Call for Applications: Africa Fellows in Education Program 2026/2027

Application deadline: June 30, 2026 (23:59 GMT)

AFEP offers two-year, fully supported research fellowships for young African researchers to build expertise in education policy and evidence-based decision-making.

Calling young researchers from Sub-Saharan Africa who are committed to improving education to apply for the Africa Fellows in Education Program (AFEP), a two-year research and policy development fellowship.

About AFEP AFEP supports a network of local policy Fellows with enhanced skills in evaluating educational research, developing and using performance data to make better decisions, and introducing rigorous evidence into the decision-making process. This research and policy development fellowship introduces the Fellows to relevant research and analytical experiences as well as international networks of researchers and policy advisers.

The proposed program is organised around a combination of in-country activities and network/training opportunities regionally and abroad. Fellows will have the opportunity to attend two of the most prominent international conferences on the economics of education. They will participate in a series of short courses designed to be most suitable to their needs - covering topics such as evaluation methods, communications, incentive structures - and a series of lectures on testing and performance measurement.

While in their home countries, the Fellows will develop a research/evaluation project to be carried out under program supervision and with local scientific mentors. During and after the fellowship period, a team of advisors from Stanford University and other African and international organisations will provide direct support and supervision.

Call for Applications 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.

Funding Each fellow receives a $25,000 research grant, plus up to $25,000 in covered expenses for mentorship, conference travel, and in-country workshops.

Eligibility Applicants must:

Be nationals of a Sub-Saharan African country, Be 35 or younger, Hold a Master's or PhD in a relevant field with strong quantitative focus, Demonstrate experience with quantitative data analysis, Demonstrate interest in education policy research and analysis, Be affiliated with a government, research, or higher education institution, Be proficient in English. Qualified female candidates are strongly encouraged to apply.

How to apply Submit a two-page statement of interest, a two-page essay on an educational problem in your country, and a detailed and up-to-date CV via the PEP intranet system.

Download the call for Application document: Link for a full description of AFEP, the Terms of Reference, and instructions for application submission through the PEP intranet system.

Apply by June 30, 2026 (23:59 GMT).