Over 50 graduate students from the College of Humanities and Social Sciences (CHUSS) at Makerere University participated in a training session on January 7, 2025, aimed at guiding them in creating successful grant proposals for the prestigious African Peacebuilding Network (APN) and Next Generation Social Sciences in Africa (NextGen) fellowships. The workshop, held in the CHUSS Smart Room, was facilitated by former beneficiaries, reviewers, and project coordinators of these programs under the Social Science Research Council (SSRC) based in New York.
The workshop was designed to equip doctoral and postdoctoral students with the essential skills needed to apply for the 2025 APN and NextGen fellowship opportunities, including the APN Individual Research Fellowship, APN Research Policy Fellowship, and several doctoral dissertation grants. The session provided participants with a comprehensive understanding of the application process, eligibility criteria, and the specific requirements for each fellowship.
In her opening remarks, Prof. Helen Nambalirwa Nkabala, Principal of CHUSS, emphasized the importance of the workshop in empowering students to access competitive funding. "This workshop is critical as it equips our students with the necessary tools to access competitive funding opportunities," she stated.
Dr. Pamela Khanakwa, Dean of the School of Liberal and Performing Arts and a former fellowship recipient, highlighted the key differences between the APN and NextGen programs. She explained that APN is tailored to post-PhD scholars, while NextGen supports PhD students throughout their research journey. "It’s important to apply for grants you qualify for to avoid disqualification at preliminary stages," Dr. Khanakwa advised, stressing the need to carefully assess eligibility before applying.
