Application Deadline: June 30th, 2026 (23:59 GMT).
Applications are now open for the 2026/2027 Africa Fellows in Education Program. AFEP offers two-year, fully supported research fellowships for young African researchers to build expertise in education policy and evidence-based decision-making. The Global Education Analytics Institute (GEAI), in collaboration with PEP, invites young African researchers who are motivated to improve education and could benefit from additional support to submit an expression of interest in AFEP.
AFEP enables the fellows to participate in a two-year research and policy development fellowship that introduces them to relevant research and analytical experiences and international networks of researchers and policy advisers.
Eligibility criteria
To be eligible for this call, applicants must:
- Be a national of a Sub-Saharan African country;
- Hold a Master’s or PhD degree in Economics, Education Policy, Social or Public Policy, Development Studies, International Development, Statistics, Demography, or Sociology — with a strong quantitative and education focus. While a PhD is not mandatory, GEAI and PEP particularly welcome recent PhD graduates and advanced doctoral candidates (within one year of completion) who stand to benefit from structured mentorship and training as they develop into independent researchers.
- Demonstrated experience with quantitative data analysis; proficiency in at least one statistical software (R, Stata, Python, or equivalent) is an asset.
- Not be older than 35 years old;
- Demonstrate interest in education policy research and analysis;
- Work for the government or have an affiliation at either a research or higher education institution in a Sub-Saharan African country and intend to do so for the foreseeable
future; - Be proficient in English; all application materials and program activities are conducted in English.
- Qualified females are strongly encouraged to apply.
Application Process
The Africa Fellows application process is managed by GEAI in collaboration with PEP. The applications will be assessed based on several factors, including prior preparation and the quality of an essay (see below). The expression of interest by the applicants should include:
- A two-page statement of interest;
- A two-page essay. The essay must be prepared in English. In this essay, the applicant must think and write about a specific educational problem in their home country and how it could be scientifically evaluated using quantitative methods.
- A detailed and updated CV with at least two (2) referees that the selection committee
can contact. - Applications must be submitted via the PEP intranet system (see detailed procedures
below) before the 30th of June 2026 (23:59 GMT).
For More Information:
Visit the Official Webpage of the Africa Fellows in Education Program
