African Peacebuilding Network (APN)

APN and Next Generation Writing and Dissemination Workshop, January 29 – February 1, 2024

Addis Ababa From January 29th to February 1st, 2024, the African Peacebuilding Network (APN) and Next Generation Social Sciences in Africa (Next Gen) program of the Social Science Research Council (SSRC), in partnership with the Institute for Peace and Security Studies (IPSS) of Addis Ababa University (AAU), hosted a Writing and Dissemination Workshop for the 2023 cohorts of APN Individual Research Fellows (IRF) and Next Gen Doctoral Dissertation Proposal and Research Fellows at the Ethiopian Skylight Hotel in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. APN and Next Gen Writing and Dissemination workshops provide fellows with the opportunity to meet with mentors and peers …

66th Annual Meeting of the African Studies Association (ASA)

The Social Science Research Council’s (SSRC’s) African Peacebuilding Network (APN) and Next Generation Social Sciences in Africa (Next Gen) program hosted a panel at the 66th Annual Meeting of the African Studies Association (ASA), held in San Francisco, USA from November 30 to December 2, 2023, on the theme: “Envisioning Africa in Text and Deed”. The panel was organized under the “Peace, Law & Security” subtheme of the conference on the topic: “Contestations and Solidarities for Peace and Development in Africa: Towards Conflict Transformation and Security?.” The panel was an opportunity for former fellows of the program to showcase their

2023 Next Gen Post-Doctoral Virtual Writing Fellowship Workshop, November 28, 2023.

On November 28th, the African Peacebuilding Network (APN) and Next Generation Social Sciences in Africa (Next Gen) Program hosted the Next Gen Post-Doctoral Virtual Writing Workshop. The workshop brought together Next Gen Post-Doctoral Writing Fellows and program mentors to discuss their draft manuscripts, strategies, and plans for publication. The event was convened to facilitate the finalization of fellows’ manuscripts based on their Next Gen-supported research projects for publication in peer-reviewed journals, book chapters, or the completion of book proposals/manuscripts. The workshop began with welcome remarks by the APN and Next Gen program director, and the introduction of workshop participants. The

5th Biennial Conference of the African Studies Association of Africa (ASAA)

The Social Science Research Council’s (SSRC) African Peacebuilding Network (APN) and Next Generation Social Sciences in Africa (Next Gen) program hosted a panel at the 5th Biennial Conference of the African Studies Association of Africa (#ASAA2023) under the theme: “Repatriating Africa: Old Challenges & Critical Insights.” The event was co-organized by the ASAA in partnership with New Horizons University (UNH) and the Arrupe Center for Research and Training (CARF), in Lubumbashi, Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) from October 25-28, 2023. The panel was an opportunity for former fellows of the program to showcase their research findings, connect with peers from

APN-Next Gen Regional Proposal Development Workshop

From July 28-29, the African Peacebuilding Network (APN)-Next Generation Social Sciences in Africa (Next Gen) Program hosted a Regional Proposal Development Workshop for Southern Africa in Gaborone, Botswana in collaboration with the University of Botswana. The workshop brought together facilitators and prospective applicants to the APN-Next Gen fellowships to discuss the proposal-writing process in relation to the intent and scope of APN-Next Gen fellowships. The workshop featured participants from universities in Botswana, Malawi, Madagascar, South Africa, and Lesotho. After the opening of the workshop on the 28th, Prof. Gabriel Faimau (University of Botswana) delivered the workshop’s keynote lecture, “Developing Innovative

APN-Next Gen Research Methods Workshop

From July 24-27, 2023, the African Peacebuilding Network (APN)-Next Generation Social Sciences in Africa (Next Gen) Program hosted its Research Methods Workshop for the 2023-24 cohort of APN Individual Research fellows and the Next Gen Doctoral Dissertation Proposal, Research, and Completion fellows. The workshop was hosted in collaboration with the University of Botswana at the Grand Palm Hotel and Convention Center in Gaborone, Botswana. On Monday, July 24th, the workshop began with opening remarks from the APN-Next Gen Program Director, Dr. Cyril Obi, and Prof. Gabriel Faimau, Associate Professor of Sociology at the University of Botswana and the head of

APN and Next Gen African University Seminar Series, University Nairobi, June 12–13, 2023

The inaugural African University Seminar Series in Kenya (AUSS-Kenya) was held at the University of Nairobi, Kenya from June 12-13, 2023. The Kenya-based current and former fellows of the Social Science Research Council’s (SSRC’s) African Peacebuilding Network (APN) and Next Generation Social Sciences in Africa (Next Gen) organized the event fellows, under the guidance of the co-chairs of the APN-Next Gen Advisory Board, Dr. Steve Akoth (former Next Gen fellow) and Prof. Rita Abrahamsen. The AUSS-Kenya Local Organizing Committee (LOC) is led by the co-chairs, Jacinta Maweu (former APN fellow) and Rahma Hassan (former Next Gen fellow), and the members

Policy Dialogue on Peace, Trade, and Youth: Investing in US-Africa Cooperation

On Monday, December 12th, 2022, the Social Science Research Council’s (SSRC’s) African Peacebuilding Network (APN) co-organized a policy dialogue as a side event ahead of the US-African Leaders Summit, in conjunction with Search for Common Ground, the African Union Youth Ambassadors for Peace, the United States Institute of Peace, and the George Washington Elliott School’s Institute for African Studies in Washington, D.C. The event, titled “Peace, Trade, and Youth: The Future of US-Africa Cooperation,” brought together policymakers, academics, youth, and civil society from the United States and Africa to discuss the most pressing issues facing African youth and US-Africa cooperation.

African Studies Association (ASA) Annual Meeting

The Social Science Research Council’s (SSRC’s) African Peacebuilding Network (APN) and Next Generation Social Sciences in Africa (Next Gen) programs hosted two panels at the 2022 African Studies Association (ASA) Annual Meeting in Philadelphia on November 17-19. The panels were an opportunity for current and former fellows of the program to showcase their research findings, connect with peers from across the world, and receive feedback from conference participants. The first panel, titled “Digital Cultures, Voice and (New) Forms of Civic Participation in Africa,” was chaired by Dr. Duncan Omanga and featured Dr. Charles Prempeh (Next Gen fellow, 2016), Dr. Toyin

APN-Next Gen Outreach to Kenya: Masinde Muliro University of Science and Technology (MMUST)

The African Peacebuilding Network (APN) and Next Generation Social Sciences in Africa program, which are part of the Social Science Research Council (SSRC), have been engaged in outreach to African universities with the goal of reaching graduate schools in African countries whose students have not received fellowship awards from either program. Specifically, the university outreach program amplifies the reach of ongoing competitions by providing information and advice on navigating the fellowship application process, including testimonials from former APN and Next Gen fellows on their experiences with the fellowships and the opportunities provided. Ultimately, the overall objective is to diversify the

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