Deadline: 17 January 2025
The Center for Effective Global Action (CEGA) invites researchers from East and West Africa interested in developing their skills in quantitative social science research to apply for a 16-week in-person fellowship at the University of California, Berkeley or at Northwestern University.
Benefits
- During the fellowship, researchers will:
- Participate in seminars and conferences on research in social and economic development;
- Present their own research during seminars and workshops;
- Engage in coursework, such as rigorous graduate-level seminars in impact evaluation;
- Attend workshops on data science tools like Stata, R and Python;
- Carry out an independent research project under the mentorship of a CEGA/GPRL faculty member. This project will be based on the research proposal submitted in your application, but will be adapted throughout the fellowship.
- Participate in tailored, hands-on modules on research transparency and reproducibility, communications, qualitative data analysis, and cost-effectiveness analysis;
- Meet and collaborate with faculty and students in multiple academic departments;
- Visit and present at other campuses, such as UC Santa Cruz, University of Chicago, UC Davis, Stanford University, and/or University of Illinois;
- Support with adapting impact evaluation curricula that will be taught at an East or West African institution;
- Join team building and other activities with CEGA/GPRL staff.
Funding Information
- A post-fellowship grants of $10,000 for either a pilot research grant or a professional research placement, that will be agreed upon mutually with CEGA staff and fellows’ mentors.
- Opportunities to apply to a larger research grant competition of $45,000 in funding, for rigorous international development research.
Cost Covered
- The program will cover the costs of room and board, health insurance, visa fees, round-trip economy airfare, as well as a small stipend to cover additional expenses that may arise. Please note that the program does not provide financial support for spouses or other family members.
Eligibility Criteria
- Applicants to the CEGA Fellowship Program must:
- Be fluent in English (written and spoken), and a strong communicator.
- Be from an East African or West African country and have completed secondary school education in an African institution.
- Be an early career scholar, as defined by recently having completed a Master’s degree or a PhD, or be currently enrolled in a PhD program in economics, political science, statistics, epidemiology/public health, education, or another social science discipline. Preference will be given to those who are currently enrolled or have finished their PhD within the last 8 years.
- Hold a current staff or student position with a research institution (university or other research organization) in East or West Africa, preferably one that supports policy-relevant, quantitative social science research;
- Additional criteria for Fellows who are applying to the following tracks:
- Early Childhood Development (ECD) Track: Fellows in the ECD track will be supported to study the effectiveness of programs that support good health, adequate nutrition, safety and security, responsive caregiving, and opportunities for early learning especially for children 0-3 years of age. For this track, they will prioritize fellows who are from and conducting relevant research in Tanzania, Mozambique, and Kenya.
- Youth Livelihoods Track: Fellows in the Youth Livelihoods track will study the effectiveness of programs designed to help young people (ages 16-24) find meaningful work by delivering education, skills training, and comprehensive support. For this track, they will prioritize fellows who are from and conducting relevant research in Kenya – especially in the city of Mombasa.
Selection criteria
- Successful candidates must:
- Demonstrate strong analytical skills, with past coursework in quantitative methods;
- Have participated in or have familiarity with impact evaluation research (either randomized or
- quasi-experimental studies), policy analysis, and field data collection;
- Demonstrate a commitment to evidence informed policy making, either through direct
- experience or an understanding of the process;
- Demonstrate a commitment to building the capacity of African research institutions;
Application Requirements
- To respond to the 2025-2026 CEGA Visiting Fellowship Request for Applications (RFA), please submit the following information and documents through this Submittable portal by Friday, January 17, 2025 at 5 pm GMT:
- Personal Statement (1 page): Please describe your personal motivations for applying to the CEGA Visiting Fellowship–of all fellowships available to you, why are you particularly interested in this program? What do you hope to accomplish during the fellowship and beyond? Please also comment on your ability to commit to the fellowship and how this will fit into your current commitments.
- Curriculum Vitae/Resume: In your CV, please also include relevant quantitative coursework you have completed.
- Research Proposal: Not to exceed 2 pages. Refer to this template or see this example. [Please note that this example does not align exactly with the template questions, but is a strong proposal. You should try to frame your proposal according to the template provided] During the fellowship, you should work on the proposal you have submitted unless you decide to change it (with agreement from CEGA staff and your mentor).
- Evidence of Leave Approval or Letter of Support from the applicant’s supervisor or department chair demonstrating support and certifying that, if the applicant is selected, he/she will be able to take a 4-month leave of absence. See example.
- Name and contact information for two references: Please provide a name, email, phone number, and affiliation for two individuals (supervisors, senior colleagues, professors) who can speak to your research capacity, quantitative skills, and qualifications for the CEGA fellowship.
For more information, visit State CEGA.
