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, running from September to December 2025 in Freetown, provides a unique opportunity for emerging talent to engage with policy-making.
Key Takeaways
- A £5,000 research grant for fieldwork and living expenses.
- Mentorship from IGC academics and the Sierra Leone country team.
- Opportunities for policy engagement with government stakeholders.
- Expected outputs include a policy brief, working paper, and presentations.
Fellowship Focus and Opportunities
The IGC Sierra Leone Early-Career Local Researcher Fellowship invites proposals that address critical areas such as countering misinformation, fostering economic ties and fair trade, promoting cooperation in energy, science, technology, cybersecurity, and artificial intelligence, and strengthening people-to-people connections through sports and the arts. The fellowship is designed to support research work and curriculum development that enhances capacity within these vital sectors.
Eligibility and Application Requirements
To be eligible, applicants must be Sierra Leonean nationals or residents currently pursuing postgraduate studies (PhD or Master’s) or holding junior researcher or faculty positions at a Sierra Leonean institution. Essential qualifications include strong quantitative and analytical skills, with proficiency in statistical software like Stata, R, SPSS, or Python. A commitment to producing policy-relevant work accessible to a non-academic audience is crucial. While not mandatory, prior experience in policy-engaged research, familiarity with government data, knowledge of Sierra Leone’s economic landscape, and excellent communication skills are considered advantageous.
Interested candidates are required to submit a Curriculum Vitae (maximum three pages), a Cover Letter (up to 1,000 words) detailing their motivation and research proposal, one academic reference, and an optional writing sample. The application deadline is August 29, 2025.
