Apply for the APDD Individual Research Fellowships 2027 - up to $12,000 in field research grants and workshops from the SSRC for African scholars.
Applications are officially invited for the African Peacebuilding and Developmental Dynamics (APDD) Individual Research Fellowships 2027. Administered by the prestigious Social Science Research Council (SSRC), this flagship initiative awards up to $12,000 USD in individual research grants alongside two fully funded regional training workshops to support early- to mid-career African scholars, policy analysts, and practitioners leading evidence-based peacebuilding research across Africa.
The APDD program builds directly on the acclaimed achievements of the African Peacebuilding Network (APN) and Next Generation Social Sciences in Africa (Next Gen) programs. Designed to respond to evolving dynamics in conflict resolution, state-society relations, civic governance, and post-conflict socioeconomic recovery, the fellowship provides nine months of dedicated support - comprising six months of intensive field-based research followed by three months of analytical synthesis and writing.
The deadline for online applications and confidential referee submissions is January 15, 2027 (11:59 PM EST). Selected fellows will begin their fellowship tenure in July 2027 and conclude their work in March 2028, producing high-impact scholarly working papers, policy briefs, and peer-reviewed contributions.
Quick Facts - APDD Individual Research Fellowships 2027
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Convening Organization | Social Science Research Council (SSRC) - APDD Program |
| Headquarters & Landmark | Addis Ababa, Ethiopia 🇪🇹 (African Union Headquarters & Peace and Security Building) |
| Program Format | 9-Month Independent Research Fellowship (6 months field research + 3 months analysis & writing) |
| Grant Award Value | Up to $12,000 USD in direct research funding (up to 9 fellowships awarded) |
| Workshop Sponsorship | 100% Fully Funded travel, lodging & meals for two mandatory regional workshops in Africa |
| Target Beneficiaries | African researchers, university faculty, policy analysts, and peacebuilding practitioners |
| Eligibility Tracks | 1) Academics (PhD Jan 2017 or later) | 2) Practitioners (Master’s pre-Jan 2022 + 5 yrs exp.) |
| National Residency | African citizens currently residing in an African country |
| Application Fee | $0 (Free to apply) |
| Application Deadline | January 15, 2027 (11:59 PM EST) |
| Fellowship Tenure | July 2027 - March 2028 |
| Official Gateway | ssrc.org/programs/african-peacebuilding-and-developmental-dynamics-apdd |
About the APDD Program at SSRC
The Social Science Research Council (SSRC) is an independent, international non-profit organization founded in 1923 to foster innovative research, nurture new generations of social scientists, and mobilize necessary knowledge on important public issues. The African Peacebuilding and Developmental Dynamics (APDD) program was created to respond to emerging transformations in peace, security, and governance across conflict-affected African societies.
APDD’s core mission is to empower African scholars and practitioners to generate rigorous, contextually rooted research that shapes regional and global debates. By bridging the divide between academic theory, institutional policy, and grassroots reality, the fellowship ensures that African perspectives lead the discourse on continental stability, transitional justice, and sustainable development.
Program Components & Fellowship Benefits
- Direct Research Grants (Up to $12,000 USD): Non-dilutive funding to cover fieldwork expenses, archival research, travel, data collection, research assistants, transcription, and research materials.
- Two Mandatory Regional Workshops: Fellows participate in two fully sponsored regional workshops (held in July 2027 and January 2028 in different regions of Africa). The workshops provide structured peer review, mentorship from senior African scholars, and training in translating research into policy impact.
- Mentorship & Thought Leadership: Fellows are paired with renowned senior academics and seasoned practitioners who provide individualized guidance throughout research execution and manuscript preparation.
- Knowledge Dissemination & Publishing: Opportunities to publish in the APDD Working Paper series, the African Peacebuilding Policy Review and Analysis, and SSRC digital forums (such as Kujenga Amani), with pathways to international peer-reviewed journals, policy briefs, and podcasts.
- Pan-African Professional Network: Lifelong integration into a vibrant, high-visibility community of African intellectuals, peace negotiators, diplomats, and civil society advocates.
