CODESRIA PRIZE FOR DOCTORAL THESES

Call for Applications for 2004

The Council for the Development of Social Science Research in Africa
(CODESRIA) is pleased to announce the launching of its prize for the best
three doctoral theses produced annually in Africa. This programme has been
introduced with a view to promoting the research work of African doctoral
students and to celebrate the performance of those among them who produce
outstanding studies that are worthy of being given greater visibility than
would otherwise be possible in the absence of a special initiative designed
to bring them to the attention of a critical international audience. The
CODESRIA Prize for Doctoral Theses is, therefore, designed to encourage
excellence in advanced post-graduate research in Africa. In determining the
best theses produced, emphasis will be placed on originality, rigour,
innovation and relevance. It is proposed to award three doctoral theses
prizes annually. Each prize will comprise a sum of USD1000 and the
publication of a suitably revised version of the selected thesis in the
CODESRIA Book Series.

Eligibility
Any African student registered in a doctoral programme in an African
university and who has produced a thesis in the social sciences that has
been accepted after due examination is eligible to enter the competition for
the award of a CODESRIA prize. To be considered, the thesis should have been
submitted and successfully defended in the period between 01 June 2003 and
31 May 2004.

Procedure for Application
For the current round of competition, candidates interested in having their
theses evaluated for the possible award of a prize are requested to send the
following documents to the CODESRIA Secretariat by 31 July, 2004:
i) A curriculum vitae indicating educational background, publications, and
on-going research interests/activities;
ii) Two copies of the final version of the thesis;
iii) A summary of not more than ten pages written by the author of the
thesis on the content of his/her work;
iv) A letter of reference written by a scholar other than the thesis
supervisor and which comments on the merit of the thesis, the student's
contribution to knowledge and a better understanding of African realities,
the points of innovation and originality in the thesis and the candidate's
potentials for further advanced research;
v) A letter of support written by the supervisor of the candidate's thesis;
and
vi) Any other additional scientific information that would be worth bringing
to the attention of the jury

Selection Procedure
There will be two stages in the selection of the best three social science
theses produced by African doctoral students. The first stage will involve a
sub-regional selection process whereby independent juries will be requested
by CODESRIA to evaluate and rank the theses submitted for consideration from
the different sub-regions. The short-listed theses will then be transferred
to a continental jury made up of eminent scholars who will identify the best
three theses to be awarded prizes. The continental jury will reserve the
right to request additional information from all short-listed candidates.
Candidates will be kept informed of the outcome of each stage of the
selection process by the CODESRIA Secretariat.

Submission of Entries

All applications for consideration for the award of a prize should be
submitted to:

The Prize for Doctoral Theses,
CODESRIA,
BP 3304,
Dakar,
Senegal.

Tel: +221-825 9822/23;
Fax: +221-824 1289.
E-Mail: [email protected] [2]
Website: www.codesria.org [3]

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The Advanced Research Fellowship Programme

2004

The Council for the Development of Social Science Research in Africa
(CODESRIA) is pleased to announce its 2004 Advanced Research Fellowship
Programme and to invite interested scholars to submit applications for
consideration for an award.

Objectives

The Advanced Research Fellowship Programme is designed to contribute to the
reinforcement and promotion of a culture of concentrated and extended
reflection among African scholars. It is particularly targeted at a younger
generation of post-doctoral African scholars interested in carrying out
advanced research on any aspect of the African social reality. The programme
is open to candidates from all disciplines of the Social Sciences and
Humanities. Through the programme, support is offered to scholars interested
in charting new research directions or extending on-going research to new
heights, the expectation being that this will contribute immensely to
enriching the state of knowledge about different aspects of the historical
and contemporary experiences of Africa. Candidates are free to determine the
theme on which they wish to work and to specify their preferred methodology
for doing so. In identifying candidates whose applications should be
supported, emphasis will be placed on the potential for their proposals to
lead to the production of new/original insights. The fellowships will be
awarded to cover a period of one year, at the end of which a report of
publishable quality shall be submitted for evaluation. For year 2004, the
Council will be awarding ten fellowships of a maximum value of USD10,000
each.

Eligibility

To be eligible, candidates are expected to be holders of a doctoral degree
in any of the social sciences and humanities. The doctoral degree should
have been obtained within five years of the date of submission of the
application. Exceptionally, candidates who do not yet have doctoral degrees
but who have accumulated considerable research experience will be considered
for the award of a fellowship. All applicants are required to be affiliated
to an African research institution.

Requirements for Application

Candidates wishing to be considered for the award of a fellowship are
requested to submit the following documents:

a) Research Proposal
A research proposal of between 10 and 15 pages which should be a clear
statement of the work to be undertaken, the problematic that underpins it,
the significance of the study vis-à-vis the existing literature, the
methodology to be employed, implications of the methodological approach
adopted for the empirical research to be undertaken and the expected output.
Candidates are strongly encouraged to indicate the innovative or original
dimensions which they hope their study will yield; a detailed presentation
of the epistemological foundations of the research will also be considered
as a distinct advantage.

b) Work Programme
The duration of each fellowship is one year, effective from the date of
award. Each application should be accompanied by a detailed work programme
spread over a period of 12 months beginning from the date of award of the
fellowship.

c) Budget
Applicants are required to provide a detailed budget up to a maximum of
USD10,000 which includes the research and dissemination costs they expect to
incur throughout the duration of their fellowship. The budget should be
structured to reflect the disbursement formula the Council intends to apply,
which will consist in paying 50% of the fellowship amount upon signature of
the award contract, 25% of the grant upon receipt of a satisfactory
scientific progress report and the remaining 25% per cent upon receipt of
the final revised version of the research results. In addition to the costs
of fieldwork and book acquisition, candidates are encouraged to consider
integrating participation in one international conference relevant to their
research preoccupation in the budgetary framework of their study. (The final
choice of the conference to be attended will be made in consultation with
the CODESRIA Department of Training and Grants).

d) Reference Letters
Applications should be accompanied by three reference letters from scholars
who are familiar with the applicants' work and are in a position to attest
to their institutional affiliation. Where possible, candidates are requested
to include at least one reference from a scholar based outside their
countries of residence.

e) Curriculum Vitae
Each candidate should submit a detailed curriculum vitae showing clearly the
candidate's research publications and participation in research
network/activities.

Selection Process

All applications received will be reviewed by an independent Selection
Committee comprising eminent scholars. All candidates will be notified of
the results of the selection process.

Deadline for the Receipt of Applications

All applications should be received not later than 30 September, 2004.
Applications should be addressed to:

The 2004 Advanced Research Fellowship Programme,
(Attention: Madame Virginie Niang),
CODESRIA,
BP 3304,
Dakar,
Senegal.

Tel: +221- 825 9822/23
Fax: +221-824 1289
E-Mail: [email protected] [2]
Website: www.codesria.org [3]