The deadline for applications 30 April 2019.
Introduction
The African Leadership Centre (ALC) was established in Kenya in June 2010 as a joint initiative of King’s College London and the University of Nairobi.
The ALC is pleased to announce a call for applications for the Peace, Security and Development Fellowships for African Scholars starting in September 2019. This Fellowship covers an 18-month period, comprising a rigorous training and research programme on peace, security and development, which includes a 12-Month MSc programme at King’s College London and a six-month attachment to an African University to undertake an independent research project. The Fellowship programme is designed to expose junior African scholars to the complexities of security and development issues
facing the African continent.
The ALC aims to build a new community of leaders generating cutting edge knowledge on peace, security and development. To this end, the ALC undertakes to do the following:
- Taught MScs on Security, Leadership and Society, including mentoring and institutional attachments;
- Peacebuilding and Security research – with a focus on the ALC’s ten year research agenda entitled “Peace, Society and the State in Africa”;
- Consolidating partnerships with African universities through transfer of specified and joint research outputs into virtual learning across partner institutions;
- Creating and strengthening digital knowledge transfer platforms and policy influencing processes.
NOTE:
Applicants to the Fellowship Programme must make individual successful applications to the MSc Security, Leadership and Society at King’s College London by 23:59 hrs, 30 April 2019. The MSc is a separate but parallel application procedure handled by King’s College London, rather than ALC. To be accepted on to the Fellowship,
applicants must be accepted on both the MSc programme by King’s and the Fellowship Programme by ALC.
Eligibility
Candidates must have citizenship in an African country.
- Successful candidates must hold valid travel documents prior to acceptance.
- The competition is open ONLY to junior faculty members based in universities in Africa from departments of political science; international relations; history; law; development studies; peace; security and conflict studies, and related departments.
- Candidates need to demonstrate an interest in pursuing careers in the field of peace, security and development. Previous study or engagement with the issues of security and development is not required. However, candidates must demonstrate a basic familiarity with these issues.
- Candidates must additionally be able to demonstrate capacity to undertake research on issues relating to peace and security in Africa. Successful candidates will be attached to a Research Cluster where they will work with ALC Research Associates and Senior Research Fellows to undertake research on select aspects of the ALC Research Agenda on “Peace, Society and the State in Africa”.
- Candidates will be expected to have a clear plan on how to utilise knowledge gained in the Fellowship upon returning to their countries and academic institutions.
- Candidates must be fluent in spoken and written English.
- Candidates must be able to demonstrate the following values during the application phase:
Independent thinking; Integrity; Pursuit of excellence; and respect for diversity in all its forms.
Programme Activities
The Programme is divided into two phases:
Phase 1: The first phase consists of a 12-month training programme based at King’s College London. This phase will comprise of regular group mentoring sessions with renowned academics, policy analysts and practitioners. It will also include a taught Masters programme in Security, Leadership and Society, which will be taught at King’s College London. For a large part of this phase, Fellows will be based at King’s College London. In addition, Fellows will spend brief periods at the African Leadership Centre in Nairobi and Institute for Development Studies at the University of Nairobi, where they will be required to undertake research and deliver research papers on peace, security and development in Africa.
Institutional Visits: During the 12-month period at King’s College in London, Fellows will undertake visits to academic, policy and research institutions working on issues of peace, security and development.
Phase 2: For the second phase, Fellows will be attached to select partner universities in Africa, for a period of 6 months. During this time, Fellows will work as faculty members and contribute to academic and policy research among other activities. This phase is designed to encourage the dissemination and exchange of ideas on the issues that were studied during the first phase of the programme.
Mentoring: During both phases, Fellows will have access to the programme’s network of mentors, in the form of regular group mentoring and training on key thematic issues. One-on-one mentoring sessions will also be encouraged, so as to help guide students through the programme.
Research Project: Upon returning home to their universities after the attachment phase, Fellows will be expected to conduct a research project on a key aspect of peace, security and development, and to produce a research report and a policy brief from their research. These policy briefs will be published
and disseminated amongst institutions of higher learning, in the region. This phase of research and writing will last for 6 months.
