Applications call for 3rd Cohort of the Africa Early Childhood Research Fellowship Programme, a research capacity building program targeted at early-to-mid career African ECD scholars. The applicants must hold a doctoral degree in an ECD-related area from a recognized university earned within the last 5 years. In addition, the prospective fellow should not be more than 40 years, hold citizenship of an African country, and be based at an African higher learning institution or research institute.

Thematic Research Areas

• Early learning quality improvement
• Health system strengthening to support child development outcomes
• Implementation of ECD Policies and legislation
• Safety and Protection of young children in different circumstances
• Quality of Childcare Services for children under 3 years

Benefits

The benefits of Africa Early Childhood Research Fellowship Program are as follows

• Participation is one fully funded face to face meeting of research fellows and mentors.
• Placements with partner agencies in a position to support and benefit from the work of
• Research Fellow in the areas research interest.
• Seed grants of US$ 4,500 guided by the fellow’s research plan.
• Guidance from mentors and mentorship groups who will engage with Research Fellows throughout the program including at face to face meetings and bi-monthly telephone conferences.
• Support to attend a conference and to facilitate dissemination of research findings.
• Linkages and connection to research funding opportunities and ECD networks.
• Award of the certificate of completion.

Eligibilities 

• Applicants should be doctoral degree holders who completed their PhDs within the last five years.
• Are not older than 40 years.
• Additionally, they should be citizens or established residents in an SSA country, be affiliated to African Universities or research institutes, and be in the early stages of their research careers in ECD-related areas. Recommended disciplines include Early Childhood Studies, Social Sciences, Foods, Nutrition & Dietetics, Health Sciences, Communication & Media Studies, and Law.
• The program will select four Research Fellows among applicants with excellent research ideas that propose innovative approaches to addressing the development of young children.