Peace, Security and Development Fellowship for African Scholars Print
Monday, 17 January 2011 15:47
Call for Applications:
Peace, Security and Development Fellowship for African Scholars
Including
M.A. Conflict, Security and Development; and M.A. International Peace and Security

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 2011. This Fellowship covers an 18-month period, comprising a rigorous training programme on peace, security and development, which includes a 12-Month Master’s (M.A.) programme at King’s College London and an 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. Funding for this programme has been provided by the Carnegie Corporation of New York.
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:
  • Create an enabling environment for ideas that are grounded in African realities;
  • Provide space for interaction with role models;
  • Build capacity for independent thinking;
  •  Expand the knowledge base to develop transformational ideas for meaningful change;
  • Create opportunities to transfer knowledge to achieve multiplier effects for communities;
  • Connect with processes nationally, regionally and globally, especially in the field of peace and security; and
  • Build lasting partnerships that will maintain an African-led vision of change.
NOTE: Applicants to the Fellowship Programme must make individual successful applications to the M.A. Conflict, Security and Development or the M.A. International Peace and Security, both of which are in the Department of War Studies, King’s College London by 17:00 hrs, Thursday 31 March 2011.
 
Purpose
The programme seeks to nurture junior African Scholars interested in pursuing a career in Peace, Security & Development, and to equip them with the skills necessary to achieve this. Through taught courses as well as rigorous mentoring activities, the programme will accomplish the following objectives:
  • Increase the pool of African experts on peace, security and development and working to generate African-led ideas to address the security and development challenges on the continent.
  • Foster studies on Peace and Security issues within African institutions of higher learning, and ensure that academic institutions have better access to knowledge and expertise on these issues.
  • Inject skills within regional and national centres of excellence so that they can strengthen their research capacity on peace, security and development topics with independent and critical approaches.
  • Contribute to expertise on peace and security that is grounded in the pursuit of excellence and integrity. 
Eligibility
 
  • Candidates must be citizens of African countries.
  • Successful candidates must hold valid travel documents prior to acceptance.
  • The competition is open 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 show a demonstrable interest in pursuing careers in the field of Peace, Security and Development. Previous study or engagement with the issues of Security & Development is not required however candidates must demonstrate a basic familiarity with these issues. Candidates must be able to demonstrate a commitment to contribute to work on peace and security in Africa.
  • Candidates will be expected to have a clear plan on how to utilise knowledge gained in the Fellowship upon return to their countries and academic institutions.
  • Candidates must be fluent in spoken and written English.
  • Candidates must also be able to demonstrate the following in the application phase: Independent thinking; Integrity; Pursuit of excellence; and a value for all forms of diversity.
Programme Activities
 
The Programme is divided into two phases:
Phase 1: The first phase consists of a 12-month training programme that is based at King’s College London. This phase will comprise of regular group mentoring sessions with renowned academics, policy analysts and practitioners as well as a taught Master’s programme in Conflict, Security & Development or International Peace and Security, 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, with the Conflict, Security and Development Group (CSDG). In addition, Fellows will spend brief periods at the Africa Leadership Centre/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 within continental Europe, to academic, policy and research institutions working on issues of Peace, Security & 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 & Development, and to produce 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 the Fellowship
 
1) Application to King’s College London: Successful applicants will have the status of full time MA students on Conflict Security and Development or International Peace and Security. It is necessary for applicants to the Fellowship Programme to make individual successful applications to the MA Conflict, Security and Development OR the MA International Peace and Security, both of which are in the Department of War Studies by 17:00 hrs, Thursday 31 March 2011.
Details of the MA Conflict Security and Development can be found at this link. You can make an on-line application at this link, with the following link to the online application form:  https://myapplication.kcl.ac.uk/
Details of the MA International Peace and Security can be found at this link. You can make an on-line application at this link, and with the following link to the online application form:  https://myapplication.kcl.ac.uk/
2) 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: http://www.kcl.ac.uk/study/pg/international/VisasandStudentSupport.aspx. The offer of a place on the programme will be subject to successful candidates obtaining a student visa. 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.
3) 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 will be advised to defer their admission to the programme.
4) Medical Exam: Successful applicants will be required to undergo medical examinations at recommended venues prior to taking up their positions.
5) 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, and funds will be made available to cover M.A. Tuition, subsistence in the U.K. 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 U.K. and Africa.
In the U.K. 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. Information on KCL student accommodation can be found at this link.

 
Termination
 
The African Leadership Centre jointly with King’s College London and University of Nairobi, reserves the right to terminate the conferral of a fellowship, in the event of a breach in the Terms and Conditions of the programme.
 
Apply
 
Please e-mail or post the following documents to Eka Ikpe at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or Eka Ikpe, Conflict, Security and Development Group, King’s College, London, Strand Bridge House, 138-142 Strand, London WC2R 1HH UK by 17:00 hrs, Thursday 31 March, 2011:
  • 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 future plans for engagement with peace and security issues.
  • 2 letters of recommendation (To be received directly from the Referees by the deadline of 17:00 hrs, Thursday 31 March 2011).
  • Recent curriculum vitae.
  • Two writing samples (maximum 3000 words each).
  •  Please indicate in your application letter, if you have completed the University application (Note that you are required to submit your application to the MA Programmes – MA Conflict Security and Development/MA International Peace and Security in the War Studies department, King’s College London, as detailed above by the deadline of 17:00 hrs, Thursday 31 March 2011).
Please ensure all documents are sent in as MS Word attachments in a single email message (separate emails for the same application will not be accepted) or as a single post package and that your name is indicated at the top right hand corner of every page of all documents submitted. 
 
You can download pdf version of this announcement here.