Apply for the Megatrends Afrika Fellowship 2026: Advancing African Research and Policy Engagement

The Megatrends Afrika Fellowship 2026 offers a unique opportunity for African researchers to contribute to policy-relevant, interdisciplinary research on Africa.

Administered through a collaboration of the German Institute for International and Security Affairs (SWP), the German Institute of Development and Sustainability (IDOS), and the Kiel Institute for the World Economy, the programme supports innovative research with direct relevance to African policy and global decision-making.

About the Megatrends Afrika Project

The Megatrends Afrika project conducts applied research on Africa’s political, economic, and technological developments.

It provides strategic insights to decision-makers in government, academia, and international institutions.

The fellowship enables emerging African scholars to contribute directly to this agenda by producing high-quality policy briefs and participating in a vibrant research community.

Fellowship Overview

• Duration: 3 months (Fall 2026)
• Workload: Full-time
• Location: Berlin (SWP), Bonn (IDOS), or Kiel (Kiel Institute)
• Financial Support:
  • Monthly grant of €2,800
  • Economy-class return travel to Germany
  • Support for local transport, mobile phone credit, and ancillary costs
• Visa Support: Letter of support and assistance provided for visa-required participants

Fellows are expected to:

• Conduct independent research or collaborate with project teams
• Produce one Megatrends Policy Brief for the project’s publication series
• Attend project meetings, workshops, and events

Eligible Candidates

Applicants must meet the following criteria:

• Hold a PhD in political science, economics, social sciences, geography, international relations, or relevant area studies
• Originating from an African country
• Demonstrate a strong research and publication record in fields relevant to the project
• Experience in scientific policy advice is an advantage

Research Themes

The fellowship welcomes proposals aligned with one or more of the following areas:

• Peace and Security
• Future of Democracy
• Economic Prospects
• Africa’s Role in the New World Order
• Science Diplomacy and Science Cooperation

Additional areas of interest include:

• Emerging technologies in Africa (AI, space programmes)
• International cooperation on Africa’s energy transition and critical raw materials
• Digitalisation and urbanisation impacts on political regimes

Application Requirements

Applications must be submitted as a single PDF and include:

1. Letter of Motivation (1 page)
2. Academic CV with list of publications
3. Sample of 2 recent publications
4. Relevant academic transcripts or diplomas (no translation required)
5. Concept Note (max 2,000 words) including:
   • Research topic description
   • Academic and policy relevance
   • Feasibility
   • Theoretical and methodological framework

The concept note should reflect the applicant’s ongoing research agenda and be suitable for a Megatrends Policy Brief to be finalized by the end of the fellowship.

Deadline: 25 March 2026, 11:59 p.m. CET
Submission Email: Megatrends-Afrika@swp-berlin.org

Selection Criteria

Shortlisted candidates may be invited for an online interview. Selection emphasizes:

• Academic and professional merit
• Policy relevance and feasibility of the proposed project
• Ability to communicate complex ideas effectively to a broad audience

All application data will be processed in accordance with project privacy policies and shared with members of the selection committee from SWP, IDOS, and Kiel Institute. Candidates may object to data processing by contacting the project team.

Fellowship Impact

The Megatrends Afrika Fellowship enables African researchers to:

• Produce policy-relevant research influencing national and global debates
• Gain experience working with leading international research institutes
• Build networks across African and European research communities
• Enhance career opportunities in policy analysis, academia, and international development

Funding and Support

The project is funded by multiple German federal ministries:

• Federal Foreign Office (AA)
• Federal Ministry of Finance (BMF)
• Federal Ministry of Defence (BMVg)
• Federal Ministry of Research, Technology and Space (BMFTR)
• Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ)
• Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy (BMWi)

This multi-ministerial support ensures a comprehensive, interdisciplinary research and policy engagement experience for fellows.

The Megatrends Afrika Fellowship 2026 provides an exceptional platform for African researchers to advance scholarship, influence policy, and participate in high-level international research initiatives.

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Disclaimer: Global South Opportunities (GSO) is not the organization offering this fellowship. For any inquiries, please contact the official organization directly. Please do not send your applications to GSO, as we are unable to process them. Due to the high volume of emails, we receive daily, we may not be able to respond to all inquiries. Thank you for your understanding.