Mo Ibrahim Foundation and the Chatham House have opened the 2023 application for Mo Ibrahim Foundation Academy Fellowship for Africans.
This fellowship is a joint initiative between the two organisations. It offers candidates at the early to mid-stage of their career the opportunity to spend ten months at Chatham House working on an individual research project of their choosing.
Fellows take part in the core work of the Institute, developing their skills through the leadership programme, and furthering their professional network in the field of international affairs.
Applications are open between 11 am BST 12 April and 10 am BST 5 May 2023.
Requirements and fellowship structure
Citizenship
The fellowship is open to citizens of any African country.
Applications will also be accepted from applicants holding dual nationality which includes any African country.
Education
Applicants must hold a completed BA degree or equivalent and have experience with conducting research.
Career
The ideal candidate should be at the early to mid-stage of their career and come from one of the following fields or work: academia, NGO, business, government departments, civil society or the media. All applicants should possess knowledge of, and interest in, international affairs, their chosen area of research, and Chatham House’s mission and research.
Age restrictions
We do not impose age restrictions for applicants.
Can I undertake other work or study at the same time as my fellowship?
Fellows are expected to work full-time towards their fellowship and therefore it is not possible to undertake a fellowship at the same time as pursuing work or studies.
Duration and location
Duration
Academy Fellows will spend ten months at Chatham House between October 2023 and July 2024.
Location
The fellow will be based full-time at Chatham House, London with hybrid working also possible.
Structure and benefits
A fellow’s time will be split between three key areas:
Completing a personal research project: the fellow will choose and design a personal project to undertake with the guidance of a Chatham House expert (approximately 60%).
Leadership Programme: it is a key part of all fellowships. It aims to develop fellows’ knowledge, network, and self-awareness and to equip them with important skills on which they can draw in their future careers as leaders in their field (approximately 20%).
Contributing to ongoing research activities: working with their host research team and other Chatham House teams as appropriate, fellows will contribute to existing research priorities in line with the Chatham House mission (approximately 20%).
Leadership Programme
All fellows participate in and contribute to the Leadership Programme which encompasses the following components:
Intensive induction week
Academy fellowships begin with an intensive five-day induction week to become familiarized with the elements of the fellowships, meet their host research programme and have their first personal development coaching session.
Discussion seminars
In these sessions, fellows meet and discuss current international affairs challenges with subject matter experts from Chatham House and beyond. The sessions cover the principal substantive and skills-based areas vital for informed and effective international leadership. Fellows usually chair these sessions and are expected to contribute to and learn from one another’s experiences.
Leadership workshops
Every two months, fellows participate in half-day workshops focusing on skills development within specific aspects of leadership such as ‘Leadership in a new role’ and ‘Fostering innovation and entrepreneurship’.
Project presentations
Fellows present updates on their research projects to help develop presentation skills, provide a forum for peer review and analyse issues outside their own area of expertise.
Personal development coaching
Fellows have access to one-on-one sessions with a dedicated coach as a way to grow their self-awareness. Fellows work with the coach to set personal development objectives which they work to meet during their fellowship and beyond.
Media training
Fellows learn effective interview skills needed for television and radio culminating in a mock interview from which they receive feedback on style and any areas of improvement
‘Leadership in the 21st Century’ Breakfast Briefings
All fellows benefit from priority access to the ‘Leadership in the 21st Century. Breakfast Briefings series. There, they have the opportunity to discuss leadership experiences and learn in an informal setting with leaders from government, business, media and the non-profit sectors.
Career mentoring (optional)
Fellows’ development is facilitated and supported by partnering with mentors to enhance their career perspectives and path.
Remuneration and benefits
The fellow will receive a monthly stipend of £2,365 which will cover London living costs, including accommodation, utilities, food, transport and other basic expenses.
The Academy will cover costs related to relocation, visas and payment of the UK’s Immigration Healthcare Surcharge which allows access to the UK National Health Service (Note: candidates may be required to pay for dental and optical treatments and medicines prescribed by a doctor), fieldwork and travel, research activities, and possible publication.
Documentation and selection criteria
To apply for this fellowship, we need:
- The applicant’s CV/résumé
- The names of two referees
- The applicant’s proposal for a research project (see PDF for details)
Selection criteria:
- Meet nationality requirements
- Must hold a completed BA degree or equivalent
- Must have a minimum of two years of professional experience in the field of the proposed research (this can include a PhD)
- Experience with conducting independent research is essential
- Proven leadership experience or leadership potential
- Commitment to Chatham House values
- Aptitude to benefit from the broad and inclusive nature of the fellowship
- The relevance and clarity of the proposed research project, as demonstrated through the project proposal
- Relevant background experience, as demonstrated through the curriculum vitae
- Demonstrate the necessary English-language ability
- Motivation to undertake the fellowship
- A post-fellowship plan which indicates how the candidate will apply their research, skills and knowledge
Selection process:
- Stage one: complete the application. Once the submission period ends, all applications will be reviewed and shortlisted by our selection committee.
- Stage two: shortlisted applicants will be invited to an interview via Zoom. The interviews are carried out by a member of senior management at Chatham House and relevant programme representatives. After this round, fellows will be selected and notified via email.
