The International Growth Centre (IGC) is offering a prestigious fellowship for early-career researchers in Sierra Leone, aiming to bolster local contributions to public policy. This three-month program provides a unique opportunity for emerging talent to engage in impactful research and policy development within the country.
Key Takeaways
- Opportunity: Fellowship for early-career local researchers in Sierra Leone.
- Focus Areas: Countering misinformation, economic ties, energy/tech cooperation, and people-to-people initiatives.
- Duration: Three months (September – December 2025).
- Location: Freetown, Sierra Leone, with hybrid flexibility.
- Support: £5,000 research grant, mentorship, and policy engagement.
- Outputs: Policy brief, working paper, and policy presentation.
- Deadline: August 29, 2025.
Fellowship Details and Focus Areas
The IGC Sierra Leone Early-Career Local Researcher Fellowship is designed to empower emerging researchers to contribute meaningfully to public policy. The fellowship encourages proposals that focus on curriculum development or research addressing capacity building within several key thematic areas. These include countering misinformation, disinformation, and mal-information; fostering economic ties and fair trade for mutual prosperity; promoting cooperation in energy, science, technology, cybersecurity, or artificial intelligence; and strengthening people-to-people connections through sports and the arts, including film and music.
Support and Expected Outcomes
Running from September to December 2025, the fellowship is based in Freetown, Sierra Leone, with the possibility of hybrid work arrangements. Successful fellows will receive a comprehensive support package. This includes a research grant of £5,000 to cover fieldwork, data collection, and living expenses. Additionally, participants will benefit from mentorship provided by IGC-affiliated academics and the IGC Sierra Leone country team. The program also offers valuable policy engagement opportunities with relevant government ministries and stakeholders. The fellowship culminates in the production of a short policy brief, a working paper, and a presentation tailored for policymakers.
Eligibility Criteria
To be eligible for this fellowship, applicants must be Sierra Leonean nationals or residents currently pursuing postgraduate studies, such as a PhD or Master’s degree, or hold positions as junior researchers or faculty members at a Sierra Leonean institution. Essential qualifications include strong quantitative and analytical skills, with demonstrated proficiency in statistical software like Stata, R, SPSS, or Python. Applicants must also show a commitment to producing research that directly informs public policy and is accessible to a non-academic audience. Desirable attributes include prior experience in policy-engaged research or government data analysis, familiarity with Sierra Leone’s economic context, and excellent academic writing and communication abilities.
Application Process
Interested candidates are required to submit a Curriculum Vitae (not exceeding three pages), a Cover Letter (up to 1,000 words) detailing their motivation, relevant research experience, and a concise outline of their proposed research idea. A single academic reference, to be sent separately by the referee, is also necessary. Applicants may optionally include a writing sample, such as a thesis chapter or a policy paper.
