AIR-AERC Postdoctoral Research Fellowships 2026

Objective of the Fellowship

The Postdoctoral Fellowship aims to:

(a)  Strengthen the research and publication capacity of early-career economists;

(b) Support the development of an independent and coherent research agenda;

(c)  Promote high-quality, policy-relevant economic research addressing Africa’s development challenges;

(d) Enhance integration of PhD graduates into regional and international research networks; and

(e)  Contribute to teaching, mentoring, and research capacity building within African institutions.

Key Responsibilities in Research

Fellows will be expected to:

(a)  Conduct independent research that is relevant to contemporary policy concerns/issues in Africa and that can contribute to knowledge about the same;

(b) Publish research in peer-reviewed journals and/or produce high-quality policy outputs;

(c)  Lead or contribute to externally funded research proposals;

(d) Assist in organizing workshops and developing concept notes for research and collaborative events; and

(e)  Contribute to the design and implementation of AERC’s research programmes and participate in related activities and meetings as required.

Reporting to:

Technical and administrative oversight: Dr. Abbi Kedir, Director of Research and Dr. Tom Kimani, Lead Manager.

Fellowship Duration and Structure

(a)   Duration: Up to 12 months.

(b)  Location: At the AERC offices in Nairobi, Kenya for a duration of one-and-a-half-month (45-day) and thereafter work remotely from home country for the remaining ten-and-a-half months.

Fellowship Support

The fellowship will provide:

(a)  A competitive stipend;

(b) International travel to and from Kenya, and accommodation in Nairobi for the duration of the one-and-a-half-month (45-day) residency period;

(c)  Support for conference participation and dissemination of research outputs;

(d) Each fellow will be paired with a senior academic from the AIR P3-Africa, who will mentor the fellow throughout the research project and ensure the quality of output; and

(e)  Technical and administrative oversight by the Director of Research AERC and the Lead Manager for all fellows engaged in AERC research and policy engagement activities.

(Exact financial details will be communicated to successful candidates)

Eligibility Criteria

To be eligible for the Postdoctoral Research Fellowships, applicants must:

(a)  An African and a holder of PhD degree in Economics awarded within the last seven (7) years;

(b) Be currently residing in Africa;

(c)  Be an early-career researcher with demonstrated potential for independent research, as evidenced by publications in peer reviewed international journals;

(d) Demonstrate the ability to collaborate effectively with international teams of economists;

(e)  Show interest in capacity-building and policy-relevant research;

(f)  Have demonstrated experience in policy-engaged research;

(g) Commit to undertaking the fellowship on a full-time basis for the duration of the award;

(h) Provide written confirmation of approved leave of absence for the full duration of the fellowship, where applicable; and

(i)  Note that qualified female and candidates from underrepresented countries and regions, are strongly encouraged to apply.

Selection Criteria

Applications will be assessed based on:

(a)  Academic merit and research track record;

(b) Quality, originality, and feasibility of the research proposal;

(c)  Policy relevance and contribution to African economic research;

(d) Alignment with AERC’s mission and strategic priorities; and

(e)  Fluency in oral and written French and/or English is essential.

Application Procedure

Applicants must submit the following documents:

(a)  A cover letter;

(b) A curriculum Vitae (maximum four (4) pages);

(c)  Copies of the PhD certificate or an official confirmation letter;

(d) Two academic referee reports; and

(e)  A research proposal in economics and related fields (maximum 5 pages single-spaced Times New Romans Font 11), which should include:

(i)     Title: Reflective of the main thrust of the research proposal;

(ii)    Abstract: Highly condensed version of the entire proposal;

(iii)   Introduction: Context of the study, problem statement and specific research objectives;

(iv)   Literature Reviews: what previous literature accomplished, state the gaps, and indicate how your research intends to fill a gap;

(v)    Methodology: A description of how the research objectives will be achieved, including hypotheses, methods, data collection, and data analysis;

(vi)   Results: Anticipated results and their contribution to knowledge, future research, and public policy; and

(vii)  Work Programme and Timeline: A description of key activities and the proposed timeline, noting that the total duration of the study is twelve (12) months.

Please look at the Annex carefully for more details on research proposal development