Social Science Research Council (SSRC) Doctoral Dissertation Research Fellowship 2025 (Up to US$15,000)

The Doctoral Dissertation Research Fellowship supports up to 12 months of dissertation research costs of up to US$15,000 on a topic related to peacebuilding, security, and development. They offer fellowships to support the completion of doctoral degrees and to promote next generation social science research in Ghana, Kenya, Nigeria, South Africa, Tanzania, and Uganda. The Social Science Research Council (SSRC), as a part of its its APN and Next Gen Program, supports 6-12 months of dissertation research costs of up to US$15,000 on a topic related to peacebuilding, security, and development to help fellows to further develop and strengthen their research, engage key literature in their fields, embark on fieldwork-based research, and develop their capacity for scholarly writing, including academic publications.

Program Components of Social Science Research

Through the Next Gen Completion Program, fellowship recipients can expect the following:

• Innovative Research: Commit to up to 12 months of developing their doctoral dissertation research. Fellows develop research-based skills that are relevant to, and can have significant impact on, peacebuilding, security, and development scholarship, while producing evidence-based knowledge of relevance to regional and global scholarly debates.
• Workshops: Participate in two mandatory APN and Next Gen workshops occurring in July and January across different regions of Africa. These workshops will help refine recipients’ research focus and methods, further develop and strengthen their field-based research skills, engage key literature in their fields, and develop their capacity for scholarly writing, including dissertation chapters and academic publications.
• African Scholarship and Knowledge Production: Contribute to the APN and Next Gen’s digital forums and social media platforms (Kujenga Amani, Facebook, and X).
• Fostering Community, Professional Development and Networking 
  • Fellows are part of a network of highly visible and active African scholars and practitioners capable of projecting African perspectives and voices onto global discourses, knowledge and practices of peacebuilding, security, and development.
  • Fellows will receive mentorship from highly experienced senior scholars in the field. There are opportunities for peer-to-peer learning and collaboration.
  • Gain new knowledge and skills to advance their careers as academics or practitioners in their chosen fields.

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Eligibility for Social Science Research

All applicants must:

• be citizens of any African country
• be enrolled and working towards a PhD in an accredited university, or affiliated to an institution in Ghana, Kenya, Nigeria, South Africa, Tanzania, or Uganda
• have a fully developed doctoral dissertation research proposal approved by a graduate school/program at an accredited university in Ghana, Kenya, Nigeria, South Africa, Tanzania or Uganda.

As of May 2015, the program prioritizes applicants holding a faculty position or demonstrating a durable commitment to higher education in Africa, but does not restrict eligibility to such individuals. 

The program seeks to promote diversity and encourages historically marginalized persons and communities including women, Indigenous people, gender diverse, LGBTQIA+, persons with disabilities, among others to apply.

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Application

Applications consist of an online application form, a research proposal and bibliography, current CV, proposed research timeline, proposed research budget, two reference letters, and a language evaluation(s) (if required).

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