Empowering African Researchers through the NELGA Research Fellowship

Empowering African Researchers through the NELGA Research Fellowship

The Network of Excellence on Land Governance in Africa (NELGA), in partnership with the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD), is transforming the landscape of research on land governance across the African continent. Through the NELGA Research Fellowship, African scholars and professionals are provided with a platform to address critical issues such as climate change, food security, land rights, and digitalization within land governance. This initiative represents a vital step toward building a sustainable future for African land governance by empowering researchers with the necessary resources and opportunities.

The Vision and Objectives of the NELGA Fellowship

At its core, the NELGA Fellowship seeks to strengthen research capacity on land governance across Africa. By fostering collaboration between universities and research institutions, the fellowship aims to create a network of scholars focused on addressing the continent’s pressing land governance challenges. The program’s specific focus areas include climate change, African food systems, gender equity in land rights, and the role of digitalization in enhancing land governance practices.

The DAAD, funded by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ), supports NELGA in providing these fellowships, emphasizing the importance of land governance in sustainable development. With land-related conflicts on the rise and African governments facing challenges in addressing issues like urbanization and rural land rights, the fellowship is designed to equip researchers with the tools they need to produce impactful, policy-relevant research.

Empowering African Researchers: What the Fellowship Offers

The NELGA Research Fellowship offers African researchers the chance to delve deep into land governance research at partner universities and institutions across Africa. The fellowship provides a monthly research allowance of EUR 460, along with a flat-rate travel allowance that varies depending on the region the researcher is traveling to. This financial support is aimed at ensuring that researchers can focus on their studies without the burden of financial constraints.

The fellowship also covers a broad range of disciplines within land governance. Eligible fields include land administration, land economics, urban and regional planning, geomatics, and related areas. Special consideration is given to research proposals that explore topics like the impact of climate change on land governance, African food systems, pastoralism, digitalization in land governance, and gender equity in land rights.

Eligibility Criteria and Selection Process

The NELGA Fellowship is open to nationals of African countries who are either enrolled in or are staff members of NELGA partner institutions. Applicants must have completed at least a first university degree and must demonstrate a strong academic background in land governance or a related field.

A key component of the application process is the submission of a well-structured research proposal. Applicants are encouraged to present a research project that demonstrates both academic relevance and potential policy impact. The selection process also considers academic achievements and any supporting documents that highlight the applicant’s extracurricular activities or prior research experience. Additionally, applicants must obtain approval from their home institution for a leave of absence to conduct field studies, which is a crucial aspect of their research.

Research and Impact: Building a Future for Land Governance in Africa

The impact of the NELGA Fellowship extends far beyond the individual researcher. By empowering African scholars to engage with the most pressing land governance challenges of their time, the fellowship is helping to shape the future of land policy reform across the continent. Researchers focus on real-world issues like climate-induced migration, the protection of pastoralist communities, and the digitalization of land governance systems to increase transparency and accessibility.

The fellowship also encourages interdisciplinary research that connects land governance with broader issues such as food security, sustainable agriculture, and equitable access to land for women. This holistic approach ensures that land governance is viewed not just as a political issue, but as a key element of economic development, environmental sustainability, and social justice.

Conclusion: A Path to Sustainable Land Governance in Africa

The NELGA Research Fellowship is a game-changer for African researchers, offering them the tools and resources to engage in meaningful research that addresses critical issues related to land governance. With its focus on climate change, gender equity, digitalization, and food security, the fellowship is not only empowering individual researchers but also contributing to a larger vision of sustainable land governance across Africa.

As Africa continues to grapple with rapid urbanization, climate change, and land disputes, the need for well-trained researchers in the field of land governance has never been greater. The NELGA Fellowship is filling this gap by equipping a new generation of African scholars with the knowledge and skills they need to drive positive change on the continent.