Home / Opportunities / Social Science Research Council (SSRC) — African Peacebuilding and Developmental Dynamics (APDD) Fellowships 2027 (Individual Research, Doctoral Dissertation, and Research Policy tracks)
United States · Social Science Research Council
Social Science Research Council (SSRC) — African Peacebuilding and Developmental Dynamics (APDD) Fellowships 2027 (Individual Research, Doctoral Dissertation, and Research Policy tracks)
The SSRC's African Peacebuilding and Developmental Dynamics program funds African researchers, policy analysts, and practitioners to carry out field research on conflict, peacebuilding, and development in Africa. Fellows receive up to $12,000, attend two mandatory APDD workshops, publish through the APDD working paper series and policy review, and join a continental network of peace researchers. Three tracks run in 2027: Individual Research Fellowships and Doctoral Dissertation Fellowships (both due January 15, 2027) and a Research Policy Fellowship (due November 6, 2026, for previous IRF recipients only).
Why it is notable: one of the few well-funded, Africa-led peacebuilding research fellowships run by a major U.S. research council — with a dedicated doctoral-dissertation track and a policy-immersion track that embeds fellows in think tanks.
Funding at a glance
What it covers
Research funding up to US$12,000 per fellow (Individual Research and Research Policy tracks).
Two mandatory APDD workshops (methods refinement, findings presentation, networking with senior scholars and practitioners).
Publication pipeline: APDD Working Paper series, the African Peacebuilding Policy Review and Analysis, and the Kujenga Amani blog/digital platforms.
Continental network membership of African peace and security researchers.
Research Policy track: six-month embedded placement in a regional/national policy think tank, institution, or civil-society organization in peace and security.
Doctoral Dissertation track amount: not published on the pages viewed — confirm in the official guidebook.
Eligibility criteria
Qualification Required
PhDfor Individual Research (academic track)Master's + 5 years experiencefor Individual Research (practitioner track)Doctoral enrollmentfor Doctoral Dissertation Fellowship
These fellowships are offered for field research on conflict, peacebuilding, and development in Africa — for African academics, policy analysts, practitioners, and doctoral candidates.
Who can apply
African citizens currently residing in an African country (all tracks). This is an Africa-focused program as published — applicants must be based at African universities, research organizations, regional/sub-regional institutions, government agencies, or NGOs/media/civil-society organizations in Africa.
Experience
Academic track — full-time faculty or research position at an African university/research organization, PhD obtained no earlier than January 2016 (PhDs not awarded by June 2026 are deprioritized). Practitioner track — based in Africa at a regional/sub-regional institution, government agency, or NGO/media/civil-society organization, with at least a master's degree obtained before January 2021 and at least five years of proven research/work experience in peacebuilding on the continent. Research Policy track — open only to previous IRF award recipients (2022–2026) who are academics or practitioners currently based in Africa.
Language Certificate
None published — applications are in English (official guidebook language).
Other Certificates
None specified beyond the online application components.
Age Limit
No Age Limit
Check your eligibility
Run all three quick checks before reviewing your chosen course's full entry requirements.
1
Country checker
African citizens residing in African countries only (official). Applicants based outside Africa do not pass, regardless of citizenship.
2
Last degree checker
Choose your highest completed qualification to see which degree level may fit.
3
Course checker
Pick a course to see whether it falls inside this scholarship's scope.
Complete all three checks
Your combined result will appear here.
Based on published eligibility — always confirm on the official page before applying.
Application essentials
Requirements
Review each requirement before you begin the application.
01
Citizenship/residence
African citizen currently residing in an African country (all tracks).
02
Academic track
full-time faculty/research position at an African university or research organization; PhD obtained no earlier than January 2016.
03
Practitioner track
Africa-based at a regional/sub-regional institution, government agency, or NGO/media/civil-society organization; master's obtained before January 2021; 5+ years proven peacebuilding research/work experience in Africa.
04
Research Policy track
previous IRF recipient (2022–2026), currently based in Africa; 4+ months residency at the host policy institution.
05
Documents
online portal application per the 2027 guidebook; letter of interest (RPF); questions to apdd@ssrc.org.
06
Participation
two mandatory workshops (IRF); full-time engagement for the fellowship period.
Document checklist
01Online application via the SSRC portal (contact/personal information, research proposal per guidebook).
02Track-specific components per the 2027 guidebook (e.g., one-page letter of interest for the Research Policy track).
03Supporting evidence of eligibility (position, degree dates) as specified in the guidebook.
Application fee
No fee — completely free.
Visa, kept concise: Study visa type for this destination: Not a study program — no student visa.
Application Procedure
8 steps — follow in order. Each stage prepares the next.
01
Read the official 2027 Application Guidebook (published
on ssrc.org) for your track.
→
02
Create an account on the SSRC application
portal and select the 2027 APDD track (Individual Research, Doctoral Dissertation, or Research Policy).
→
03
Complete the online application
contact/personal information, research proposal, and supporting components per the guidebook (Research Policy track: one-page letter of interest plus portal components).
↓
06
Online application via the SSRC portal (contact/personal information
research proposal per guidebook).
←
05
Individual Research track
nine-month program (July 2027–March 2028 pattern) with workshops in July and January.
←
04
Submit via the online portal by 11:59
PM ET on the track deadline. Email apdd@ssrc.org with questions.
↓
07
Track-specific components per the 2027 guidebook (e.g.
one-page letter of interest for the Research Policy track).
→
08
Supporting evidence of eligibility (position
degree dates) as specified in the guidebook.
Application milestones
15 Jan 2027
Application deadline
2027
Intake year
Ready to apply?
Continue on the official Social Science Research Council platform.
Who can apply for the Individual Research Fellowship? A: African citizens currently residing in an African country — academics with full-time faculty/research posts and PhDs from 2016 or later, plus pWhat is the deadline? A: January 15, 2027, 11:59 PM ET for the Individual Research and Doctoral Dissertation tracks (official portal and guidebook); November 6, 2026 for the Research Policy track RounHow much funding is provided? A: Up to US$12,000 per fellow for the Individual Research and Research Policy tracks.How long is the fellowship? A: About nine months — roughly six months of field-based research plus three months of analysis and writing (July 2027–March 2028 pattern); the Research Policy track is sixAre the workshops mandatory? A: Yes — fellows participate in two mandatory APDD workshops (July and January pattern) in different regions of Africa.What do fellows produce? A: Research feeding peacebuilding scholarship, policy, and practice — published via the APDD Working Paper series, the African Peacebuilding Policy Review and Analysis, and thWho do I contact with questions? A: apdd@ssrc.org (official).Can previous fellows apply for the Research Policy track? A: Yes — it is open only to previous IRF award recipients (2022–2026) based in Africa.
Need document or attestation help?
Detailed attestation guidance stays in Opplore's standalone Guides section, not inside this scholarship page.
United States · Social Science Research Council