Terms of Fellowship
Application to King’s College London: Successful applicants will have the status of full time MSc students in Security, Leadership and Society. It is necessary for applicants to the Fellowship Programme to make individual successful applications to the MSc Security, Leadership and Society by 23:59 hrs, 30 April 2019. Please note it is likely that an English Language Proficiency test will be required in order to gain unconditional acceptance on to the MSc.
1) Student Visas: All foreign students at King’s College London will be subject to the immigration rules of the UK, which can be found on the King’s College London web page for obtaining student visas. The offer of a place on the programme will be subject to successful candidates obtaining a student visa.
Obtaining a student visa will necessitate an UNCONDITIONAL offer for the MSc Security Leadership and Society. Failure to obtain a visa to enter the UK automatically invalidates the offer of a place on the programme with no consequences to King’s College London. Responsibility for processing and financing all visa applications rests solely with successful candidates. The implementing organizations will provide necessary documentation as needed.
2) Expectant/Nursing mothers: Given the intense nature of the programme including its short phases in different locations as well as necessary extensive travel, successful applicants that are expectant or nursing mothers while encouraged to apply, will be advised to defer their admission to the programme.
3) Medical Exam: Successful applicants will be required to undergo medical examinations at recommended venues prior to taking up their positions, in order to aid visa applications and to confirm your fitness for undertaking the programme.
4) Programme completion/Return to base:The programme will last a total of 18 months. During phases 1 and 2, Fellows will be expected to make full time commitment to the programme. It is a condition that successful candidates shall return to their base or home countries at the end of the programme.
Funding
This is a fully funded opportunity, not including any visa application and processing costs. Funds will be made available to cover tuition, subsistence in the UK and Africa, accommodation, research-related costs, and all travel expenses related to the programme.
1 However, successful applicants are expected to find their own accommodation both in the UK and Africa. In the UK successful candidates will be
able to apply for University of London accommodation, and they can also make their own accommodation arrangements. Candidates are strongly advised to make all necessary accommodation arrangements well in advance of taking up their positions at King’s College London.
Application Process
Applications will be accepted ONLINE
Before you begin your application, please take time to carefully go through the online application guidance available here.
Applicants to the Fellowship Programme must make individual applications to the MSc Security, Leadership and Society by 23:59 hrs, 30 April 2019.
The following documents are required, before your application will be considered complete:
▪ A letter of application detailing your relevant experience and qualifications.
▪ A supporting statement no longer than 1,000 words, detailing why you think that this programme is important and your future plans for engagement with peace and security research.
▪ 2 letters of recommendation (To be received directly from the Referees by the deadline of 23:59 hrs, 30 April 2019. Applicants will provide names and contacts of referees; referees will then receive an email notification asking them to submit the reference).
▪ Recent curriculum vitae.
▪ One writing sample (maximum 2000 words – example can include original research paper, extracts from dissertation, essay paper, policy paper etc).
▪ One research proposal of no more than 1000 words on a topic dealing with any one of the following 5 sets of questions:
What is the predominant vision of peace for Africa’s youth and future leaders and what role do they envisage for the state in the realization of this vision of peace?
o What differentiates experiences of statehood in Africa from other places? How have those differences affected the nature of leadership in Africa?
o How are evolutions in technology and new media altering societal responses to security, development and leadership challenges in Africa?
o How are international and global policy approaches to conflict prevention influencing African states and regions, if at all?
o How are African regional organisations responding to the rapidly changing African security landscape? What are the most significant ways in which global leadership challenges are shaping the role of the state in Africa and with what impact forsecurity, peace and development?
▪ Please indicate in your application letter, if you have completed the University application
All supporting documents should be submitted via the online portal. Please note that no email applications will be accepted. If you are experiencing problems with the online application portal,please contact them at admissions@africanleadershipcentre.org. They encourage all applicants to submit their applications early to avoid delays and failure to submit because of technical challenges.
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