Applications are currently being accepted for the 2025 Consortium for Advanced Research Training in Africa (CARTA) PhD Fellowship.
CARTA is extending invitations for its esteemed PhD Fellowships for the 2025 term. This initiative involves collaboration among eight African universities, four African research institutes, and eight non-African partners. CARTA’s primary objective is to enhance the research capacity of African institutions, particularly in addressing health and development challenges across the region.
As part of its innovative efforts, CARTA offers a collaborative doctoral training program focusing on public and population health. This program has been developed to tackle the significant challenges faced by African higher education institutions in training and retaining the next generation of academics. CARTA aims to support candidates who show potential to become future leaders in their institutions. These individuals are expected to be young, capable, and dedicated, ultimately ensuring that their universities become the preferred institutions for aspiring academics and administrators looking to positively impact public and population health in Africa.
The interdisciplinary CARTA PhD fellowship is open to staff members of participating institutions who wish to conduct their doctoral research on topics relevant to public and population health. Applications from various disciplines such as public health, demography, anthropology, communication, and economics are welcomed, provided the research question contributes to addressing public and population health issues in Africa. CARTA is dedicated to promoting gender equality in access to training programs and governance structures, implementing interventions to support the advancement of women in academia (refer to CARTA’s gender position). Women applicants are therefore strongly encouraged to apply.
JASes (Joint Advanced Seminars) are offered annually over four years to each cohort, allowing participants to develop skills and deepen their conceptual understanding. Each JAS spans 3 to 4 weeks and covers specific topics, including:
Eligibility
- Applicants should have a Master’s degree in a related subject.
- Prior admission to a PhD program is not mandatory for application, but receiving admission at one of the participating African universities is a prerequisite for the fellowship.
- Candidates must be full-time teaching or research staff at one of the participating African institutions and demonstrate a commitment to enhancing capacity building within their institutions.
- The proposed PhD research topic must be centered around public and population health.
- Fellowships are exclusively available to individuals who have not yet enrolled in a PhD program or are in the initial stages (first year) of their PhD studies and have not yet defined their research proposal. Applicants seeking assistance to complete an ongoing PhD or pursue an additional PhD are not eligible.
- Applicants must agree to attend all four annual residential Joint Advanced Seminars (JASes) and actively participate in inter-seminar activities aimed at fostering ongoing communication and collaboration among fellows and mentors.
- Male applicants must be below the age of 40, while female applicants must be under the age of 45
Eligible African Institutions:
- Makerere University, Uganda.
- Moi University, Kenya
- Obafemi Awolowo University, Nigeria.
- University of Ibadan, Nigeria.
- Kamuzu University of Health Sciences (Malawi and Associates)
- University of Nairobi, Kenya
- University of Rwanda in Rwanda.
- University of the Witwatersrand, SA (Note: South Africans are not eligible).
- Somali National University collaborates with Makerere University.
- African Population and Health Research Centre, Kenya
- Agincourt Health and Population Unit, South Africa.
- Ifakara Health Institute in Tanzania.
Benefits:
In 2025, the CARTA program plans to provide a maximum of 15 PhD fellowships, along with two additional fellowships specifically allocated for staff members of Somali National University (SNU). Makerere University in Uganda, a CARTA partner, will mentor these individuals. The fellowships, applicable at the CARTA African universities, encompass the following benefits:
- Coverage of the fellow’s participation expenses in the advanced seminars
- A modest monthly stipend
- Moderate support for research activities
- Provision of a laptop loaded with relevant software
- Funding to attend one international conference
Support to engage in your preferred training programs.
Note: CARTA fellowships are granted for a maximum duration of four years. They will cover tuition fees, medical insurance, and travel expenses only for fellows enrolled at a partner institution different from their own.
Method of Application:
For further details,
Application Deadline: April 15, 2024.
