African Gender Institute: Short-Term Associateships for Work on Gender Equity and Social Transformation

African Youth in a Global Age

The Social Science Research Council (SSRC) and the American Council of Learned Societies (ACLS), in partnership with South Africa's National Research Foundation (NRF) and the Council for the Development of Social Science Research in Africa (CODESRIA), is pleased to announce this year's program for research and training on African Youth in a Global Age. The theme for this year is African Youth, Civil Society and the NGO Sector. The SSRC is inviting applications from junior researchers, whether academics, practitioners, or independent researchers. This fellowship includes support for field research and participation in pre- and post-field work workshops.

Approximately eight research fellowships will be awarded this year. Funding for this year's program is provided by the Open Society Initiative for Southern Africa and the NRF.

Synopsis

There is growing awareness among scholars and policy-makers that young Africans are the key to the continent's ability to achieve its long-promised renaissance. It is a truism that in all societies young people are "the future," but conditions in Africa make this truism especially relevant. Demographic research reveals that African countries have extraordinarily high percentages of their populations between the ages of 15-25, many with little access to education, health or employment. Many are also vulnerable to reproductive health challenges (especially HIV/AIDS). As a result, many youth have to fend for themselves, their families, and communities.

The lives and futures of young people in Africa - their problems, their activism, their sense of citizenship (and powerlessness), their education, health, employment and socialization prospects, have increasingly drawn the attention of governments, secular and religious non-governmental organizations (NGO's) and international organizations working in the areas of advocacy and service provision. With greater frequency, these organizations target youth as clients or participants in their activities. Sometimes this comes under the guise of broader programs or interventions in sectors such as health or human rights, while elsewhere programs or organizations specifically devoted to youth have emerged. Research relevant to this theme would thus focus on the activities of a range of organizations and civil associations - both international institutions that have established local offices in the region and/or locally established NGO's, many of whom have financial support from (or other kinds of linkages to) transnational organizations.

Such organizations address a range of issues, including: children and youth rights and advocacy; demobilization of child soldiers; education at primary and secondary levels, as well as non-formal education; health, including reproductive health, AIDS prevention and orphan care; vocational training, entrepreneurship and sustainable livelihoods; and youth mobilization for social service provision and political change. While research related to the intersection of youth with NGO's and civil society in general is eligible for fellowship consideration, we especially seek projects that examine the connections between organizations and their broader socio-political, economic and cultural contexts as well as projects whose results will constructively and critically engage with the activities and strategies of organizations that have an impact on youth.

The program does not seek to impose a rigid definition on youth, since demographic, legal and cultural definitions may differ. Proposals should specify what definition they are using and justify why that is appropriate, given the purpose of their research. To the extent possible, proposals should also address the theoretical and practical implications of the research.

Fellows will attend a five-day orientation workshop prior to research (in September 2002), receive a research grant of up to $10,000 USD for their field research, and attend a final workshop at the conclusion of their fieldwork.

African researchers based in the region that hold at least a Masters degree and who are no more than five years beyond a Ph.D. are eligible for this program. Although the principal purpose of the program is to support junior researchers and practitioners based in African institutions, a smaller number of fellowships will be available to Ph.D. candidates based in other regions who seek field research funding for their dissertations.

Applications are due no later than Tuesday April 2nd, 2002. Fellows will be notified in July 2002.

Applications should include a research agenda (not more than 10 pages long), 2 letters of reference (required), one letter of support from an NGO (optional), graduate level academic transcripts, a detailed budget, a one-page summary of your research agenda, and comprehensive curriculum vitae. Please consult our website at www.ssrc.org, or contact us for more information prior to submitting an application. Applications should be mailed to the address below. All questions should be directed to africa@ssrc.org, or to Funmi Vogt at 212-377-2700 ext. 452.

Applications will be accepted in English, French, and Portuguese. However, workshops will be conducted in English.

