Application Deadline: Monday, September 16th, 2024
Applications are now open for the 2024/2025 CAPSI-Mastercard Foundation PhD Fellowship. This prestigious program, offered by the Centre on African Philanthropy and Social Investment (CAPSI) at the Wits Business School (University of the Witwatersrand) with support from the Mastercard Foundation, aims to provide young African doctoral students with the opportunity to engage in cutting-edge research on the contributions of non-profit organizations to African economies. The program focuses specifically on how the non-profit sector creates dignified and fulfilling work for young Africans.
Program Overview:
The fellowship supports 20 full-time Ph.D. students for up to five years, providing a fully funded opportunity to conduct research aligned with the project’s focus. This fellowship is open to young African female students enrolled in African universities.
Eligibility Criteria:
To be eligible for the fellowship, applicants must:
• Be a female aged 35 years or below.
• Be currently enrolled as a full-time doctoral student at an African university, with research aligned to the fellowship’s focus on the non-profit sector’s contributions to dignified work for African youth.
• Demonstrate a commitment to the program and the ability to work collaboratively in a team.
• Be in the first or second year of their PhD program.
• Be a national of one of the following 17 African countries: Burkina Faso, the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), Côte d’Ivoire, Egypt, Ethiopia, Ghana, Kenya, Morocco, Mozambique, Nigeria, Rwanda, Senegal, South Africa, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia, and Zimbabwe.
Eligible Fields of Study:
• Social and Behavioral Sciences (including Economics, Development Studies, International Development)
• Non-profit or Philanthropic Studies
• Statistics and Actuarial Sciences
• Management, Public Policy, History, Human Geography
• Any other development-related field
Benefits:
Each fellow will receive a fully funded scholarship valued at up to $30,000 per year, which will cover tuition fees, research expenses, and living costs for the entire duration of the program.
Application Procedure:
Interested candidates should prepare and submit the following documents:
1. Current Curriculum Vitae (CV).
2. A 500-word personal statement explaining your research interest, motivation, and alignment with the CAPSI research program.
3. A research proposal (maximum 2,500 words), including:
• Background of the study
• Problem statement
• Research questions and objectives
• Literature review and theoretical framework
• Proposed methodology (research design, sampling, data collection, and ethical considerations)
4. A recommendation letter from your supervisor or proposed supervisor.
5. Copies of your academic transcripts.
6. Proof of age (e.g., passport, birth certificate).
7. Proof of admission or registration at an African university.
Timeline:
• Application Deadline: September 16th, 2024
• Notification of Successful Applicants: September 27th, 2024
