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African Futures Research Leadership Program - Cohort 7

AGRI-FOOD SYSTEMS, CULTURE AND SOCIETY, HEALTH AND NUTRITION, WATER, ENERGY, AND THE ENVIRONMENT, YOUTH EMPOWERMENT, EDUCATION, SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY AND INNOVATION
Due Date: 11/12/2026

AAP African Futures Research Leadership Program

Cohort 7 Call for Applicants

The Alliance for African Partnership (AAP) invites applications for the seventh cohort of the African Futures Research Leadership Program. This competitive visiting scholar program supports early-career researchers from AAP consortium universities to collaborate for one year with faculty members at Michigan State University (MSU) and their home institutions.

The program focuses on strengthening scholars’ skills in impactful research, curriculum development, innovative teaching, scholarly and policy writing, dissemination of research results, and grant proposal development. Scholars will also participate in a structured professional development program while building meaningful and lasting connections with MSU faculty, their home institutions, and fellow scholars.

The primary goal of the African Futures Research Leadership Program is to strengthen the capacity of emerging African researchers to become scientific and academic leaders in their communities. The program seeks to foster long-term partnerships with MSU faculty, co-create innovative solutions to Africa’s challenges, and cultivate the next generation of research mentors and leaders.

AAP invites applications from early-career researchers to join Cohort 7, which will begin virtually in February 2027. Scholars will spend Aug – Dec, 2027 at MSU for the in-person phase of the program, followed by continued virtual collaboration through Feb. 2028.

Each scholar will receive a research and professional development grant to support activities related to their scholarship, teaching, and career development, including conference participation and publication. Scholars will also receive a stipend during their time at MSU, visa support, and round-trip travel from their home institution.

Potential Research Areas

The African Futures Program welcomes scholars working across disciplines whose research addresses important challenges and opportunities facing African communities, institutions, and societies.

Interdisciplinary and transdisciplinary approaches are encouraged, particularly projects that connect research to practical challenges and opportunities and demonstrate potential for meaningful societal impact.

Selected scholars will be paired with an MSU mentor and commit to working with the MSU mentor and the home institution mentor for the duration of the program. 

Program Benefits

Professional Development – Structured workshops focused on equitable research partnerships, teaching innovation, academic time management, proposal development, budgeting, research communication, scholarly writing, and other skills designed to advance scholars’ research, teaching, and careers.

Leadership Development – Participation in a research leadership retreat focused on strengthening leadership competencies, self-reflection, career development, and scholars’ capacity to lead research teams and initiatives.

Collaboration Networks – Each scholar will collaborate with faculty partners at MSU and their home institution. Scholars will also become part of AAP’s broader network of researchers at MSU, across Africa, and globally.

Expected Outcomes

By the end of the program, each scholar and their collaborative team will be expected to achieve at least the following:

  • Submission or publication of one to three joint manuscripts
  • Submission of at least one grant proposal
  • Presentation at one or more academic or professional conferences

Collaborations are intended to extend beyond the formal program period. Scholars are encouraged to engage broadly with MSU faculty, strengthen connections between MSU and their home institutions, and maintain collaborative partnerships following completion of the program.

Participants will be required to submit regular progress reports to AAP and their home institution focal point. Failure to meet program or partnership expectations may result in early termination from the program.

Eligibility

Applicants must:

  • Be a citizen of an African country
  • Have received a PhD within the last 10 years
  • Be currently employed as academic staff at an AAP African member university. To be eligible, participating AAP member institutions must be in good standing, defined as having paid their required AAP membership fees, at the time of proposal submission.
  • Receive official approval for leave or sabbatical covering the in-person phase of the program
  • Identify a partner at their home institution who is committed to collaborating throughout the program
  • Demonstrate a strong research agenda with relevance to African challenges and opportunities
  • Submit only one proposal during this application round

Application Requirements

Applicants must submit:

  • Updated CV outlining academic and professional accomplishments
  • One-page letter of interest describing the applicant’s research agenda, proposed areas of collaboration, professional goals, and potential societal impact of their work
  • Names of up to three potential MSU faculty mentor, identified through MSU department websites. Applicants should not contact prospective MSU mentor directly; AAP will initiate contact with potential mentors
  • One-page letter from the home institution mentor confirming their willingness to participate in the collaboration, including travel to MSU
  • One-page endorsement letter from the applicant’s Head of Department approving leave for participation in the program
  • One-page letter of support from the institution’s AAP Focal Point

Selection Criteria

Applications will be reviewed based on:

  • Professional merit, scientific or scholarly ability, and potential for career impact, as demonstrated through the applicant’s CV, publications, letters, and references
  • Quality and potential impact of the applicant’s research agenda
  • Potential for meaningful and sustainable collaboration with MSU and the applicant’s home institution
  • Institutional assurance of continued employment and support following completion of the program
  • Commitment to return to the applicant’s home country following the fellowship
  • Potential to contribute to research leadership and mentorship at the applicant’s home institution
  • Diversity across disciplines, institutions, regions, and areas of scholarship

Application Deadline

Applications are due by Friday, Dec. 11 at 11:59pm.


Apply: https://uplift.isp.msu.edu/funding/calls/dedfbaea-6fae-4f95-8f3d-fb3292e7c546


For questions, please contact:

José Jackson-Malete
Alliance for African Partnership
Michigan State University
jacks184@msu.edu
+1-517-884-8587

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