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Africa Initiative Graduate Research Grant

Students enrolled in a university in Africa

The Africa Initiative Graduate Research Grant program supports short-term academic placements for students enrolled in a Master’s or PhD program at African universities. The program offers grants of up to CAD$10,000 each to fifteen students per year to conduct  research for up to three months at Canadian universities.

As part of their application for the grant, applicants are expected to self-identify professors and experts they would like to work with at universities in Canada and are required to submit an official letter of support from the university where they wish to be based.

 Please refer to the program guidelines for detailed information about the application process and program requirements.

Download Press Release (Call for Applications)

Download Program Guidelines

Download Application Form

Eligibility

  • must be a Master’s or PhD student enrolled in an African university
  • must be in good academic standing (with at least an overall B standing, or equivalent)
  • proposed research must be original and timely, and must focus on one or more of the thematic areas of conflict resolution, energy, food security, health, migration, and climate change 

Application requirements (all documents must be in English)

  • completed application form
  • written proposal (maximum 5 pages) summarizing the applicant’s proposed research, including objective; methodology; expected results; timeline; proposed research plan in Canada; and an overview of the expected host university’s involvement with the proposed research
  • current CV
  • university transcript from 2010 to 2011
  • one invitation letter from the expected host university granting visiting scholar status
  • two letters of recommendations (one letter from the applicant’s academic advisor in Africa and one letter from an academic or professional source; all references must be emailed by the referee to aiexchange@cigionline.org)
  • passport scan
  • writing sample (can be any written research work authored by the applicant) 

Applications must be submitted by the application deadline via email to aiexchange@cigionline.org. Application materials must be submitted in a single email (with the exception of references) with each attachment clearly titled. The Africa Initiative will acknowledge receipt of all applications within 48 hours of receipt. 

Program requirements

Participants are expected to author three backgrounders for the Africa Portal during their placement and write one major research paper.

Timeline

  • January 15, 2012             Application deadline
  • March 31, 2012                Selected applicants will be notified
  • September 30, 2012        Deadline for submitting all program requirements 

Contact

All inquiries can be addressed to:

         Ibi Brown (Ms.)

         Exchange Program Coordinator, The Centre for International Governance Innovation

         aiexchange@cigionline.org

 

2011 Africa Initiative Graduate Research Grant Recipients (Africa)

Adebusuyi, Adeniran         Cross-border networking and identity integration within the ECOWAS framework 

Bob-Milliar, George           Discontent and aggressive political participation in Ghana 

De Lange, Jurgens           Determination of the protonation sequence of the anti-cancer bisphosphonate, zolendronic acid 

Fenta, Mehretu                 Socio-economic determinants in sustainable land management 

Gitau, Wairimu                  Exploring professional standards and ethics of international media in conflict-effected societies 

Hakizamungu, Massudi     A comparative study of sexual health and contraception use in Canadian and Rwandan adolescents 

Ikuteyo, Lanre                   Patterns and processes of irregular migration among Nigerian youth 

Mewalal, Ritesh                Functional characterization of secondary cell wall proteins  

Odozi, John                      Determinants of climate change adaptation by smallholder farmers in Niger State, Nigeria 

Ofili, Patricia                     Diplomacy, media and language in conflict management 

Ojoyi, Mercy                     Strengthening development agro-landscapes against climate change in Tanzania 

Owaraga, Norah              Traditional knowledge and food security amongst the Iteso of Pallisa, Uganda 

Sewornu, Rita                  The role of customary institutions in land conflict resolution in Ghana 

Van Wyk, Milandre           Intercultural competence among South African expatriates working and living in Egypt