Deadline for Applications: May 15, 2025

Summary: The Council for the Development of Social Science Research in Africa (CODESRIA), with support from the Mastercard Foundation, announces the launch of the African Fellowships for Research in Indigenous and Alternative Knowledges (AFRIAK) programme. This initiative is dedicated to advancing education and skills for young people in Africa, and it honors the legacy of the late Ghanaian intellectual Dr. Sulley Gariba, who championed the recognition of African knowledge in research and evaluation. This fellowship programme aims to train a new generation of young researchers who will design and produce knowledge through a partnership between academic mentors and Indigenous knowledge bearers. The program places emphasis on local and Indigenous knowledge systems, which are deeply embedded in African communities and are crucial for addressing community issues but remain underappreciated in mainstream academic research.

Programme Objectives

AFRIAK seeks to:

• Empower young researchers to engage in multidisciplinary knowledge production.
• Facilitate collaborative research between academic institutions and Indigenous knowledge bearers.
• Promote the application of Indigenous knowledge in policy-making, community development, and various sectors such as agriculture, health, and education.
• Foster a new generation of African researchers, with a special focus on young women, to engage in Indigenous knowledge research and practice, including the use of new technologies like AI.

Research Areas

Proposals under this call should focus on the following key areas:

• Indigenous knowledge and methods of knowing.
• Indigenous medical science and practices.
• Indigenous knowledge in the creative sector and systems of entrepreneurship.
• Agriculture and agri-food systems.
• Mobilizing digital systems for Indigenous knowledge in Africa.
• Indigenous pedagogies and curriculum development.
• Indigenous knowledge in social capital development.
• Indigenous technologies and sustainable development.
• Indigenous knowledge and climate change.
• IK heritage in nutrition and climate health.
• Indigenous languages and science.
• Indigenous knowledge in religion, spirituality, and ecological sustainability.

Target Audience

This fellowship targets young people aged 24-35 years engaged in research related to Indigenous and local knowledge perspectives. Applicants must be based in formal research institutions or Indigenous knowledge research centers in Africa. The fellowship encourages the participation of young women, with up to 70% of the selected fellows being women. Eligible applicants should demonstrate a clear alignment of their research with CODESRIA’s identified priority areas.

Fellowship Structure and Duration

The fellowship spans seven months and includes the following activities:

• Induction: Introduction to the fellowship’s objectives and methodology.
• Fieldwork: Fellows will conduct fieldwork under the mentorship of academic mentors and Indigenous knowledge bearers.
• Dissemination: Sharing of research findings through various platforms and engagement with relevant stakeholders.
• Post-Fellowship: Alumni will contribute to a community of practice to continue applying and advancing Indigenous knowledge systems.

Fellows will be grouped into teams of seven, each accompanied by two Indigenous knowledge bearers and an academic mentor. Research teams will collaboratively conceptualize, execute, and disseminate their findings.

Application Type
Applications can be submitted individually or as part of a group.

Application Submission
Applications must be submitted via the CODESRIA portal: Apply Now

For further information on how to apply, please visit the CODESRIA website or contact the fellowship coordinator directly.