The Center for Effective Global Action (CEGA) Fellowship Program 2027/2028 for African Researchers (monetary stipend and fully funded UC Berkeley Residency)

Application Deadline:  January 17th, 2027 at 5 PM GMT.

Applications are now open for the 2027/2028 Center for Effective Global Action (CEGA) Fellowship Program. The Center for Effective Global Action (CEGA) invites African researchers and practitioners interested in developing their skills in impact evaluation to apply to our 2027-2028 Fellowship Program Request for Applications (RFA). Selected fellows will audit coursework, develop skills in quantitative development research, access a personalized mentorship program to develop their research ideas, and build their research networks. Fellows will spend 16 weeks either in residence at UC Berkeley or participating virtually. 

Tracks:

• Applicants can apply to one of two tracks–the Practitioner Track or the Academic Track–as either a Resident (in-person at UC Berkeley) or Non-Resident (online) Fellow. Fellows will be given the choice of either Fall 2027 (August through December) or Spring 2028 (January through May). In the application, you will select one preferred track.
• Both tracks are open to work in any area of economic development, including agriculture, financial inclusion, gender, technology for development, and energy and climate change.
• Fellows across tracks will audit tailored coursework, and will be supported by a faculty mentor and PhD peer partner.

Eligibility

Across both tracks: 

To be accepted to the CEGA Fellowship, applicants must demonstrate the following:

• Be fluent in English (written and spoken), and a strong communicator. 
• Be from an East African or West African country and have completed at least up to secondary school education in an African institution.
• Meet the eligibility requirements for your fellowship format:
  • Resident fellows must be from a country eligible for a J-1 visa under current U.S. visa requirements: Djibouti, Ethiopia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Kenya, Liberia, Madagascar, Mauritius, Mozambique, Rwanda, Seychelles, and Uganda. Please note that this list may change based on U.S. regulations.
  • Non-resident fellows: Priority will be given to applicants from countries currently subject to U.S. visa restrictions: Benin, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cote d’Ivoire, The Gambia, Malawi, Mali, Mauritania, Niger, Nigeria, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Tanzania, Togo, Zambia, and Zimbabwe.

• Have at least a Master’s degree, are currently enrolled in a PhD, or have completed a PhD (within 8 years) in economics, political science, statistics, epidemiology/public health, or another social science discipline.
• Plan to return to an institution in East or West Africa after the fellowship. If currently enrolled in a PhD program outside the African continent, scholars may complete their PhD before their return.

The Practitioner Track is intended for professionals interested in improving their research skills to grow in their careers in African government ministries, think tanks, or NGOs. We will select a total of 7 fellows for this track. Applicants to the Practitioner Track should:

• Work for an NGO, think tank, or government ministry in East or West Africa, with a goal to grow into more senior careers. 
• Be actively using or promoting the use of evidence to improve economic and social well-being for populations. 

The Academic Track is intended for early career scholars who intend to pursue an academic career. We will select a total of 4 fellows for this track. Application to the Academic Track should:

• Either be a doctoral student or hold a current staff position within a university or research institution, preferably one that supports policy-relevant, quantitative social science research.
• Be prepared to develop their own research proposal and/or be embedded within a faculty’s existing research project.

Benefits

• Both Non-Resident and Resident fellows receive a monetary stipend for miscellaneous expenses. However, the fellowship does not provide a salary for fellows’ time. 
• For Resident fellows, the fellowship also covers roundtrip flights, accommodation, meals, visa fees and health insurance for the duration of the fellowship period, and may be sponsored to visit other university campuses.
• Fellows will need to make arrangements with their university/organization to take leave with or without pay for the duration of the fellowship. 

For More Information:

Visit the Official Webpage of the Center for Effective Global Action (CEGA) Fellowship Program