Are you passionate about improving education policies in Sub-Saharan Africa? The Africa Fellows in Education Program (AFEP), organized by the Global Education Analytics Institute (GEAI) in collaboration with PEP and supported by the Yidan Prize, is now open for applications for the 2025/2026 cohort.
Background High-quality education is a cornerstone of economic development. Yet, many children in developing countries, particularly in Africa, complete primary school without acquiring essential skills like literacy and numeracy. One critical challenge is the lack of capacity to effectively utilize student outcome data for policy improvement and decision-making.
AFEP is designed to address this gap by equipping young African researchers with the tools, mentorship, and international connections needed to influence education policy and improve school systems across the region.
Program Highlights
- A two-year fellowship combining in-country activities and international opportunities.
- Attendance at prestigious conferences, such as the CESifo Economics of Education Conference and AEFP Conference.
- Specialized training in evaluation methods, communications, and performance measurement.
- Research mentorship and support from global experts, including advisors from Stanford University.
- Opportunities to present research findings at outreach workshops and an international conference in June 2026.
Funding
- $35K research grant (cash).
- Up to $25K for mentorship, training, conference travel, and in-country workshops.
Eligibility Criteria
- Must be a national of a Sub-Saharan African country.
- Hold an MA or PhD in economics, education policy, social/public policy, development studies, or international development with a focus on education. PhD graduates are especially encouraged.
- Proficiency in quantitative data analysis using tools like R and Stata.
- Be 35 years old or younger.
- Demonstrated interest in education policy research.
- Employment in government, research institutions, or higher education in Sub-Saharan Africa.
Qualified female applicants are strongly encouraged to apply.
Application Process To apply, submit the following via the PEP intranet system by 30 April 2025 (23:59 GMT):
- A two-page statement of interest.
- A two-page essay discussing either:
- An education issue in your home country and how it could be evaluated scientifically, or
- One of the thematic areas of Teaching at the Right Level (TaRL) Africa.
- An updated CV with at least two referees.
Timeline
- Application Deadline: 30 April 2025, 23:59 GMT
- First Training Segment: September–November 2025
- Second Training Segment: March 2026
- Final Report Presentation: June 2026
Don’t miss this opportunity to contribute to shaping the future of education in Africa. Apply today and become part of an international network of researchers and policymakers striving to make a difference.