The Matasa Fellows Network is a joint initiative of the MasterCard Foundation and the Institute of Development Studies. Launched in 2015, the Network seeks to develop a cohort of outstanding African researchers with the skills and commitment to engage in policy-oriented research around the challenges of young people and employment in Africa. Its aim is to contribute to the development of young researchers who will ultimately become established policy researchers in their fields.
In 2016-17, the Matasa Fellows Network offered fellowships to 10 young African researchers. With coaching and facilitation from IDS, the Network-enabled the researchers to bring a youth perspective into the analysis and discussion of their research, and to generate policy ideas. The initiative has led to the publication of ten peer-reviewed articles and policy briefs.
The Matasa Fellows Network is a joint initiative of the MasterCard Foundation and the Institute of Development Studies. Launched in 2015, the Network seeks to develop a cohort of outstanding African researchers with the skills and commitment to engage in policy-oriented research around the challenges of young people and employment in Africa. Its aim is to contribute to the development of young researchers who will ultimately become established policy researchers in their fields.
In 2016-17, the Matasa Fellows Network offered fellowships to 10 young African researchers. With coaching and facilitation from IDS, the Network-enabled the researchers to bring a youth perspective into the analysis and discussion of their research, and to generate policy ideas. The initiative has led to the publication of ten peer-reviewed articles and policy briefs.
Call for applications for 2017
This week we are calling for young African researchers who either recently completed or were about to complete their PhDs in areas of social sciences to apply for the latest round of fellowships.
Selected fellows will attend two review workshops and are expected to explore topics that include, for example: inclusive growth and decent jobs; the skills and talent that the private sector demands; how financial inclusion or advancement in digital technologies contribute to economic growth. They will also investigate different ways of getting research into use.
We invite prospective fellows to address youth employment challenges from different disciplinary and multi-disciplinary angles, and mixed methods approach all leading to high-quality policy-relevant outputs.
The Network will support each young researcher to produce a high-quality research synthesis paper and policy brief. The papers will be disseminated via publication in a special issue of the IDS Bulletin.
Applications are open until 7 December 2017. Apply now to become a Matasa Fellow.
Photo credit: Simon Davis/Department for International Development