Future Africa Research Leadership Fellowship (FAR-LeaF II)
The Future Africa Research Leadership Fellowship (FAR-LeaF II) is a prestigious two-year, research-focused fellowship designed to cultivate the next generation of African scientists and academic leaders. Supported by the Carnegie Corporation of New York and hosted at Future Africa, this fellowship programme emphasizes transformative research methods to address complex sustainability challenges on the African continent. FAR-LeaF II aims to develop emerging African scholars equipped with the skills to apply interdisciplinary, systems thinking, and futures literacy approaches in their work. The programme seeks to build a robust network of scientists capable of finding sustainable solutions to pressing socio-environmental challenges in Africa and globally.
Programme Focus Areas
FAR-LeaF II provides fellows with research opportunities spanning several sectors, with an emphasis on the politics of sustainability, resilience, and social cohesion. This includes areas such as:
- Democracy, public participation, governance, and societal decision-making
- Political will, policy innovation, and science-policy-practice interfaces
- Addressing the complexities of the SDGs in local and regional contexts, with a particular focus on tensions between communities, governments, NGOs, and other stakeholders.
Fellows will engage in transdisciplinary research, integrating natural, social, and human sciences to generate actionable knowledge that supports sustainable development in Africa. Additionally, fellows will contribute to global discussions on sustainability, articulating African perspectives on issues such as climate change, resource governance, and equity in sustainable development.
Fellowship Benefits
- Research funding of USD 13,500 per year for two years to cover research-related expenses, including travel, fieldwork, and visits to Future Africa.
- Opportunities to build international research relationships and collaborate with a wide range of stakeholders, including universities, NGOs, and government bodies.
- Access to cutting-edge digital tools and technology to enhance research impact and societal engagement.
- Training in transdisciplinary research and leadership skills, preparing fellows for future academic and professional leadership roles.
- Mentorship from distinguished academics at the University of Pretoria and guidance from field experts throughout the fellowship.
Who Should Apply?
The FAR-LeaF II programme is designed for early-career researchers who are committed to addressing Africa’s sustainability challenges through innovative, transdisciplinary research. Applicants must meet the following criteria:
Basic Eligibility:
- A PhD degree awarded within the last 10 years.
- A current research position at a higher education or research institution in Africa (with institutional support for participation).
- Active involvement in research relevant to Africa’s sustainable development challenges.
- A strong record of scientific achievement and interest in generating impactful research outcomes.
Additional Selection Criteria:
- An interest in transdisciplinary approaches to sustainability, resilience, and social cohesion.
- A demonstrated commitment to collaboration across disciplines and sectors (including government, civil society, and industry).
- A readiness to engage with and contribute to the fellowship’s learning community, including sharing findings with broader networks.
- A passion for developing leadership skills in research and beyond, with the intent to pursue an academic leadership role.
Age Requirements:
- Applicants should be under 45 years old for men, and under 50 years old for women.
Application Process
Key Dates:
- Call for Applications Released: 6 November 2024
- Application Period: 11–30 November 2024
- Closing Date: 30 November 2024
- Selection Announcement: 24 February 2025
- Fellowship Start: March 2025
To apply, visit the online application portal between 11–30 November 2024:
http://callforapplications.co.za/
Required Documents:
- A research proposal outlining your intended project (submitted via the online application form).
- Two support letters from academic referees, including one from your supervisor or line manager confirming institutional support and flexibility.
- A supervisor commitment from your home institution, agreeing to collaborate on the research project with Future Africa and other mentors.
Programme Structure
Fellows will engage in several interconnected experiences during the fellowship, including:
- Institutional Capacity Building: Work within the home institution and collaborate with regional research areas to address local sustainability challenges.
- Transdisciplinary Research: Joint fieldwork and research that brings together community stakeholders, policy-makers, and academic experts.
- Leadership Development: Participate in workshops, seminars, and other training activities to enhance both research and leadership competencies.
Training and Mentorship:
- Fellows will receive leadership training in areas such as foresight, policy-making, international negotiations, and communication.
- Supervision will be provided by both the home institution supervisor and a mentor from the University of Pretoria, ensuring continuous academic and professional development.
Programme Activities:
- Annual Workshops on transdisciplinary research (May 2025 and 2026).
- Quarterly virtual seminars for skills development and research sharing.
- Regular reporting on research progress.
- Virtual collaboration through the FAR-LeaF platform, supporting research exchange and networking opportunities across the fellowship community.
Key Programme Values:
- Transdisciplinarity: The programme prioritizes demand-driven, collaborative research across disciplines and sectors.
- Leadership: Fellows will develop the skills necessary to lead scientific communities and influence policy decisions.
- Open Science: Emphasizing transparency, data-sharing, and collaboration, fellows will engage in open science practices.
- Technology-Driven Research: The fellowship integrates modern digital tools to foster high-quality, impactful research.
About Future Africa and the University of Pretoria
Future Africa is a collaborative research platform at the University of Pretoria that promotes transformative research to address Africa’s pressing challenges. Future Africa seeks to unleash the potential of African science to inform a more sustainable future. The University of Pretoria is one of South Africa’s premier research universities and is committed to creating new knowledge, advancing capacity-building initiatives, and supporting the professional development of emerging researchers.
For more information about the University of Pretoria and Future Africa, visit:
For questions, please contact:
Professor Stephanie Burton, Programme Leader
Email: [email protected]
