Mawazo Fellowship Programme 2025: Empowering African Women PhD Scholars

Show us some love, share our story!

The Mawazo Fellowship Programme is a 15-month, non-residential fellowship that aims to support and amplify the impact of African women PhD students working on critical development issues across the continent. This programme creates a network of skilled women experts who are positioned to shape policy, inform public discourse, and drive Africa’s development through research and evidence-based insights.

Fellowship Benefits:

The Mawazo Fellowship provides its Fellows with:

Training via the Mawazo Learning Exchange (MLEx) – a virtual, on-demand e-learning platform offering tailored courses.
Mentorship from seasoned professionals and a peer network for support, accountability, and encouragement.
Access to the Fellows Fund to support:

Research activities
Conference travel
Research translation and cross-sector collaborations

Wellness Support to promote overall well-being.

Eligibility and Thematic Focus Areas:

The fellowship is open to African women PhD students at accredited universities across Africa, particularly those conducting research in these thematic areas:

Agriculture and Food Security
Business, Trade, and Economy
Climate Change, Natural Resources, and Environment
Education and Pedagogy
Energy and Engineering
Gender, Rights, and Governance
Indigenous Knowledge Systems
Information and Technology
Life and Health Sciences
Mathematical and Physical Sciences

About the Programme’s Reach:

Since its inception, the Mawazo Institute has successfully supported three fellowship cohorts:

Cohort 1: 10 Fellows from Kenya
Cohort 2: 40 Fellows from East Africa
Cohort 3: 40 Fellows from countries across Africa

These cohorts join the Mawazo Voices network of past Fellows, continuing to receive support and engagement opportunities.

How to Apply:

Applications for the 2025 Cohort are now open. African women PhD students interested in contributing to Africa’s development through research are encouraged to apply.