University of Pretoria 2025 Future Africa Research Leadership Fellowship

Published: 19 Nov 2024

The Future Africa Research Leadership Fellowship (FAR-LeaF II) is a two-year research-oriented fellowship programme supported by the Carnegie Corporation of New York and hosted at Future Africa. The programme focuses on future-looking science leadership and developing the next generation of African scientists and academics. The programme seeks to build a network of emerging African scientists with the skills to apply transformative research methods and approaches in addressing complex sustainability challenges in Africa, including inter- and transdisciplinarity, systems thinking, and futures literacy. Furthermore, it will provide multiple research and learning opportunities covering different sectors of science and society, aiming to create sustainable solutions in a real-world context, establishing communities of practice, and addressing the broad scope of the politics of sustainability, resilience, and greater social cohesion.

Applicants should be receptive to applying transdisciplinary science and developing leadership skills to generate positive societal changes whilst striving for a future academic leadership position.  Successful applicants to the programme will receive a two-year fellowship, with training on transdisciplinary research approaches, through Future Africa at the University of Pretoria and its partners and inclusive co-design of fellows’ research projects with relevant role-players. The training and support provided by the FAR-LeaF II programme will create opportunities to establish research relationships at diverse African universities in collaboration with and through mentorship opportunities offered by the University of Pretoria.

The FAR-LeaF II programme follows the first FAR-LeaF programme, which supported research focused on sustainability and well-being on the African continent. The research in the FAR-LeaF II programme will extend and build upon the FAR-LeaF research, with an additional focus on the politics of sustainability.

University of Pretoria Future Africa Research Leadership Fellowship

Application Deadline	November 30, 2024
Value	USD 13 500
Funding Type	Fully Funded
Country to study	South Africa
School to study	University of Pretoria
Type	Fellowship
Sponsor	University of Pretoria
Gender	Men and Women

Benefits of University of Pretoria Future Africa Research Leadership Fellowship

The fellowship will provide research funds of USD 13 500 per year for two years, covering expenses for research-related expenditures, travel to local and regional communities and meetings, and fellowship visits to Future Africa.

Requirements for University of Pretoria Future Africa Research Leadership Fellowship

Applicants must have:

• A PhD degree awarded within the last 10 years
• A Faculty or a continuing research position at a research-active institution in Africa
• Active involvement in research at an African institution of higher education or research
• A strong record of excellent scientific or scholarly achievement
• Interest in translating and communicating the results of their work for impact on society
• Interest in developing leadership ability in research and beyond.

Other criteria which will guide selection include:

• An interest in the role of transdisciplinary research in addressing issues related to the focus areas of the programme, namely, (sustainability and the politics of sustainability, resilience and social cohesion).
• An interest in collaborations across disciplines and sectors (e.g., industry, civil society, government) and with diverse stakeholders.
• A commitment to participate in all the activities of the fellowship.
• The intent to share what is learned in the programme with their broader networks.
• Age below 45 for men, or 50 for women.

Selection Process

Application schedule

The programme will run over two years. Fellows will be selected through a rigorous evaluation process based on their research proposals and be provided with a two-year fellowship. All applications will be reviewed and shortlisted by representatives of Future Africa at the University of Pretoria in collaboration with expert reviewers.

 SELECTION CRITERIA AND PROCESS

• The programme is intended for candidates from across the African continent. The research will be conducted in the fellow’s home country, and fellows will retain their position at their home institutions.
• Fellows should be employed by an African higher education or research institution or have a commitment from a home institution to support or consider a future position. The programme will be flexible to allow for minimal disruption of the academic responsibilities at the fellows’ home institutions.
• The programme has a strong institutional capacity development dimension whereby supervisors are part of the support and design of the research through paired submission by an early career candidate with their supervisor/study leader and collaboration with mentors from the University of Pretoria.
• The FAR-LeaF II fellows will be selected based on their research interests in developing solutions for addressing transformation towards sustainability, resilience, and social cohesion to advance and complement diverse science disciplines.

Key dates
6 November 2024	Call for proposals released
11-30 November 2024	Online system application period open
30 November 2024	Closing date for applications
27 January 2025	Selection of suitable candidates from the Open Call for participation
February 2025	Programme orientation for suitable candidates, supervisors, and mentors (single-day virtual session).
24 February 2025	Announcement of successful Fellows
March 2025	Contractual agreements to be signed for the programme to commence
April 2025	Visa applications for South Africa to be completed
May 2025	Annual workshop training on TDS (in person)

Application Deadline

November 30, 2024

How to Apply

Interested and qualified? Go to University of Pretoria on callforapplications.co.za to apply