The African Economic Research Consortium (AERC) and the World Bank have partnered to provide an opportunity for African researchers to enhance their skills on economic research. The AERC-World Bank Visiting Scholars Program is currently accepting applications for its annual fellowship program. Eligible applicants are encouraged to apply before the deadline.
Program Description
The AERC-World Bank Visiting Scholars Program is a fellowship program that aims to enhance the skills and output of individual African researchers by providing access to wider and better information, network, and economic research and data accessible via the World Bank. The program provides an opportunity for AERC researchers to visit the World Bank for four months, with a total of three researchers visiting every year.
During the program, visiting scholars will work on their own research relevant to economic development in Africa and also work with the World Bank’s researchers to develop especially those in the Africa Region. The World Bank Regional Flagship Studies program is the priority in this collaboration and hencefellows will interact with the World Bank’s researchers and will fully utilize the World Bank’s resources to revise their draft paper, submit it to the World Bank Working Paper Series and a ranking Journal. Furthermore, during this program, visiting scholars will contribute meaningfully to the World Bank’s Africa Region ongoing research and analytical work.
Program Expectations
Visiting scholars are expected to be active members of AFRCE, attend all AFRCE-led activities, and benefit from capacity-building efforts being organized by AFRCE, including collaboration with scholars and peers doing analytical work on World Bank Regional Flagship Studies. Furthermore, visiting scholars are expected to interact with the World Bank’s researchers, develop a repository of research interests, and comply with all other terms and conditions included in their terms of reference and applicable consultancy contract. The fellowship program expects visiting scholars to present at least one seminar on their own research while in the program.
Eligibility Criteria
To be eligible for the AERC-World Bank Visiting Scholars Program, applicants must be an AERC researcher. This includes researchers from the AERC collaborative PhD program CPP. Applicants must have an active AERC research project at least at interim/post-field stage or final research paper stage. The research project must be pertinent to the research agenda of the World Bank Africa Region and imperatives for sustained African development.
Application Process
The application process for the AERC-World Bank Visiting Scholars Program requires eligible applicants to submit an expression of interest. The statement of interest should be no more than two pages and include a draft paper on a subject pertinent to the research agenda of the Africa region of the World Bank and imperatives facing African development.
Applicants must also submit their updated curriculum vitae as well as their curriculum/course materials if they teach a relevant course. All application packages must be emailed to the AERC Research Department ([email protected]) before the 30 of June, 2023. Women researchers are especially encouraged to apply.
Website and Application Link
For more information, interested applicants can visit the AERC-World Bank Visiting Scholars Program webpage. They can also find the link to apply for the program on the same page.
Conclusion
The AERC-World Bank Visiting Scholars Program is an excellent opportunity for African researchers to gain new skills, become exposed to crucial economic research resources, and enhance their research capabilities. Applicants are encouraged to visit the website and apply before the deadline.