Future Africa Research Leadership Fellowship at University of Pretoria 2025

The Future Africa Research Leadership Fellowship (FAR-LeaF II) is a two-year research-oriented fellowship programme supported by the Carnegie Corporation of New York and hosted at Future Africa. The programme focuses on future-looking science leadership and developing the next generation of African scientists and academics. The programme seeks to build a network of emerging African scientists with the skills to apply transformative research methods and approaches in addressing complex sustainability challenges in Africa, including inter- and transdisciplinarity, systems thinking, and futures literacy. Furthermore, it will provide multiple research and learning opportunities covering different sectors of science and society, aiming to create sustainable solutions in a real-world context, establishing communities of practice, and addressing the broad scope of the politics of sustainability, resilience, and greater social cohesion.

• Table of Content
• About University of Pretoria
•  Future Africa Research Leadership Fellowship
• Aim and Benefits of  Future Africa Research Leadership Fellowship
• Requirements for  Future Africa Research Leadership Fellowship Qualification
• Interview date, Process and Venue for  Future Africa Research Leadership Fellowship
• Application Deadline
• How to Apply

About University of Pretoria

The University of Pretoria (UP) was established in 1908 with just four professors and 32 students, in a little house called Kya Rosa. Today, it is one of the largest research universities in South Africa. UP has transformed into a dynamic university community of staff and students who come from a range of diverse backgrounds and cultures showcasing South African and global societies. The University was born from a vision to create a space for quality education and for new ideas to flourish. Over the course of its existence, and through different phases of political power and social change, UP ... continue reading

 Future Africa Research Leadership Fellowship

Aim and Benefits of  Future Africa Research Leadership Fellowship

The fellowship will provide research funds of USD 13 500 per year for two years, covering expenses for research-related expenditures, travel to local and regional communities and meetings, and fellowship visits to Future Africa.

Requirements for  Future Africa Research Leadership Fellowship Qualification

The following criteria will be used for the nomination and selection of fellows.

 Applicants must have:

• A PhD degree awarded within the last 10 years
• A Faculty or a continuing research position at a research-active institution in Africa
• Active involvement in research at an African institution of higher education or research
• A strong record of excellent scientific or scholarly achievement
• Interest in translating and communicating the results of their work for impact on society
• Interest in developing leadership ability in research and beyond.

Other criteria which will guide selection include:

• An interest in the role of transdisciplinary research in addressing issues related to the focus areas of the programme, namely, (sustainability and the politics of sustainability, resilience and social cohesion).
• An interest in collaborations across disciplines and sectors (e.g., industry, civil society, government) and with diverse stakeholders.
• A commitment to participate in all the activities of the fellowship.
• The intent to share what is learned in the programme with their broader networks.
• Age below 45 for men, or 50 for women.

Interview date, Process and Venue for  Future Africa Research Leadership Fellowship

The programme is intended for candidates from across the African continent. The research will be conducted in the fellow’s home country, and fellows will retain their position at their home institutions.

Fellows should be employed by an African higher education or research institution or have a commitment from a home institution to support or consider a future position. The programme will be flexible to allow for minimal disruption of the academic responsibilities at the fellows’ home institutions.

The programme has a strong institutional capacity development dimension whereby supervisors are part of the support and design of the research through paired submission by an early career candidate with their supervisor/study leader and collaboration with mentors from the University of Pretoria.

The FAR-LeaF II fellows will be selected based on their research interests in developing solutions for addressing transformation towards sustainability, resilience, and social cohesion to advance and complement diverse science disciplines.

Application Deadline

How to Apply

1. Applications must be submitted using the online application form. The application form will be live from 11-30 November 2024

1. The application will include a research proposal as outlined in the template included in the online application form.

1. All applicants must provide two support letters from academic referees. One letter should be from the applicant’s line manager or current supervisor and should include confirmation that the applicant will be released from responsibilities – where applicable – to allow them to fulfil the requirements of the fellowship.

1. All applicants must have a supervisor in their home institution who is prepared to work with the applicant in developing the application jointly, between fellow and supervisor, with a research proposal, budget and publication plan.

1. The supervisor will be a co-applicant with the fellow in the application and the proposal for the research project. The supervisor is requested to complete the relevant section on the Online Application Form.

For more details, visit University of Pretoria fellowship website.