If you're a young African researcher passionate about enhancing education systems across Sub-Saharan Africa, the Africa Fellows in Education Program (AFEP) 2025/2026 is now accepting applications. This two-year fellowship aims to develop a network of Africa-based leaders equipped to generate evidence-based research and influence educational policies within their respective countries. All you need to know in this article!
Africa Fellows in Education Program (AFEP) Summary
Location: Sub-Saharan Africa
Host Institutions: Global Education Analytics Institute (GEAI) in collaboration with the Partnership for Economic Policy (PEP)
Study Level: Postgraduate (MA or PhD)
Target Group: Young African researchers
Fields of Research: Economics, education policy, social/public policy, development studies, international development, with a strong focus on education
Award Value: $35,000 research grant; up to $25,000 for mentorship, study visits, conference travel, and in-country workshops
Award Duration: Two years
Application Deadline: April 30, 2025
Eligible to: Nationals of Sub-Saharan African countries aged 35 or younger
Programme Overview
AFEP addresses the critical need for local capacity to effectively utilize student outcome data to improve educational policies and school performance across Sub-Saharan Africa. The program supports fellows in developing skills to evaluate existing educational research, utilize performance data for informed decision-making, and integrate rigorous evidence into policy processes. This initiative fosters a community of competent researchers advocating for systematic, evidence-based improvements in education.
Program Structure:
The fellowship combines in-country activities with regional and international training opportunities:
International Conferences: Fellows will attend two prominent conferences on the economics of education—the CESifo Economics of Education conference and the Association for Education Finance and Policy (AEFP) conference (subject to prevailing circumstances).
Training Courses: Participants will engage in short courses covering evaluation methods, communications, incentive structures, and related areas, fostering international connections.
Lectures: A series of lectures on testing and performance measurement will be provided to enhance understanding of large-scale testing data from various assessments.
Research Project: In their home countries, fellows will develop and execute a research/evaluation project under program supervision and with local scientific mentors.
Mentorship: Each fellow will have a part-time local mentor to monitor progress and reinforce new skills.
Policy Outreach: Fellows are expected to organize in-country policy outreach workshops to disseminate research findings and present final reports at the GEAI-PEP-organized conference in June 2027.
Benefits and Financial Arrangements
Financial Support: $35,000 research grant and up to $25,000 for additional expenses related to mentorship, study visits, conference travel, and workshops.
Professional Development: Access to international conferences, specialized training, and a global network of researchers and policymakers.
Mentorship: Guidance from local and international mentors to support research projects and professional growth.
Eligibility Criteria
Be nationals of a Sub-Saharan African country.
Hold an MA or PhD degree, preferably in economics, education policy, social/public policy, development studies, or international development, with a strong focus on education.
Be proficient in quantitative data analysis and familiar with data analysis software such as R and Stata.
Be 35 years old or younger.
Demonstrate interest in education policy research and analysis.
Be employed by the government or affiliated with a research or higher education institution in a Sub-Saharan African country, with intentions to continue in this capacity.
Female candidates are strongly encouraged to apply.
Application Procedure
Interested applicants should submit the following documents:
Statement of Interest: A two-page document outlining motivation for applying.
Curriculum Vitae (CV): An updated CV with at least two referees.
Essay: A two-page essay in English addressing either:
A specific education problem in their home country and how it could be scientifically evaluated
A response to questions under the thematic areas of Teaching at the Right Level (TaRL) Africa, explaining how such questions could be evaluated using quantitative or mixed methods.
Submission Steps:
Register: Create an account on the PEP website.
Profile Completion: Complete your profile with relevant information and upload your updated CV (Profile will be activated within 24 hours)
Proposal Submission: Submit your statement of interest and essay as a combined document through the PEP intranet system.
Application Timeline
Application Deadline: April 30, 2025 (23:59 GMT)
Announcement: Up to 10 awards will be announced in June 2025.
ℹ️ For more detailed information and to apply, please visit the official call for applications:
🔗 OFFICIAL CALL LINK
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