Physical Address
304 North Cardinal St.
Dorchester Center, MA 02124
Deadline: August 29, 2025
The International Growth Centre (IGC) Sierra Leone Early-Career Local Researcher Fellowship 2025 is a prestigious initiative designed to support young Sierra Leonean researchers in producing high-quality policy-relevant research. The fellowship offers financial support, mentorship, and training opportunities to help fellows develop impactful research that contributes to inclusive economic growth and policy development in Sierra Leone.
This fellowship is a unique chance for early-career scholars to strengthen their academic profile, engage with policymakers, and contribute meaningfully to development discourse in Sierra Leone and beyond.
Benefits
Selected fellows will enjoy the following benefits:
- Research grant of up to £5,000 to fund their projects.
- Mentorship and guidance from senior IGC-affiliated researchers and academics.
- Opportunities to present research findings to policymakers, government stakeholders, and international experts.
- Training workshops on research methods, policy engagement, and academic writing.
- Access to the IGC’s global research network of economists, development practitioners, and scholars.
- Increased visibility and recognition for their research in both academic and policy circles.
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Fellowship Structure
- Duration: 3 months (September–December 2025)
- Location: Freetown, Sierra Leone (with flexibility for hybrid modalities)
- Support package:
- A research grant of £5,000 to support fieldwork, data collection, and living costs
- Mentorship from IGC-affiliated academics and the IGC Sierra Leone country team
- Policy engagement opportunities with relevant government ministries and stakeholders
- Expected outputs:
- A short policy brief, a working paper, and a presentation to relevant policymakers
Eligibility Criteria
Applicants must:
- Be Sierra Leonean nationals or residents currently enrolled in a postgraduate programme (PhD or Master’s) or serving as junior researchers or faculty in a Sierra Leonean institution;
- Demonstrate strong quantitative and analytical skills, including proficiency in tools such as Stata, R, SPSS, or Python;
- Clearly articulate a research idea aligned with one of the thematic tracks described above;
- Be committed to producing work that directly informs public policy and is accessible to non-academic audiences.
Desirable skills and experience:
- Prior exposure to policy-engaged research or government data;
- Familiarity with Sierra Leone’s economic landscape, household surveys, administrative data, or sector-specific policy debates;
- Strong academic writing and communication skills.
Application Process and Documents Required
Interested candidates must submit:
- A Curriculum Vitae (max 3 pages);
- A Cover Letter (max 1,000 words) describing:
- Your motivation for applying;
- Relevant research experience;
- A short outline of the proposed research idea under one of the tracks;
- One academic reference (can be sent separately by the referee);
- A writing sample (optional, e.g., thesis chapter or policy paper).
Please submit all application materials via email, using the subject line: “Application – IGC SL Local Fellowship 2025 – [Track Name]”
Shortlisted applicants will be invited for an interview with the IGC team and relevant government counterparts.
