The Africa Initiative exchange program supports short-term academic placements for Africans and Canadians undertaking research on Africa. The program is building capacity by giving bright, highly-motivated students and scholars an opportunity to discover and impart new learning in a cross-cultural experience. Supported research covers five thematic areas – conflict resolution, energy, food security, health, and migration, with special attention to the cross-cutting issue of climate change.
Participants have the opportunity to further their research through the utilization of on-the-ground resources and research materials, as well as to develop international networks with fellow researchers and practitioners conducting work in a relevant field of study. Research results are presented and disseminated through a variety of public channels.
Current programming under the Africa Initiative Exchange Program is divided into two streams:
1. Short-Term Academic Placements for Africans in Canada
The program is available to graduate students enrolled at Makerere University in Uganda. Participants are hosted at the University of Waterloo and Wilfrid Laurier University and benefit from close ties with researchers at The Centre for International Governance Innovation (CIGI). The program is offered to up to five students per academic semester and each student spends four months in Canada conducting research and contributing to the Africa Initiative’s programs.
2. Africa Initiative Graduate Research Grant
The Africa Initiative’s Graduate Research Grant is designed to support relevant and unique research on Africa conducted by graduate students enrolled in a Canadian university. The grant is offered to up to fifteen recipients each year. Each recipient spends as many as three months in Africa conducting research funded by the program. Current programming is only open to Canadian students. Additional programming for African students will be announced in 2011.
Scholarship Application Deadline:
For Short Term Academic Placements for Africans in Canada- 31 December 2010
For Africa Initiative Graduate Research Grant- 31 January 2011