Social Science Research Council

The Manager

The Aga Khan Foundation provides a limited number of scholarships each year for postgraduate studies to outstanding students from developing countries who have no other means of financing their studies. Scholarships are awarded on a 50% grant: 50% loan basis through a competitive application process once a year in June. The Foundation gives priority to requests for Master's level courses but is also willing to consider applications for PhD programmes, when doctoral degrees are necessary for the career objectives of the student. Requests will also be considered for travel and study awards for PhD students doing their research in Third World countries on topics judged to be of interest to the Aga Khan Development Network. Applications for short-term courses are not considered; neither are applications from students who have already started their course of study.

For application procedures: http://www.akdn.org/akfisp/HTML/index.html#app

Website: http://www.akdn.org/akfisp/HTML/index.html

However, there are also many obstacles to be overcome.  The majority of urban farmers are very poor, and must function without the support of government policies or the aid of technology.  This means that some methods used by urban farmers can be hazardous to human health, economically less lucrative and socially inequitable.  The AGROPOLIS program has been established to help address these issues.

The program supports graduate-level field research that is designed and implemented in collaboration with non-academic partners.  As the end-users of the research, these international, national, or local partners will be actively engaged in sectors of development in which urban agriculture can make a contribution. These partners could include, for example, community-based organizations, NGOs, city councils and departments, national governments, bilateral and multilateral development agencies and so on.

AGROPOLIS offers students the opportunity to have their graduate research make a meaningful impact on development.  Non-academic actors involved in international development can benefit from the programme by gaining new information pertinent to their work from well-trained and supervised researchers.
The award will cover justifiable field research expenses to a maximum of Cdn $20,000 per year.  Award tenure corresponds to the period of field research, normally no less than 3 months and no more than 12 months. 

Up to 14 awards will be granted annually, with at least 5 awards supporting field research at the master's level. 

Successful applicants will form partnerships with international experts and institutions, and will be closely monitored by the program while in the field.  Selected results will be published by AGROPOLIS.

An international selection committee will review proposals and select successful candidates.  The committee will be composed of experts representing a variety of fields and regions of the world. 

AGROPOLIS is a component of the Global Initiative of the Support Group on Urban Agriculture (SGUA), which is sponsored by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), the United Nations Development Programme Agency (UNDP), the Netherlands Development Agency (NEDA) and IDRC. 

AGROPOLIS is currently funded and managed by IDRC on behalf of the SGUA. IDRC will report annually on the program to the SGUA's Steering Committee. 

Fully documented applications must be received before January 31, 2003.

Awards will by announced before May 30, 2003.

Eligibility Criteria:

AGROPOLIS is intended primarily for researchers from developing countries, including those studying in a developed country and returning to the south after their studies.  At least two-thirds of all awards will be granted to applicants who have citizenship or permanent resident status in a developing country. Up to a third of all awards may be granted to citizens or permanent residents of a developed country (currently only Canada). 

Because research on urban agriculture is cross-disciplinary and cross-sectoral, AGROPOLIS will assign priority to candidates whose academic training is concentrated in one disciplinary field, but which also exposes the candidate to other relevant disciplines.  This academic training should exhibit a balance between agriculture and urban-oriented subjects. 

The following are eligible disciplinary fields: Agricultural Extension,

Agronomy, Aquaculture, Animal Health and Production, Architecture

Communications and Information Sciences, Economics and Financing

Environmental Studies and Environmental Impact Assessment,

Food Marketing, Forestry, Gender Analysis, Geography, Health and Nutrition

Horticulture, Sociology, Urban Planning, Waste and Water Engineering, and

Public Policy and Analysis.


Eligible Areas of Research

AGROPOLIS will support graduate research that focuses on how to remove constraints and enhance the potential for urban and peri-urban agriculture in developing countries. 

The following are the eligible research areas for the AGROPOLIS programme:

Urban Agriculture Theory and Practice, Urban Food Security, Public Health and Nutrition, Urban Land Management, Urban Waste Management, Service Provision, Urban Agriculture and Gender Analysis, Production Systems, Rural-Urban Interactions, and Public Policy.

AGROPOLIS