IFAS Research Scholarships in Humanities and Social Sciences for South African and European Scholars

Call for Funding Applications by Institut Francais South Africa (IFAS)

Course(s) Offered: Humanities, Social Sciences
Course Level: Undergraduate, Postgraduate (masters, phd, etc)
Provider: IFAS-Research
Country to Study in: South Africa, France

Scholarship Description
Established by the French Department of Foreign Affairs on the 12th of May 1995, IFAS-Research has been founded to answer France’s wish to take part in the construction of the new South Africa concerning research in the Human and Social Sciences.

Its regional mandate over Southern Africa is bringing IFAS-Research to develop cross-projects on the countries of the region as well as partnerships with the Institutes of Ibadan and Nairobi on continental programmes.

IFAS-Research supports around 80 researchers every year coming from the most prestigious French and European centres on Southern Africa.

Eligibility
Note that there are no conditions of nationality. The 3 essential eligibility criteria are:

• an existing or potential scientific partnership between France and Southern Africa, and with Francophone countries when applicable; if in doubt the applicants may contact IFAS to be put in touch with researchers likely to collaborate with them
• an overall budget of less than 40 000 South African Rands or 4000 euros;
• financial participation from another institution (details of which should be provided in the project).

Eligible groups
Citizens of Europe (especially France) and Southern Africa

Participating Institutions
Prestigious French and European centres on Southern Africa;
As well as Institutes of Ibadan and Nairobi (on continental programmes)

Fields of study
All fields of Humanities and Social Sciences relating to South Africa at all levels (Honours, Masters, Doctoral, Post-Doctoral Students, Senior Researchers).

All applications will be considered. However, research in line with that of the Institute will be an advantage. As a reminder, IFAS lists hereunder their four current focus areas.

1.Southern African Cities: Urban Dynamics and Governance
Issues of security, privatisation of public services, local government and the adoption of “best practice” models, participation, migration and xenophobia, historical development of Southern African cities, spatial justice and the right to the city.

2.Democratic Transformation in the Region
a. Mapping of electoral dynamics, party politics, republicanism;
b. Law and transformation: constitutional changes, protection of minority rights, equity policies; human rights regime, refugee & asylum regimes, citizenship and its transformation, challenges posed by right of access to basic services;
c. Democracy and the media including the challenges of E-government and digital democracy;
d. Education and transformation: school and nation-building processes, language policy, higher education transformation, elite formation.

3.Long Term Perspective on the History of People’s Settlement in Southern Africa
Multidisciplinary knowledge of Middle and Late Stone Age; past and current migration trends in the field of history, archaeology, rock art, socio-anthropology, linguistics, current issues of memory and the celebration of history in contemporary Southern Africa

4.Comparative Developments Economics
Formal/informal labour, economic policy development, governance, effects of liberalisation on Southern African economies, sector-focused studies, SADC-NEPAD – EU relations, critical and comparative approaches to development economics, in particular to sustainable development issues (such as environmental justice).

Number of awards
Supports around 80 researchers every year

Sponsorship duration
This is a financial grant

Scholarship benefits
There will be an overall budget of less than 40 000 South African Rands or 4000 euros. Financial participation from other institutions (details of which should be provided in the project) are allowed.

Method of Application
All applications for the financing of research works, events, field trips or publications for 2011 must imperatively reach IFAS-Research by email. All applications will be considered. However, research in line with that of the Institute will be an advantage.

No conditions of nationality apply. This call is therefore clearly intended to elicit projects from researchers from both Europe and Southern Africa. Beyond the themes indicated above, Southern African researchers willing to submit projects of a comparative nature (between Southern Africa and Europe) requiring fieldwork in France are welcome.

It is important to visit the official website (link to it is below) for complete and detailed information on this programme and how to apply for this research scholarship

DEADLINES:
All applications must be submitted by email on or before November 30th 2010.

PLEASE NOTE:
IFAS-Research would like to remind research teams, researchers and students in the Human and Social Sciences working on Southern Africa, that all applications for the financing of research works, events, field trips or publications for 2011 must imperatively reach them by email.

Established by the French Department of Foreign Affairs on the 12th of May 1995, IFAS-Research has been founded to answer France’s wish to take part in the construction of the new South Africa concerning research in the Human and Social Sciences.

Application Deadline: 30 November 2010
Open to International students: No (ONLY South Africans & Europeans)

More Scholarship Information and Application

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