Pre-doctoral Fellowship

This Fellowship is CLOSED. Please check back in January 2025 (follow us on social media for updates).

WARA Pre-doctoral Fellowship

In the interest of enhancing transatlantic exchange and collaboration, the West African Research Association, with funding from the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs of the US State Department, WARA holds an annual competition for Pre-doctoral fellowships. The WARA Pre-Doctoral Fellowship, for 2 to 3 month’s research in West Africa during summer of the current year, is for the purpose of 1) preparing a doctoral research proposal; or 2) carrying out research related to the completion of another terminal degree program (e.g., MFA or MPH).

This competition is open to U.S. citizens who are currently enrolled in graduate programs at institutions of higher education in the United States. It is advisable that applicants be conversant in an African language spoken where they will be conducting research. Priority will be given to applicants who are at the pre-dissertation stage, that is, who will be returning to their institution to complete course work and exams, before beginning their fieldwork.

Each fellowship will provide round trip travel to a West African country (not to exceed $2,500) and a stipend of up to $3,500. The West African Research Center (WARC) in Dakar, Senegal may assist with academic contacts and affiliations and recommendations for lodging in the country chosen by the fellow.

Application requirements:

• Abstract (50-80 words)
• Proposal (6 pages – double spaced)
• Resume or CV
• Itemized budget (including estimated costs for housing, food, travel, equipment, printing/photocopying, and institutional affiliation fees)
• Graduate and undergraduate transcripts (Scan and upload official transcripts)
• Bibliography
• Three letters of reference signed by the recommender.

The proposal statement should describe the concept, methodology and the significance of the proposed research project to the applicant’s academic field, and how this research contributes to the mission of WARA. On the Art of Writing Proposals, an excellent resource for preparing applications can be found on the SSRC website. The language should be understandable to non-specialist readers.

APPLICATIONS MUST BE SUBMITTED NO LATER THAN 11:59pm March 3, 2024. LATE APPLICATIONS WILL NOT BE CONSIDERED.

Please direct inquiries to:
west.african.research.association@gmail.com

Funding for the WARA Residency Program is provided by the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs of the US Department of State through a grant from the Council of American Overseas Research Centers.