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.
The APN program supports African scholars and practitioners to produce high-quality research on African peacebuilding, promoting the integration of research-based knowledge into policy and practical actions aimed at fostering sustainable peace in conflict-affected and post-conflict African societies. The NextGen program, on the other hand, focuses on strengthening higher education across Africa by offering fellowships and training opportunities to PhD students. This support helps students progress steadily towards completing their doctorate degrees, contributing to the emergence of the next generation of African scholars and university faculty.
Since its inception in 2012, the NextGen program has awarded over 700 fellowships to African scholars. Among the fellowships offered are the Dissertation Proposal Development, Dissertation Research, and Dissertation Completion fellowships, with amounts ranging from USD 3,000 to USD 15,000, depending on the type of grant. These fellowships support students with various aspects of their academic journey, from developing dissertation proposals and conducting fieldwork to completing their dissertations.
The workshop also emphasized the importance of networking among scholars across African countries and building partnerships based on mutual respect and support. Both APN and NextGen aim to foster collaboration between scholars from different African regions, generations, and disciplines.
Participants were reminded that the selection committees for these fellowships only consider applications that meet the specific eligibility criteria. Therefore, applicants must ensure they fully understand the eligibility and financial provisions of each fellowship before submitting their applications.
The workshop also featured a detailed session on proposal preparation. Dr. Eve Nabulya highlighted key issues for applicants, including the structure of categories and grant requirements.
Dr. Eve Nabulya’s remarks emphasized the importance of originality and innovation when applying for research grants, particularly from the Social Science Research Council (SSRC). She shared her personal experience of securing a grant for a project blending literature with peacebuilding, demonstrating that even within the humanities, interdisciplinary approaches can succeed.
Dr. Nabulya stressed the significance of aligning all aspects of a proposal—objective, methodology, and theory—ensuring that the project is both feasible and grounded in existing scholarship. She highlighted the importance of identifying problems that are timely and relevant, and incorporating both theory and practical applications in research.
Additionally, she encouraged applicants to be mindful of gender diversity and to produce work with broad-based, multidisciplinary knowledge. She further noted the importance of speaking the language of development and peacebuilding, incorporating terminology familiar to the funding bodies to increase the chances of success. Dr. Nabulya concluded by advising researchers to share and articulate their ideas regularly to refine their proposals, emphasizing that a well-rounded and feasible proposal is key to winning competitive grants.
Budgeting Insights Shared at Training for SSRC and Garda Henkel Fellowship Applicants
Sharing insights on budgeting strategies, Dr. Zaid Sekito, CHUSS Graduate Programs Coordinator and a past grant recipient, outlined how applicants can align their financial plans with grant objectives.
"Thank you to the Gerda Henkel Coordination Team, led by Dr. Edgar Nabutanyi, Dr. Levis Mugumiya, and Dr. Pamela Khanakwa, for funding this training. You’re here to seek money for your research, but it’s important to remember that once you get that money, you should not forget those who helped you,” Dr. Sekito began, acknowledging the team’s support.
He emphasized the need for a strategic approach to budgeting, especially when applying for SSRC funding. "SSRC does not cover personal expenses such as tuition fees, loans, or insurance programs. These are areas to exclude when drafting your budget," he explained.
Dr. Kizito also shared that successful applicants must ensure their budgets align with their project plans. "Your budget should speak to your work plan. If you're proposing six months for proposal development, but your budget indicates eight months, there is a disconnect," he noted.
The session further outlined the specific categories that SSRC funding covers, such as pre-fieldwork expenses, field-based research costs, and conference attendance. "For the APN Individual Research Fellowship, you must budget for expenses like travel, accommodation, and resources for field research, but don't forget to account for the costs of literature reviews and professional support," he urged.
He also clarified the importance of proper planning, especially when it comes to conferences. “If you’re attending a conference, set aside $1,500 for travel and dissemination activities. It’s fixed,” he added.
On the topic of completion fellowships, Dr. Kizito highlighted the need to consider travel costs for both research and post-fieldwork activities. “If you are planning follow-up interviews or additional data collection after fieldwork, you can include those costs," he said, noting that even equipment expenses for research should be accounted for.
In wrapping up his presentation, Dr. Kizito urged participants to be mindful of the rules. "SSRC does not fund taxi fares or public transport. Instead, budget for car hire, fuel, and driver costs. It's essential to plan carefully to ensure you cover all necessary expenses," he concluded.
The training provided prospective grant applicants with practical tools to draft budgets that accurately reflect the scope and needs of their research while complying with funding guidelines.
Past beneficiaries, including Dr. William Musamba, Dr. Abdul Mahajubu, and Ms. Olive Lomokol, shared their experiences managing grant timelines and navigating the application process. “Networking and adherence to deadlines were pivotal to my success,” noted Dr. Musamba.
The workshop provided participants with actionable insights into enhancing the competitiveness of their proposals. It also reinforced CHUSS's commitment to advancing academic excellence through mentorship and access to global opportunities.