ELIGIBILITY:

The AfricaLics VFP aims to support African PhD students working in innovation and development by strengthening their academic and research capabilities, improving the quality of their dissertations, and preparing them for careers in academia, the private sector, or government and policymaking. The AfricaLics VFP does this by increasing the mobility and level of exposure of the selected PhD students to international knowledge and research on innovation and development. The programme forms part of the broader AfricaLics efforts to contribute to the development of a vibrant research community in Africa in this emerging and highly multidisciplinary field.

The scholarship option is open to PhD students from countries in Africa classified by the OECD/DAC as low- and lower-middle-income countries whose studies—irrespective of sectoral discipline—focus on the relationship between innovation and economic, social, or environmentally sustainable development. Female PhD students are particularly encouraged to apply, as AfricaLics seeks to increase the representation of women in innovation and development research in Africa. Likewise, PhD students from low-income countries are particularly encouraged to apply because AfricaLics endeavours to strengthen research capacity in innovation and development in low-income countries in Africa.

Applicants must be enrolled as PhD students in a relevant programme at an African university and should preferably have completed their first year of PhD studies by December 2026. The final number of accepted visiting fellows will depend on the in-depth assessment of the quality and relevance of applications, funding available, and possibilities to secure relevant mentors that match the topics of PhD candidates applying for the fellowship. The visiting scholarship is complementary to the studies of the PhD students at their home universities, and applicants must already have secured basic funding for their PhD studies from other sources (e.g. African governments, other organizations, or self-financing).

For the 2027 VFP cohort, PhD students engaged in research relevant to the four AfricaLics Research Coordination Areas are particularly encouraged to apply. The network currently has four established RCAs:

STI Measurement in Africa

Global Value Chains (GVCs), Innovation, and Industrialization

Innovating Resilience: Advancing Inclusive Agricultural Innovation for Climate Resilience in Sub-Saharan Africa

Innovation and Sustainable Energy Transition in Africa (i-SET Africa)

More info about the RCAs can be found here: https://africalics.org/thematic-areas-rcas/

The students are selected through a rigorous assessment process using the following criteria:

Focus and relevance: The application should demonstrate clear relevance to Innovation and Development studies in Africa and to the emerging AfricaLics research agenda. Applicants should provide a clear justification for their research and specify their research questions.

A well-elaborated explanation of the theoretical and conceptual framework rooted in innovation and development studies and with a clear explanation on how this framework relates to the research questions.

Methodological clarity and rigor (application shows intention to address all research questions with adequate methods; data sources and data collection methods are clearly explained and relevant for the research).

Additional criteria include an assessment of whether the applicant will be able to benefit from involvement in the fellowship programme based on where they are in their PhD process and on the availability of relevant AfricaLics mentors. Finally, female applicants and applicants from low-income countries in Africa are given special consideration to increase diversity in the I&D community across Africa

Student Requirements and Application Form

Applicants for the AfricaLics PhD visiting fellowship programme should:

Be working actively on a subject relevant to innovation and development as defined above.

Be enrolled as a PhD student at a university in Africa.

Have preferably completed their first year of studies by December 2026

Have a background (BSc, MSc etc.) in Economics, Sociology, Political Science, Science and Technology Policy, Geography, History or Development Studies. Applicants may also work within the STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) subjects or even manufacturing, but from a social science perspective.

Possess adequate literacy in English (documentation may be requested).

Applicants fulfilling the criteria above and interested in the VFP, must submit a brief application of one page/500 words explaining their background, motivation for applying, and expected outcomes of participation in the AfricaLics PhD visiting fellowship programme.

The following documents must be submitted with the application:

Brief outline of current PhD project, including PhD training plans (max. 5 pages)

Curriculum Vitae – CV (including PhD courses attended so far)

Letter of support from the main PhD supervisor confirming that the PhD student will have completed her/his upgrade/probation by the end of December 2025 OR reasons why the student is deemed suitable for inclusion in the fellowship programme if this is not the case.

Letter of support from the University Administration at the university where the PhD student is enrolled

Copies of academic certificates (copies of Bachelor and Master Certificates as a minimum)

One writing sample (article or chapter) from the current PhD program

Applicants are NOT expected to submit a copy of their passport when applying for the PhD visiting fellowship programme. Successful candidates will be asked to handle any visa issues that may be relevant with support from the AfricaLics Secretariat and UJ. Collection of personal data will be kept to a minimum, and information received will be stored safely and will not be used for any other purposes.

BENEFIT:

Return flight costs from your nearest international airport (economy class) to Johannesburg and accommodation in Johannesburg will be covered by AfricaLics through the Sida-supported RCS project.

A travel insurance is issued together with the ticket and serves as health insurance during the fellowship period. The medical insurance provided under the travel insurance usually only covers minor ailments that occur during your stay. Successful candidates who have a medical condition, are advised to check if their own health insurance works in South Africa and, if not, ensure they upgrade their insurance in advance of their study visit.

Living costs during the study visit to UJ are normally covered through a stipend amounting to approximately $600 per month. This amount should cover all costs while in Johannesburg related to living expenses and travel around Johannesburg, including to and from the UJ campus.

Costs for participation in joint courses and mentorship fees will be covered by AfricaLics. A small amount of funds is also available for students to participate in a short course that is deemed important for their PhD studies and not normally available in their home country.

The AfricaLics RCS project will also cover costs related to the two face-to-face meetings between students, home supervisors, and mentors.

If AfricaLics agrees to fund the three-month study visit to Johannesburg, the scholarship will only cover costs related to the student’s visit. Any costs related to accompanying spouses, children, or others will not be covered. The scholarship does not cover the costs of any additional travel in South Africa that the student may wish to undertake unless it is as part of selected and approved VFP activities.

Accommodation and workspace: The AfricaLics RCS team at ACTS and staff at UJ will help organize accommodation for students during the study visit in Johannesburg. The accommodation will be near the UJ-TRCTI offices at the University of Johannesburg, where the students will have their working space. Costs will be covered by the fellowship programme. While they endeavour to provide a single private bedroom for each selected student, this is not always possible (i.e. some students may be in shared bedrooms) and there may be communal living spaces (kitchens, living rooms and bathrooms).