French Institute for Research in Africa (IFRA) Field Research “observing the election process in Nigeria” 2023

The unfolding electoral moment in Nigeria is a period of critical importance for the country and of great interest to the French Institute for Research in Africa (IFRA), based at the Institute of African Studies (University of Ibadan). IFRA intends to play a role in observing and analysing the social impacts of Nigerian policies, polities, and politics in a short- and long-term perspective. In this electoral setting, IFRA is launching an observatory overseeing the 2023 elections in Nigeria. The aim is to produce socio-anthropological data and analysis on the election process. For this, IFRA is funding several young Nigerian researchers to conduct fieldwork-based research upon different topics (political violence, fraud, public space dynamics, particular groups voting intentions, ethnic based voting patterns…).

We wish to promote new point of views and analytical lenses to understand topical issues in social sciences. Such issues include the linkages between elections and insecurity, voter inducement, hate speech, corruption, the experience and position of gender and vulnerable groups throughout the election process. We also aim at initiating research on less popular topics such as various institutional analyses of the election process, understanding the role of dissonant voices during the elections, rights movement during the electoral period, accounts of the democratisation process by testimonies of actors and minoritarian groups. This is just an indicative list, we are open to other propositions.

• Table of Content
• About French Institute for Research in Africa (IFRA)
• IFRA Field Research
• Requirements for IFRA Field Research Qualification
• Documents Required for Application
• Application Deadline
• How to Apply

About French Institute for Research in Africa (IFRA)

IFRA-Nigeria is one the 27 Public Research Institutes under the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs based overseas. It was set up to promote research in the social sciences and the humanities, as well as enhance collaborative work between scholars in France, Nigeria, Cameroon, Benin, Togo, Ghana, Liberia, Gambia, Niger, Chad and Burkina Faso. First established in 1990, the Institute is operating from the University of Ibadan (Institute of African Studies)... read more... continue reading

IFRA Field Research

Requirements for IFRA Field Research Qualification

Required qualifications: Being a master’s student or having already obtained at least a master’s degree in any topic pertaining to social and/or human sciences.

Desired qualifications: Having fieldwork experience and hands-on experience with the methodological approach presented in the proposal is strongly desired.

Documents Required for Application

Applicants must submit:

• a CV
• a short cover letter (1 and a half page max.) presenting academic background and interest in working for this specific research program.
• a fieldwork proposal including a title, the background and rationale underpinning their project, research question(s), a methodological approach, a time schedule, and a bibliography For more information regarding how to write such a proposal, click here. The proposal should not be more than two/three pages long.

It is important when writing a proposal to keep in mind the feasibility of the study. This implies that the fieldwork one wishes to undertake must not expose her/him to unreasonable dangers. Furthermore, we encourage the applicant to adopt a multimethod approach, participant observation and focus groups for example, if suited to the research project(s).

Application Deadline

How to Apply

Send your application by email to these two email addresses:

[email protected]

[email protected]

For more details, visit IFRA website.