PEP Africa Fellows in Education Program for Young African Researchers 2026/2027

The Partnership for Economic Policy (PEP), in collaboration with the Global Education Analytics Institute (GEAI), invites applications for the Africa Fellows in Education Program (AFEP). This program is designed for young African researchers motivated to improve education and benefit from structured mentorship, training, and international networks.

📖 About the Program

The PEP Africa Fellows in Education Program is a two-year research and policy development fellowship. It introduces fellows to relevant research, analytical experiences, and international networks of researchers and policy advisers.

🎁 Benefits

Participants in the program will receive the following:

• $25,000 research grant (cash).
• Coverage of up to $25,000 for:
  • Mentorship.
  • Study visits.
  • Conference travel.
  • In-country workshops to share research findings and training.

✅ Eligibility Criteria

To be eligible for this program, applicants must:

• Be a national of a Sub-Saharan African country.
• Hold a Master’s or PhD degree in one of the following fields:
  • Economics.
  • Education Policy.
  • Social or Public Policy.
  • Development Studies.
  • International Development.
  • Statistics.
  • Demography.
  • Sociology (with a strong quantitative and education focus).
• PhD is not mandatory, but recent PhD graduates and advanced doctoral candidates (within one year of completion) are encouraged to apply.
• Have experience with quantitative data analysis and proficiency in at least one statistical software (e.g., R, Stata, Python).
• Be 35 years old or younger.
• Demonstrate an interest in education policy research and analysis.
• Work for the government or have an affiliation with a research or higher education institution in a Sub-Saharan African country, with plans to continue doing so.
• Be proficient in English (all application materials and program activities are conducted in English).
• Female candidates are strongly encouraged to apply.

📝 Application Process

The application process is managed by GEAI in collaboration with PEP. Applications will be assessed based on prior preparation and the quality of an essay. Applicants must submit the following:

1. Two-page statement of interest.
2. Two-page essay (in English) discussing a specific educational problem in their home country and how it could be scientifically evaluated using quantitative methods.
3. Detailed and updated CV, including at least two referees that the selection committee can contact.
4. Applications must be submitted via the PEP intranet system before 30 June 2026 (23:59 GMT).

📅 Application Deadline

30 June 2026

🌟 Additional Information

For more details about the program, visit the official PEP Africa Fellows in Education Program page.

• $25K research cash grant.
• Up to $25K in expenses for mentorship, study visits, conference travel, and in-country workshops to share research findings and training.