The Environmental and Economic Resource Centre (EERC) has announced its 2026 Cohort 4 Fellowship Programme, a competitive research sabbatical opportunity designed for mid- to senior-level researchers. The fellowship is hosted under EERC, a non-profit scientific research organisation working across Africa to advance sustainable agriculture, environmental management, and inclusive economic development.

The programme is structured to strengthen research capacity, promote policy-relevant innovation, and support collaborative scientific work across African and international research institutions.

About the Environmental and Economic Resource Centre (EERC)

The EERC is a multidisciplinary research institution focused on addressing environmental, agricultural, and socio-economic challenges in Africa. It works with a wide network of local and international partners to generate scalable solutions for sustainable development.

The organisation operates through four core programmes:

Agriculture and Environmental Management (AEM)
Natural Resource Conservation (NRC)
Livelihood and Economic Development (LED)
Human Resource and Capacity Building (HRCB)

Its research portfolio spans key thematic areas including:

Climate-smart agriculture and food systems
Climate change adaptation and mitigation
Renewable energy and carbon markets
Land, water, and forest resource management
Rural livelihoods and poverty reduction
Gender equality and social inclusion
Migration, conflict, and development dynamics

Through these focus areas, EERC aims to generate evidence-based solutions that improve ecosystem health, food security, and sustainable livelihoods.

About the 2026 Fellowship Programme (Cohort 4)

The EERC Cohort 4 Fellowship is designed for experienced researchers who wish to undertake a sabbatical period of 9 to 18 months at EERC. The programme primarily targets scholars from Nigerian universities and research institutions.

Eligible candidates include:

Senior lecturers
Associate professors
Principal research officers
Senior research scientists

Selected fellows will be hosted at EERC headquarters and integrated into ongoing research and programme activities.

The fellowship provides opportunities to:

Conduct independent, high-impact research
Contribute to EERC programme design and implementation
Participate in grant proposal development with partner institutions
Supervise early-career researchers, interns, and volunteers
Support capacity building within EERC networks

Research fields of interest include:

Climate change and climate-smart agriculture
Remote sensing and land use systems
Agricultural and environmental economics
Development economics and macroeconomic modelling
Rural sociology and gender studies
Digital agriculture and citizen science

Fellowship Benefits and Research Support

The EERC Fellowship offers a combination of financial, professional, and institutional support to enhance research productivity and collaboration.

Key benefits include:

Monthly stipend (in addition to the fellow’s institutional salary)
Free accommodation at EERC Guest House with full amenities
Access to training programmes and research-related travel opportunities
Joint publication opportunities with international researchers
Networking with global institutions and research partners

Fellows will also engage with leading partner organisations, including:

University College London (UCL)
Stockholm Environment Institute
World Disaster Centre
Leibniz Centre for Agricultural Landscape Research

These partnerships are designed to strengthen global research collaboration and facilitate joint grant development.

Eligibility Requirements

Applicants must meet strict eligibility criteria to be considered for the fellowship. These include:

A PhD in a relevant field of agriculture, environment, or economics
Demonstrated research leadership and supervision experience
Current affiliation with a Nigerian research institution or university
Proficiency in analytical software such as R, SAS, or STATA
Proven ability to develop research proposals across interdisciplinary fields

Preference is given to researchers affiliated with Agricultural Research Council of Nigeria (ARCN)-accredited institutions.

Application Requirements and Submission Process

Applicants are required to submit a complete application package via email before the deadline.

Mandatory documents include:

Motivation letter
Concept note (maximum 5 pages) outlining research proposal structure
Institutional support letters (from Head of Department and institution)
Curriculum Vitae with evidence of peer-reviewed publications
Proof of academic qualifications
Copy of institutional identification card

Incomplete applications will not be considered.

All submissions must be sent to:
apply@eerce.org

Deadline: June 30, 2026 (midnight)

Selection Process and Evaluation Criteria

The selection process is highly competitive and involves multiple stages:

Initial eligibility screening
Detailed review of academic and research profile
Evaluation of research proposal quality and feasibility
Interview stage for shortlisted candidates

Evaluation is based on:

Academic excellence and publication record
Strength and relevance of research proposal
Capacity to contribute to EERC programmes

Successful applicants are expected to begin the fellowship between late July and early August 2026. Selected candidates must also provide a formal release letter from their home institutions.

Institutional Collaboration and Research Impact

The fellowship is designed to strengthen long-term institutional collaboration between EERC and participating researchers’ home institutions. Fellows are expected to contribute to:

Joint research publications
Competitive grant applications
Policy-relevant research outputs
Capacity building initiatives for early-career researchers

This collaborative model ensures that research outputs contribute directly to sustainable development outcomes across Africa.

Conclusion

The EERC Fellowship Programme 2026 Cohort 4 represents a significant opportunity for senior researchers seeking to engage in applied, interdisciplinary research focused on climate change, agriculture, and sustainable development. Through international collaboration, structured research support, and field-based engagement, the programme aims to strengthen scientific capacity and generate impactful solutions for Africa’s development challenges.

VISIT OFFICIAL WEBSITE TO APPLY

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Disclaimer: Global South Opportunities (GSO) is not the organization offering this opportunity. For any inquiries, please contact the official organization directly. Please do not send your applications & CVs 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.