Network of Impact Evaluation Researchers in Africa (NIERA) Policy Fellowship Program 2025: (Deadline 7 May, 2025)

Applications are open for the Network of Impact Evaluation Researchers in Africa (NIERA) Policy Fellowship Program 2025. In this call, NIERA invites policymakers from eligible countries in West and East Africa to apply for a 6-week fellowship aimed at enhancing their knowledge and skills in evidence-informed policymaking. The fellowship begins with a one-week online course focused on evidence-informed policymaking.

The course comprises five modules: revisiting the policymaking process, accessing evidence, appraising evidence, synthesizing evidence, and applying evidence. Upon completing the course successfully, policymakers will be paired with a researcher from NIERA. Over the remaining 5 weeks, the policymaker and researcher will collaborate virtually to develop a short research proposal (concept note) addressing a specific and well-defined evidence need identified by the policymaker.

For this upcoming call, interested applicants can apply to 1 of 3 thematic areas:

• Education
• Health
• Agriculture

Benefits

• Fellows will receive a daily per diem of $50 to attend the online workshop. Additionally, fellows will receive a small proposal development honorarium of $1,000. Receipt of this honorarium is conditional on attending all days of the online workshop and submitting a proposal that is deemed acceptable by NIERA.

Eligibility

Applicants to the NIERA Policy Fellowship Program must:

• Be fluent in English (written and spoken), and a strong communicator.
• Be from an eligible West or East African country.
• Be a mid-level policymaker (i.e. technical staff within ministries, government agencies, sub-national government structures, and or parliament) with direct responsibility for providing technical advice to top level policymakers and/or drafting policy or program documents.
• Have at least a Bachelor’s degree.
• Have demonstrable experience in policy development, or program management.
• Have good computer skills especially in using MS-Office Suite (Word, PowerPoint, Excel, Outlook, and Access), use of the Internet, and reasonably conversant with various Internet search engines.
• Own a laptop and have a reliable internet connection for participating in the online workshop.
• Be a self-driven individual ready to learn and apply their acquired skills, as well as support others needing similar skills.
• Have written support from their employer.

Application

Submit the following information and documents by Wednesday, 7 May, 2025 at 5 pm EAT. All documents must be written in Arial font, size 11, single line spacing, normal margins. Acceptable formats include docx and pdf. Documents not following these specifications will not be considered.

• Personal Statement (1 page max): Describe your personal motivations for applying to the NIERA Policy Fellowship. Why are you particularly interested in this program? What do you hope to accomplish during the fellowship and beyond? How have you used research evidence to influence policymaking in your work? Also comment on your ability to commit to the fellowship and how this will fit into your current commitments.
• Evidence Needs Statement (1 page max): This fellowship is designed for policymakers who already have a clear understanding of the evidence needs within their government ministry, agency, or department. When writing this statement, answer the following questions: What are some examples of these evidence needs, and how could this fellowship support you in addressing them? If these needs are addressed, how might they impact decision-making or policy development within your institution? Please ensure that no sensitive data or confidential information is shared. If you are accepted into the fellowship, you will be expected to develop a proposal based on one of the identified evidence needs. They will match you with a NIERA researcher with expertise in your sector who will provide guidance and support to help you develop the proposal.
• Curriculum Vitae/Résume (4 pages max)
• Letter of Support from your supervisor or other relevant authority at your institution demonstrating support and certifying that, if selected, you will be able to attend the online workshop and spend some of your time working on the proposal.
• Name and contact information for two references: Please provide a name, email, phone number, and affiliation for two individuals (supervisors, senior colleagues) who can speak to your suitability for the NIERA fellowship.

Submit your application materials to [email protected] by 5:00 PM EAT on Wednesday May 7, 2025.

For more information, visit NIERA Policy Fellowship.