Royal Institute of International Affairs (RIIA) Academy Africa Fellowship for Young African Leaders 2017 – UK

Application Deadline: 31st May 2017

Eligible Countries: Cote d’Ivoire, Kenya, Nigeria, Senegal, or South Africa.

To be taken at (country): The fellow will be based full-time at Chatham House, London. UK

Type: Fellowship

Eligibility: 

• The fellowship is open to citizens of Cote d’Ivoire, Kenya, Nigeria, Senegal, or South Africa.
• Applications will be accepted from applicants holding dual nationality which includes one of these countries.
• It is required that the applicant holds a completed BA degree or equivalent, Masters degree with an international focus is preferred.
• The fellowship is aimed at candidates at the mid-stage of their career and who come from academia, NGOs, business, government departments, civil society or the media. They should possess knowledge of, and an interest in, one of the policy-related challenges laid out in the research topics in ‘Research Topics.’

Selection Criteria: Our best candidates typically possess many or all of the following characteristics:

• Clear evidence of their leadership experience and background (personal or professional).
• Ability to explore problems with a holistic and inclusive perspective, with a natural curiosity towards issues and areas in the broader environment around their more specific research area of expertise.
• An original, relevant and clear research project proposal – feasible in the given timeline of the fellowship.
• Relevant background experience, demonstrated through their curriculum vitae.
• Strong track record in their area of expertise, including delivering research
• Good writing and presentation skills and a publishing record.
• Awareness of the international context of their research.
• A post-fellowship plan indicating how the candidate will apply their skills, knowledge and experience to impact and influence in their home country or region.
• A clear vision of their contribution to the Academy programme and fellowship cohort.

Applicants must adhere to stated word limits and are advised to read through the information on the Academy’s webpages before applying. Late or incomplete applications will not be considered, nor will any additional or supplementary materials.

Number of Awardees: Not specified

Value of Fellowship: The fellow will receive a monthly stipend of £2,160.  Modest provision is made for the costs of relocation, fieldwork, and possible publication costs.

Duration of Fellowship: A fellow’s time (10 months) will be split between three key areas:

• Completing a personal research project of the fellow’s own design undertaken with the guidance of a Chatham House expert, (approximately 50%).
• Contributing to the ongoing research activities of their host research team and other Chatham House teams as appropriate (approximately 20%).
• Participation in the Academy’s Leadership Programme (approximately 30%). The Leadership Programme is a key part of the Academy fellowships. It provides fellows with the opportunity to develop their knowledge, skills, network and self-awareness, which they can then draw upon in their future careers as effective leaders in their field.

How to Apply: The recruitment round for 2017 is between 3 April and 31 May, applications made outside of this period will not be considered. Apply using our online application portal.

For more information on the application process please follow this link.

Visit Fellowship Webpage for details

Award Provider: The Africa Fellowship is a joint initiative between Chatham House and the Mo Ibrahim Foundation.