Core Thematic Areas
Proposals are welcomed across interdisciplinary domains addressing peacebuilding and developmental dynamics, including but not limited to:
- Root causes of armed conflict, violent extremism, and local communal tensions
- African Union (AU) and Regional Economic Communities (RECs) peace architectures and mediation mechanisms
- Governance, elections, constitutionalism, state-society relations, and democratic resilience
- Transitional justice, truth commissions, restorative healing, and community reconciliation
- Natural resource governance, climate volatility, ecological scarcity, and conflict dynamics
- Gender, youth agency, digital technologies, social movements, and civilian peacebuilding
- Post-conflict economic reconstruction, forced displacement, and cross-border developmental corridors
Eligibility Criteria
To qualify for the 2027 APDD Individual Research Fellowships, candidates must fulfill the following mandatory criteria:
- Citizenship & Residency: All applicants must be citizens of an African country and currently reside in an African country at the time of application and throughout the fellowship tenure.
- Academic Track Requirements:
- Must hold a full-time teaching or research faculty position at an accredited African university or research institute.
- Must possess an earned doctorate (PhD) conferred no earlier than January 2017.
- PhD candidates who have not formally completed their degree by June 2027 will not be prioritized under the academic track.
- Policy Analyst & Practitioner Track Requirements:
- Must be based in Africa at a regional/sub-regional multilateral body, government department, think tank, media agency, or non-governmental organization (NGO).
- Must hold at least a Master’s degree obtained before January 2022.
- Must demonstrate at least five (5) years of proven research and practical experience in peacebuilding, human rights, conflict transformation, or development in Africa.
- Language Proficiency: Proposals may be submitted in English or French. Strong written communication skills are essential for peer review and publication.
Application Requirements
All candidates must submit the following materials through the SSRC online application portal:
- Online Application Form: Candidate background, institutional affiliation, and biographical data.
- Research Proposal (Max 10 pages): Detailed research narrative articulating project title, research question, literature review, conceptual framework, methodology, field site selection, and policy relevance.
- Work Plan & Timeline: Structured schedule detailing the 6 months of fieldwork and 3 months of analysis/writing.
- Detailed Project Budget (Up to $12,000 USD): Justified itemization of fieldwork travel, logistics, translation, research assistants, and dissemination expenses.
- Curriculum Vitae (CV): Detailed academic/professional CV highlighting publications, grants, and field projects.
- Two Reference Letters: Confidential letters from senior scholars or professional supervisors speaking to research competence and feasibility.
- Language Evaluation / Writing Sample: Where applicable, proof of degree conferring credentials and recent writing sample.
Selection Timeline (2026 - 2028)
- Call for Applications Launched: October 14, 2026
- Application & Reference Deadline: January 15, 2027 (11:59 PM EST)
- Initial Review Notification: March 2027
- External International Review Outcome: April 2027
- Final Award Notifications: May 2027
- Fellowship Launch & Workshop 1: July 2027
- Mid-Term Workshop 2: January 2028
- Final Manuscripts Due: March 2028
Step-by-Step Application Guide
- Visit the official SSRC application gateway on ssrc.org/programs/african-peacebuilding-and-developmental-dynamics-apdd/individual-research-fellowships.
- Download and read the official 2027 APDD Fellowship Award Application Guidebook.
- Create an applicant account on the SSRC Online Application Portal.
- Draft your 10-page research proposal, itemized budget, and implementation timeline in accordance with SSRC guidelines.
- Register your two referees with institutional email addresses early so they have sufficient time to submit their confidential recommendations.
- Upload all required documents and submit your final application before January 15, 2027 at 11:59 PM EST.
Official Links & Inquiries
Official APDD Individual Research Fellowships Application Gateway
Social Science Research Council (SSRC) Official Website
Kujenga Amani - APDD Voices & Peacebuilding Platform
Official questions regarding eligibility and applications may be directed to the APDD program team at: apdd@ssrc.org
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Can PhD students currently working on their dissertations apply for this fellowship?
No. Academic track applicants must have already received their PhD (conferred between January 2017 and June 2027). Current doctoral students should explore the APDD Doctoral Dissertation Research and Completion Fellowships instead.
Is this fellowship open to African scholars currently working in Europe or North America?
No. The fellowship is strictly open to African citizens who currently reside in an African country and are affiliated with an institution based on the African continent.
How is the $12,000 grant disbursed?
The grant is disbursed in structured installments directly to the fellow, contingent upon participation in the mandatory workshops and submission of periodic progress reports and financial accountings.
Are travel costs to the two workshops deducted from my $12,000 grant?
No! The SSRC fully covers round-trip economy airfare, hotel accommodation, ground transportation, and meals for both regional workshops independently of your $12,000 research award.
Can research proposals be written in French?
Yes. The APDD program encourages bilingual scholarship and accepts applications written in either English or French.
