Mawazo Fellowship Programme 2023 for African Women (Funded)
Deadline: 12th of March, 2023
The Mawazo Fellowship Programme 2023 is now accepting applications. Mawazo Fellows take part in a virtual training program that includes professional development courses created by the Mawazo Institute and hosted on the Mawazo Learning Exchange (MLEx) e-learning platform as part of the 15-month, non-residential Mawazo Fellowship Programme.
Fellows also gain from financial assistance for research activities, mentorship and networking to further their careers, and venues for policy outreach and public involvement to raise their profile and potential for influence.
This programme is designed to build a network of African women experts who are poised to influence
policy and public discourse in academia and beyond, increasing the application and implementation of
practical, evidence-based ideas that drive Africa’s development. All Fellows join the network of past
Fellows and will continue to benefit from Mawazo’s support through its Mawazo Voices programme.
Thematic Areas:
In 2023, the Mawazo Fellowship Programme will support up to forty (40) women pursuing their PhD
studies at accredited universities across Africa. While all eligible PhD students are more than welcome to
apply, they encourage applications from those working in the following thematic areas:
- Agriculture and Food Security
- Business, Trade, and the Economy
- Climate Change, Natural Resources, and the Environment
- Education and Pedagogy
- Energy and Engineering
- Gender, Rights, and Governance
- Information and Technology
- Life and Health Sciences
- Mathematical and Physical Sciences
Benefits:
Mawazo Fellows will receive the following benefits:
- Participation in Mawazo’s in-house virtual training and professional development
programme, offered through the Mawazo Learning Exchange (MLEx) e-learning platform - Connections to expert and peer mentors through a structured mentorship programme, as
well as exposure to leaders from academia, industry, government and other sectors - Funding for research activities with access to grants worth up to US$2,500
- A stipend worth $500 for discretionary use
- Data bundles worth $150 to help access the MLEx platform
- Research and editorial support from the Mawazo team and their partners
- Visibility via Mawazo Voices, public policy and engagement, strategic communications, and
strategic partnerships programme
Eligibility:
Applicants must:
- Be a woman (woman/women includes cisgender women and transgender women. They also
welcome Assigned Female At Birth (AFAB) non-binary, AFAB gender non-conforming, other
AFAB genderqueer individuals, who have historically been excluded from decision-making
spaces). - Be a citizen of an African country.
- Have good command of written and spoken English.
- Be enrolled for their PhD at an accredited university in an African country.
- Have completed their course work (if applicable) and passed their departmental or graduate
school proposal defence (i.e., in the dissertation/thesis phase of their PhD). - Demonstrate that their PhD research is related to African development and is relevant to a
global, regional, national or subnational policy priority. - Demonstrate that they have a “Big Idea” to transform Africa through their research ( By ”Big
Idea” they mean an innovative research-based solution to help address Africa’s emerging
societal challenges). - Demonstrate potential for leadership both within and outside academia, and a strong
passion to leverage their expertise for impact in society. - Be available to fully participate in the programme in 2023-2024.
Application:
Applications will be considered complete when the following are provided:
- A completed online application form
- A current 2-page CV
- A letter confirming current enrollment in an accredited PhD programme
- A letter confirming that you have completed your course work (if applicable) and passed
your departmental defense - A recommendation letter from your PhD supervisor
- A recommendation letter from a second referee
