The International Growth Centre (IGC) is offering a prestigious fellowship for early-career local researchers in Sierra Leone, aiming to bolster public policy through rigorous research. This three-month program, running from September to December 2025, provides a unique opportunity for emerging talents to contribute to critical policy areas.
Key Takeaways
- Opportunity: Fellowship for early-career Sierra Leonean researchers.
- Focus: Contributing to public policy in key areas.
- 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 presentations.
- Deadline: August 29, 2025.
Fellowship Details and Focus Areas
The IGC Sierra Leone Early-Career Local Researcher Fellowship is designed to empower emerging researchers by supporting their work on public policy. The fellowship encourages proposals that focus on curriculum development or research addressing capacity building within several critical themes. 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 ties through sports and the arts, encompassing film and music.
Support and Deliverables
Selected fellows will benefit from a comprehensive support package. This includes a research grant of £5,000, intended to cover fieldwork, data collection, and living expenses. Additionally, fellows will receive invaluable mentorship from academics affiliated with the IGC and the IGC Sierra Leone country team. The program also offers significant policy engagement opportunities, connecting researchers with relevant government ministries and stakeholders. The expected outcomes of the fellowship are a concise policy brief, a detailed working paper, and a presentation delivered to relevant policymakers, ensuring the research has a direct impact.
Eligibility Criteria
To be eligible for this fellowship, applicants must be Sierra Leonean nationals or residents. They should currently be enrolled in a postgraduate program, such as a PhD or Master’s degree, or hold a position as a junior researcher or faculty member at a Sierra Leonean institution. Essential qualifications include strong quantitative and analytical skills, with demonstrated proficiency in statistical software and programming languages like Stata, R, SPSS, or Python. A commitment to producing research that directly informs public policy and is accessible to non-academic audiences is also crucial. Desirable attributes include prior experience in policy-engaged research or government data, familiarity with Sierra Leone’s economic landscape, 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 brief outline of their proposed research idea. One 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, to further support their application.
