields of Focus: Conflict resolution, peacebuilding, governance, developmental dynamics, African socio-political studies

• Value & Coverage: Up to $12,000 per fellow

• Award Duration: 9 months (6 months field research + 3 months analysis and writing) from July 2026 to March 2027

• Application Deadline: January 16, 2026

• Start Date: July 2026

• Eligible To: African citizens residing in Africa

  
  

📚 Fellowship Overview

The IRF program aims to strengthen independent African peacebuilding research, enhance knowledge visibility, and make evidence-based insights accessible to policymakers and practitioners. Fellows are expected to engage in field-based research and analysis, producing work that contributes to regional and global peacebuilding discourses.

🧩 Program Structure & Activities:

• Field Research: 6 months of in-country research focused on African peacebuilding issues

• Analysis & Writing: 3 months for data synthesis, publication, and knowledge dissemination

• Workshops: Two mandatory APDD workshops in July and January across Africa, designed for refining research methods, presenting findings, and networking with other fellows, senior academics, and practitioners

• Knowledge Contribution: Fellows contribute to APDD publications, including Working Papers, African Peacebuilding Policy Review, digital forums, blogs, op-eds, and podcasts

• Networking & Mentorship: Fellows join a network of African scholars and practitioners, gaining mentorship from senior experts in the field

✅ Fellowship Benefits

• Funding: Up to $12,000 per fellow for research-related expenses

• Professional Development: Access to mentorship, peer-to-peer learning, workshops, and networking opportunities

• Knowledge Visibility: Opportunities to publish in APDD Working Papers, African Peacebuilding Policy Review, and other international journals

• Career Advancement: Build skills and credibility for academic, policy, or practitioner-focused careers in peacebuilding

✅ Eligibility Criteria

• Citizenship & Residency: Must be an African citizen residing in Africa

• Academics: PhD holders (no earlier than January 2016) with full-time faculty or research positions at African universities or research institutions

• Policy Analysts/Practitioners: Master’s degree holders (before January 2021) with at least 5 years of relevant research/work experience in peacebuilding

• Research Commitment: Must dedicate the full 9-month period to the fellowship and participate in workshops

📝 Application Procedure

Applicants must submit:

1. Online application form

2. Research proposal and bibliography

3. Current CV

4. Proposed research timeline and budget

5. Two reference letters

6. Language evaluation(s), if required

Applications should be submitted via the APDD online portal by January 16, 2026. For questions, contact apdd@ssrc.org.

👌🏻 The SSRC Individual Research Fellowship 2026 is a unique opportunity to advance African perspectives in global peacebuilding research while building professional expertise and networks in the field.