Overview

The Social Science Research Council’s (SSRC) Understanding Violent Conflict (UVC) Program has launched a fellowship program with support from the Ford Foundation for Chinese scholars interested in conducting research on China’s engagement with the United Nations (UN) in and relating to African peace and security studies. Field research and research papers undertaken within the 24-month fellowship cycle would explore key issues under the theme of China, the United Nations, and the African Union in Making, Building and Sustaining Peace.

The China-Africa Peace Fellowship aims to strengthen the evidentiary basis for Chinese scholarship on the UN and in peace and security studies, foster greater South-South dialogue and promote knowledge exchange between African and Chinese scholars, and integrate African and Chinese perspective into key policy debates within the UN. The C-A Peace Fellowship is emblematic of the SSRC’s longstanding commitment to enhance international research collaborations and to produce knowledge for the public good.

Our partners on this research fellowship include the Centre for Dialogue, Research and Cooperation, Kofi Annan Institute for Conflict Transformation at the University of Liberia, South African Institute for International Affairs, University of Dar es Salaam, University of Juba Peace, Development, and Conflict Studies (South Sudan), China Peacekeeping Police Training Centre, Peking University, UN Department of Peace Operations, and the UN Association of China.

Eligibility and Timeline

Successful candidates must be advanced PhD candidates, recently graduated doctoral students, post-doctoral fellows and/or junior faculty. They must be available to attend a Preparatory research methods and ethics training workshop and be able to conduct field research in Africa from a minimum of 1 month and up to 3 months. Based on the scholars’ research topics, the SSRC will place the scholars for a minimum of 1 month and up to 3 months with an existing African institution, and other academic, NGO or multilateral partners in Africa working on comparable issues.

Publication and Dissemination

Candidates will then develop their research papers for publication at a capstone workshop to be held in Fall 2018 and hosted by an African partner institution in the region. Successful candidates will also have the opportunity to present their research to senior scholars and UN officials in New York and to Chinese research communities in Beijing. Completed papers will be submitted to journals for publication, or be published as part of a journal special issue or edited book in China.

Submission Requirements

  • Research proposal, maximum two-pages (approximately 500 words), in English, outlining the proposed research project, why it is important, relevance of the topic to the project theme above, and proposed research methods
  • Proposed field research location and dates between the period of June 1, 2018 and September 30, 2018
  • Evidence of language capacity to conduct research in the African country of choice (English, French, Portuguese)
  • Two academic references
  • Professional CV

Application Instructions

To apply, please send required documents to the Understanding Violent Conflict Program (uvc@ssrc.org). Applications received by June 15, 2018 will receive priority consideration, but we will be accepting applications on a rolling basis. Early submissions are encouraged.

Menu