Individual Research Fellowship (IRF) — APDD/SSRC (2026)

About this program

The Social Science Research Council’s APDD program, funded by Carnegie Corporation of New York, offers the Individual Research Fellowship (IRF) to support independent African peacebuilding research, awarding up to nine fellowships in 2026 of up to $12,000 each. Fellows commit to nine months of work (six months field research and three months analysis/writing) from July 2026–March 2027, participate in two mandatory APDD workshops, contribute to the APDD Working Paper series and policy reviews, and receive mentorship and networking support. Applicants must be African citizens residing in Africa; academics must hold full‑time faculty or research positions at African institutions with a PhD awarded on or after January 2016 (candidates without a PhD by June 2026 will not be prioritized). Policy analysts/practitioners must be based in African regional, governmental, or civil society organizations, hold at least a master’s degree obtained before January 2021, and have a minimum of five years’ relevant experience; see the APDD Fellowship Application Guidebook or contact apdd@ssrc.org for details.