AERC World Bank Visiting Scholars Program 2023

African Economic Research Consortium (AERC) and The World Bank, Africa Region Chief Economist’s Office (AFRCE), signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) for a mutually beneficial collaborative partnership.

The newly established AERC-World Bank visiting scholars programme is central to the collaboration between the two institutions. The objectives of the collaboration are to (i) enhance AERC’s capacity to boost economic policy research in sub-Saharan Africa; (ii) help strengthen AERC’s global linkages in areas of economic policy, academic research, and graduate training; (iii) deepen and broaden the policy impact of both AERC and AFRCE and (iv) to enhance the skills and output (especially publications and courses) of individual African researchers by providing access to wider and better information, network and economic research and data accessible via the World Bank.

About African Economic Research Consortium (AERC)

The launch of AERC goes back to the late 1980s, when a small group of Africanists and African scholars began to recognize the disconnect between economic policy making and economic research in sub-Saharan Africa. Available research results, applied to other economies, did not always seem appropriate to the African context. And where such results were available, they were too often not put to use. Their concern swelled into a full-fledged idea; they had a discussion about a vehicle for pooling their expertise and applying it to the development of economic policy capacity in sub-Saharan Afric... read more

AERC World Bank Visiting Scholars Program

Aim and Benefits of AERC World Bank Visiting Scholars Program

• The visiting scholars program provides an opportunity for AERC researchers to visit the World Bank for four months, with a total of three researchers visiting every year. Visiting scholars will be selected from among AERC network members based on set guidelines including the World Bank’s policies and procedures.
• The visiting scholars will be expected to be part of the AFRCE team; attend AFRCE-led activities; benefit from capacity-building efforts being organized by AFRCE, including collaboration with scholars and peers doing analytical work on World Bank Regional Flagship Studies; interact with the World Bank’s researchers; fully utilize the World Bank’s resources to: (i) revise their draft paper and submit to the World Bank Working Paper Series and a ranking Journal; (ii) present at least one seminar on their own research while in the program; (iii) contribute meaningfully to the World Bank’s Africa Region ongoing research and analytical work; and (iv) comply with all other terms and conditions included in their terms of reference and applicable consultancy contract.

Requirements for AERC World Bank Visiting Scholars Program Qualification

• Must be an AERC researcher, including researchers from the AERC collaborative PhD programme CPP);
• Must have an active AERC research project at least at interim/post field stage or final research paper stage; and
• The research project must be pertinent to the research agenda of the World Bank Africa Region and imperatives for sustained African development.
• Must have completed a PhD programme.

Documents Required for Application

The expression of interest by applicants should include:

1. A two-page statement of interest;
2. A draft paper on a subject pertinent to the research agenda of the Africa region of the World Bank   and imperatives facing African development; 
3. If you teach a relevant course, the curriculum/course materials that you would like to improve while visiting the World Bank; and
4. Copy of your updated curriculum vitae.

Application Deadline

How to Apply

Application packages must be emailed to the AERC Research Department ([email protected]). Up to 3 awards will be announced in 2023/2024 cohort.

Please submit your expression of interest on or before the 30 June 2023. Late applications will not be considered.

Women are especially encouraged to apply.

For more details, visit AERC website.