Deadline: March 25, 2026
Applications are open for the Megatrends Afrika Fellowship 2026. The Megatrends Afrika project is awarding three fellowships to African researchers. Megatrends Afrika is a cooperation between the German Institute for International and Security Affairs (SWP), the German Institute of Development and Sustainability (IDOS) and the Kiel Institute for the World Economy (Kiel Institute). The project conducts policy-relevant interdisciplinary research on Africa and provides policy advice to decision-makers.
Fellowships will be granted for a period of three months in fall 2026, full-time. Fellows will conduct a research project independently or, if suitable, in collaboration with project team members or other IDOS, Kiel Institute and SWP colleagues – and contribute one paper to the project’s publication series. Fellows are expected to participate in project meetings, events and other relevant activities of their host institution during their stay.
Research Topics
They are interested in proposals for a Megatrends Policy Brief that tackles an issue of relevance to one of the following research themes:
- Peace and Security
- Future of Democracy
- Economic Prospects
- Africa’s Role in the New World Order
- Science Diplomacy and Science Cooperation
Also of interest would be research proposals on new technologies (artificial intelligence, space programmes) in African countries, international cooperation on Africa’s energy transition and critical raw materials, and the influence of digitalisation or urbanisation on political regimes in Africa.
Benefits
- For the duration of the fellowship, fellows will reside in the city of their host institution, i.e., in Berlin (SWP), Bonn (IDOS) or Kiel (Kiel Institute). Fellows will receive a monthly grant of € 2,800, an economy-class return trip between their place of residence and Germany as well as some financial support for public transport, mobile phone credit and other ancillary costs in Germany. Fellows who require a visa to enter Germany will be provided with a letter of support and assistance in the application process.
Eligibility
- Applicant should have a completed PhD in political science, economics, social sciences, geography, international relations, or relevant area studies;
- Originating from an African country
- Strong research and publication track record in areas of relevance to the Megatrends Afrika project
- Experience in scientific policy advice is an advantage
Selection Process
Fellows are selected and placed in line with the research agendas of the host institutes. Shortlisted candidates will be invited for an online interview. In choosing applicants, they will put particular emphasis on the following criteria:
- Academic and professional merit based on the applicant’s publications and work experience;
- Academic and policy relevance of the project;
- Feasibility of the project during the period of the fellowship;
- Candidates’ ability to communicate effectively and make complex ideas accessible to a broad audience.
Application
Applications must contain a one-page letter of motivation, an academic CV including a list of academic publications, a sample of 2 recent publications, copies of relevant academic transcripts and/or diplomas (no translations needed), a written concept note containing the description of the applicant’s project. The concept note should not exceed 2,000 words and include a discussion of the project/research topic, its academic and policy relevance, feasibility and theoretical and methodological grounding. The submitted project should be based on the applicant’s existing and ongoing research agenda. Its scope and ambition have to be appropriate for a Megatrends Policy Brief that will be finalized by the end of the fellowship.
Send your application by email to [email protected]. Applications must be submitted as a single PDF document. Formats other than PDF (Word, zip) cannot be accepted. The deadline for the fellowship applications is 25 March 2026, 11:59 p.m. CET. Incomplete and/or late applications will not be considered.
For more information, visit Megatrends Afrika Fellowship.
