CEGA Fellowship Program: 2023-2024 Request for Applications

Overview

The Center for Effective Global Action (CEGA) invites African researchers to apply to our 2023-2024 CEGA Fellowship Request for Applications (RFA). The CEGA Fellowship Program equips early-career African social scientists with the skills to carry out rigorous impact evaluations of economic development programs and become champions for evidence-informed policy. Selected researchers will audit courses, develop skills in impact evaluation, access a personalized mentorship program to develop their research ideas, and build their research networks. Successful fellows will be invited to join the Network of Impact Evaluation Researchers in Africa (NIERA). We invite researchers from East and West Africa to apply for one of two opportunities:

1) A Resident fellowship during Fall 2023 or Spring 2024 in-person at the University of California, Berkeley or Northwestern University

2) A Non-Resident Fellowship, a virtual version of our flagship resident fellowship where fellows engage remotely for 12 weeks, at about 15-20 hours per week.

The application deadline is 5:00 PM GMT on February 23rd, 2023.

Eligibility

Applicants to the CEGA Fellowship Program must:

• Be a national of an East African or Anglophone West African country (Ethiopia, Kenya, Rwanda, Tanzania, Burundi, South Sudan, Uganda, the Gambia, Sierra Leone, Liberia, Ghana, Nigeria, Benin, Burkina Faso, Cape Verde, Côte D’Ivoire, Gambia, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Liberia, Mali, Mauritania, Niger, Nigeria, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Togo, Somalia, and Cameroon);
• Be fluent in English;
• Have completed a Master’s degree or a PhD within the last 8 years, or be enrolled in a PhD program in economics, statistics, epidemiology/public health, or another social science discipline;
• Have a current affiliation with a research institution, university or other research organization in East or West Africa, preferably one that supports policy-relevant, quantitative social science research;
• [Resident Only] Plan to return to a research institute in East or West Africa after the resident fellowship at UC Berkeley or Northwestern University. If currently enrolled in a PhD program outside the African continent, scholars may complete their PhD before their return.

Please direct any questions about eligibility to our staff team at cegafellowship@gmail.com.

Application Process

To respond to the 2023-2024 CEGA Visiting Fellowship Request for Applications (RFA), please submit the following information and documents through this Submittable portal by Thursday, February 23rd, at 5 pm GMT:

1. Personal Statement (1 page): Please describe your personal motivations for applying to the CEGA Visiting Fellowship–of all fellowships available to you, why are you particularly interested in this program? What do you hope to accomplish during the fellowship and beyond? Please also comment on your ability to commit to the fellowship (Resident or Non-Resident) and how this will fit into your current commitments.
2. Curriculum Vitae/Resume: In your CV, please also include relevant quantitative coursework you have completed.
3. Research Proposal: Not to exceed 2 pages. Refer to Appendix A “Instructions for Research Proposal” and Appendix B “Research Proposal Example,” below. During the fellowship, you should work on the proposal you have submitted unless you decide to change it (with agreement from CEGA staff and your mentor).
4. Evidence of Leave Approval from the applicant’s supervisor or department chair demonstrating support and certifying that, if the applicant is selected, he/she will be able to take a 4-month leave of absence.
5. Name and contact information for two referees: Please provide a name, email, phone number, and affiliation for two individuals (supervisors, senior colleagues, professors) who can speak to your research capacity, quantitative skills, and qualifications for the CEGA fellowship.
6. OPTIONAL: You may attach one working paper or publication.

Submit Application Materials Here

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q: [Resident and Non-Resident Fellowship] Do I need to hold a Ph.D. to apply for the CEGA fellowship program?

A: No. Applicants to the CEGA Visiting Fellowship must have completed at minimum a Master’s degree in economics, statistics, epidemiology/public health, or another social science discipline.

Q: [Resident and Non-Resident Fellowship] I’m from a Francophone country in West Africa, am I eligible to apply?

A: Yes, we have recently expanded our eligibility to include countries in Francophone West Africa. Please note that our selection criteria include fluency in English (written and spoken) and strong communication skills.

Q: [Resident and Non-Resident Fellowship] I’m from an eligible East or West African country, but am currently based in Europe/East Asia/ U.S. etc. Am I eligible to apply?

A: Yes, as long as you hold a staff or student position in an eligible East or West African country and have plans to return to the country to do research.

Q: [Resident Fellowship] My university/organization won’t allow me to leave for 4 months and continue being paid, will CEGA provide me with a salary?

A: No. The CEGA Resident Fellowship program will cover the costs of room and board in Berkeley, health insurance, visa fees, and roundtrip economy airfare for selected fellows. In addition, fellows will be provided a monthly stipend to cover any other expenses that may occur during their stay at UC Berkeley (local transportation, personal hygiene items, etc.). If taking a leave without pay from work will be challenging, the Non-Resident Fellowship may be a better option for you.

Q. [Resident Fellowship] What is CEGA’s policy on travel to present at conferences during the resident fellowship?

We are very supportive of fellows attending conferences where they’ve been selected to present their research, as it aligns with their professional development and the goals of the fellowship! It is essential to let CEGA program staff know as soon as possible about this opportunity. If you are selected to present during the fellowship, we ask that you follow the following guidelines:

1. Inform CEGA/Northwestern staff as soon as this is a potential possibility, to ensure the dates do not conflict with program activities and will not affect your J-1 visa (international conferences may not be possible to present on your visa).
2. Confirm expenses are covered by the conference organization or yourself (CEGA  and Northwestern do not have additional resources to support this during the fellowship).