The African Leadership Centre (ALC) is pleased to announce a call for applications for the Peace, Security and Development Fellowships for African Scholars starting in September 2014.
This Fellowship covers an 18-month period, comprising of a rigorous training programme on peace, security and development, which includes a 12-Month Master’s (M.Sc.) programme at King’s College London and an attachment to an African University to undertake an independent research project.
The Fellowship programme is designed to expose junior African scholars to the complexities of Security and Development issues facing the African continent. The Carnegie Corporation of New York has provided funding for this programme.The ALC aims to build a new community of leaders generating cutting edge knowledge on peace, security and development. To this end, the ALC undertakes to do the following:
- Create an enabling environment for ideas that are grounded in African realities;
- Provide space for interaction with role models;
- Build capacity for independent thinking;
- Expand the knowledge base to develop transformational ideas for meaningful change;
- Create opportunities to transfer knowledge to achieve multiplier effects for communities;
- Connect with processes nationally, regionally and globally, especially in the field of peace and security; and
- Build lasting partnerships that will maintain an African-led vision of change.
The programme seeks to nurture junior African Scholars interested in pursuing a career in Peace, Security & Development, and to equip them with the skills necessary to achieve this. Through taught courses as well as rigorous mentoring activities, the programme will accomplish the following objectives:
- Increase the pool of African experts in the area of peace, security and development working to generate African-led ideas to address the security and development challenges on the continent.
- Foster studies on Peace and Security issues within African institutions of higher learning, and ensure that academic institutions have better access to knowledge and expertise on these issues.
- Inject skills within regional and national centres of excellence so that they can strengthen their research capacity on peace, security and development topics with independent and critical approaches.
- Contribute to expertise on peace and security that is grounded in the pursuit of excellence and integrity.
Eligibility
- In order to be considered eligible, candidates must have citizenship in an African country.
- Successful candidates must hold valid travel documents prior to acceptance.
- The competition is open only to junior faculty members based in universities in Africa from departments of political science; international relations; history, law, development studies, peace, security and conflict studies, and related departments.
- Candidates need to demonstrate an interest in pursuing careers in the field of Peace, Security and Development. Previous study or engagement with the issues of Security & Development is not required but candidates must demonstrate a basic familiarity with these issues. Candidates must additionally be able to demonstrate that they are committed to contributing to work on peace and security in Africa.
- Candidates will be expected to have a clear plan on how to utilise knowledge gained in the Fellowship upon returning to their countries and academic institutions.
- Candidates must be fluent in spoken and written English.
- Candidates must be able to demonstrate the following values during the application phase: Independent thinking; Integrity; Pursuit of excellence; and a value for all forms of diversity.
Scholarship value
Application to King’s College London: Successful applicants will have the status of full time MSc students in Security, Leadership and Society. It is necessary for applicants to the Fellowship Programme to make individual successful applications to the M.Sc. Security, Leadership and Society by 17:00 hrs, Friday 7th March 2014.
- Student Visas: All foreign students at King’s College London will be subject to the immigration rules of the UK. The offer of a place on the programme will be subject to successful candidates obtaining a student visa. Failure to obtain a visa to enter the UK automatically invalidates the offer of a place on the programme with no consequences to King’s College London. Responsibility for processing all visa applications rests solely with successful candidates. The implementing organizations will provide necessary documentation as needed.
- Expectant/Nursing mothers: Given the intense nature of the programme including its short phases in different locations as well as necessary extensive travel, successful applicants that are expectant or nursing mothers while encouraged to apply, will be advised to defer their admission to the programme.
- Medical Exam: Successful applicants will be required to undergo medical examinations at recommended venues prior to taking up their positions.
- Programme completion/Return to base: The programme will last a total of 18 months. During phases 1 and 2, Fellows will be expected to make full time commitment to the programme. It is a condition that successful candidates shall return to their base or home countries at the end of the programme.
This is a fully funded opportunity, and funds will be made available to cover tuition, subsistence in the U.K. and Africa, accommodation, research-related costs, and all travel expenses related to the programme. However, successful applicants are expected to find their own accommodation both in the U.K. and Africa.
In the U.K. successful candidates will be able to apply for University of London accommodation, and they can also make their own accommodation arrangements. Candidates are strongly advised to make all necessary accommodation arrangements well in advance of taking up their positions at King’s College London.
For more information and application please visit the Peace,Security & Development Fellowships for African Scholars page.
