The African Peacebuilding Network (APN) of the Social Science Research Council (SSRC) invites research grant applications from African researchers, policy analysts, and practitioners working on conflict and peacebuilding issues at universities and research institutions or regional governmental and nongovernmental organizations in Africa.
About the African Peacebuilding Network
The APN promotes independent African research and analysis on peacebuilding in or near countries and regions affected by violent conflict on the continent. The program contributes to the emergence of a critical mass of Africa-based expertise: researchers, analysts, and practitioners who will play an important role in the shaping of an Africa-centered peacebuilding agenda.
About the APN Individual Research Grants Program
A core component of the APN, the research grants program is a vehicle for enhancing the quality and visibility of independent African peacebuilding research both regionally and globally, while making peacebuilding knowledge accessible to key policymakers and research centers of excellence in Africa and around the world. Grant recipients will produce research-based knowledge that is relevant to, and has a significant impact on, peacebuilding policy and practice on the continent. For its part, the APN will work toward inserting the evidence-based knowledge that this group produces into regional and global debates and policies focusing on peacebuilding.
Support is available for research and analysis on issues such as the following:
- Root causes of conflict and conflict prevention, mediation, management, resolution, and transformation
- Environmental change and conflict
- Post-conflict elections, democratization, and governance
- The relationship between peacebuilding and state building, including state-society relations and state reconstruction
- Transitional justice, reconciliation, and human rights
- Economic and financial dimensions of conflict, peacekeeping, and peace support operations
- Disarmament, demobilization, and reintegration (DDR)
- Security sector reform (SSR)
- Media, civil society, and peace
- Peace partnerships involving the UN, the AU, Regional Economic Communities (RECs), and civil society
- Gender and peacebuilding
- International justice and post-conflict peace
Grants are awarded on a competitive, peer-reviewed basis and are intended to support six months of field-based research, from May 2015 to November 2015. Up to ten individual grants of a maximum of $15,000 will be awarded.
During their grant period, grantees are required to participate in two workshops organized by the APN. These workshops will provide opportunities to refine research focus and methodologies, present findings, explore ways to make work accessible through publications and other means to multiple peacebuilding constituencies, and develop constructive working relationships with other grantees, senior academics, and practitioner facilitators.
Research Grant Proposals
The APN is interested in innovative field-based projects that demonstrate strong potential for high-quality research and analysis, which in turn can inform practical action on peacebuilding and/or facilitate interregional collaboration and networking among African researchers and practitioners.
Proposals should clearly describe research objectives and significance, with alignment between research design/method and research questions and goals. Proposals should also demonstrate knowledge of the research subject and relevant literature, and address the feasibility of proposed research activities, including a time frame for project completion. Applicants should also discuss the likely relevance of the proposed research to existing knowledge on peacebuilding practice and policy. We strongly encourage the inclusion of a brief budget outline (not detailed), to fit appropriately within the page limit required.
Eligibility
All applicants must be African citizens currently residing in an African country.
Academic applicants must hold a faculty or research position at an African university or research organization and have a PhD.
Policy analysts and practitioner applicants must be based in Africa at a regional or subregional institution, a government agency, or a nongovernmental, media, or civil society organization and have obtained at least a Master’s degree of no less than 5 years, with at least five years of proven research and work experience in peacebuilding-related activities on the continent.
Application Process
All applications must be uploaded through the online portal.
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Requirements
1) Completed Application Form
2) Completed Proposal & Bibliography
3) Two Reference Letters
4) Language evaluation(s) (if required)
5) Updated CV
2) Completed Proposal & Bibliography
3) Two Reference Letters
4) Language evaluation(s) (if required)
5) Updated CV
Deadline for Applications
Applications are due by 9 pm EST, December 14, 2014.
For further details and application please visit the African Peacebuilding Network Individual Research Grants page.
