African Peacebuilding and Developmental Dynamics (APDD) Fellowship Awards 2027 — Up to $12,000

About the programme

The African Peacebuilding and Developmental Dynamics (APDD) programme supports African scholars and practitioners conducting research on peacebuilding, governance and development, particularly in conflict-affected societies.

Hosted by the Social Science Research Council, APDD aims to strengthen African-led research and help connect research findings with policy and practice. The programme also supports doctoral students as they develop research proposals, conduct fieldwork and complete their dissertations.

For the 2027 fellowship competition, 30 awards are available across five categories. The opportunities cater to researchers at different career stages and doctoral students at different stages of their academic journey.

The programme is funded by the Andrew Carnegie Foundation.

Who can apply

Eligibility depends on the fellowship category.

Individual Research Fellowship: Applicants must be African citizens residing in an African country. Academic applicants must hold a full-time faculty or research position at an African university or research organisation and have a PhD obtained no earlier than January 2017. Applicants who have not been awarded their PhD by April 2027 will not be considered eligible.

Policy analysts and practitioners must be based at an African regional or sub-regional institution, government agency, nongovernmental organisation, media organisation or civil society organisation. They must have a master's degree obtained before January 2022 and at least five years of proven full-time research and work experience in peacebuilding-related activities.

Doctoral Dissertation Fellowships: Applicants must be African citizens residing in an African country and meet the requirements for their selected stage of doctoral study. They must be enrolled in a qualifying PhD programme at an accredited university in Ghana, Kenya, Nigeria, South Africa, Tanzania or Uganda. Each category has additional academic and dissertation-stage requirements.

Research Policy Fellowship: This opportunity is restricted to eligible former Individual Research Fellowship recipients from 2022–2026 who wish to develop policy-focused research based on their previously supported work.

Applicants should read the official guidebook carefully before applying. Only one APDD fellowship category may be selected per application cycle, and applications will not automatically be transferred to another category if the applicant is ineligible.

What you get

Successful applicants receive research funding according to the fellowship category:

• Individual Research Fellowship: Nine awards of up to $12,000 each.
• Research Policy Fellowship: One award of up to $12,000.
• Doctoral Dissertation Proposal Fellowship: Three awards of up to $3,000 each.
• Doctoral Dissertation Research Fellowship: Nine awards of up to $12,000 each.
• Doctoral Dissertation Completion Fellowship: Eight awards of up to $8,000 each.

Beyond financial support, fellows can benefit from mentorship, professional development, collaboration with other African scholars and practitioners, and opportunities to share research through APDD publications and policy-focused activities.

Individual Research Fellows are expected to undertake six months of field-based research followed by three months of analysis and writing. They must also participate in two mandatory workshops scheduled for July 2027 and January 2028.

These are research fellowships, not general tuition scholarships. Funding is intended for approved research-related expenses, and applicants must follow the programme's budget rules.

How to apply

1. Read the official 2027 APDD Fellowship Awards Application Guidebook: https://www.ssrc.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/10/2027-APDD-Fellowship-Award-Application-Guidebook_Final.pdf
2. Choose the fellowship category that matches your qualifications and current research stage.

3. Access the appropriate application portal:

   • Individual Research Fellowship: https://ssrc.secure-platform.com/a/solicitations/1189/home
   • Doctoral Dissertation Fellowships: https://ssrc.secure-platform.com/a/solicitations/1188/home
   • Research Policy Fellowship: https://ssrc.secure-platform.com/a/solicitations/1190/home
4. Create an account or sign in, complete the application form and upload all required documents.
5. Arrange for your two references and any required language evaluations to be submitted by the relevant deadline.
6. Review your application carefully before submitting it. Keep the submission confirmation email for your records.

For application or technical questions, contact apdd@ssrc.org.

Important: The programme says generative AI tools may be used for editing, formatting and translation, but advises against using AI to write the research proposal or answer application questions. Your application should reflect your own original ideas and writing.

Documents required

Requirements differ by fellowship category. Depending on the award, applicants may need:

• Completed online application form.
• Research proposal or draft dissertation proposal, with bibliography.
• Current curriculum vitae (CV).
• Relevant degree certificate.
• Proposed research timeline.
• Proposed research budget.
• Two references and the required reference confirmation letters.
• Language evaluation reports, where applicable.
• For doctoral research applicants, an approved dissertation proposal, research instruments and ethical clearances where required, dissertation chapter outline and proof of doctoral enrolment.
• For dissertation completion applicants, an approved dissertation proposal and draft dissertation chapters.

Check the official guidebook for the specific document formats, proposal length and other requirements for your chosen fellowship.

Important dates

• October 14, 2026: Applications opened.
• November 6, 2026, at 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time: Research Policy Fellowship letter-of-interest deadline.
• December 18, 2026, at 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time: Additional application materials deadline for shortlisted Research Policy Fellowship applicants.
• January 15, 2027, at 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time: Main application and references deadline for the Individual Research and doctoral dissertation fellowships.
• March 2027: Applicants notified about advancement to external review.
• April 2027: Applicants notified of external review outcomes.
• May 2027: All applicants notified of their application status.
• July 2027: Fellowship period begins.

Applicants should consult the official guidebook for the complete eligibility criteria, required documents and category-specific instructions before submitting an application.