CEGA Fellowship Program in the United States: 2023-2024

The application deadline is 5:00 PM GMT on February 23rd, 2023

The Center for Effective Global Action (CEGA) is a hub for research, training and innovation headquartered at the University of California, Berkeley. We generate insights that leaders can use to improve policies, programs, and people’s lives. Our academic network includes more than 150 faculty, 65 scholars from low- and middle-income countries, and hundreds of graduate students–from across academic disciplines and across the globe–to produce rigorous evidence about what works to expand education, health, and economic opportunities for people living in poverty.

The Center for Effective Global Action (CEGA) invites African researchers to apply to our 2023-2024 CEGA Fellowship Request for Applications (RFA). The CEGA Fellowship Program equips early-career African social scientists with the skills to carry out rigorous impact evaluations of economic development programs and become champions for evidence-informed policy. Selected researchers will audit courses, develop skills in impact evaluation, access a personalized mentorship program to develop their research ideas, and build their research networks. Successful fellows will be invited to join the Network of Impact Evaluation Researchers in Africa (NIERA). We invite researchers from East and West Africa to apply for one of two opportunities:

1) A Resident fellowship during Fall 2023 or Spring 2024 in-person at the University of California, Berkeley or Northwestern University

2) A Non-Resident Fellowship, a virtual version of our flagship resident fellowship where fellows engage remotely for 12 weeks, at about 15-20 hours per week.

The application deadline is 5:00 PM GMT on February 23rd, 2023.

The CEGA Fellowship Program equips early-career African social scientists with the skills to carry out rigorous impact evaluations of economic development programs and become champions for evidence-informed policy. Selected researchers will audit courses, develop skills in impact evaluation, access a personalized mentorship program to develop their research ideas, and build their research networks.

Eligibility

Applicants to the CEGA Fellowship Program must:

Be a national of an East African or Anglophone West African country (Ethiopia, Kenya, Rwanda, Tanzania, Burundi, South Sudan, Uganda, the Gambia, Sierra Leone, Liberia, Ghana, Nigeria, Benin, Burkina Faso, Cape Verde, Côte D’Ivoire, Gambia, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Liberia, Mali, Mauritania, Niger, Nigeria, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Togo, Somalia, and Cameroon);
Be fluent in English;
Have completed a Master’s degree or a PhD within the last 8 years, or be enrolled in a PhD program in economics, statistics, epidemiology/public health, or another social science discipline;
Have a current affiliation with a research institution, university or other research organization in East or West Africa, preferably one that supports policy-relevant, quantitative social science research;
[Resident Only] Plan to return to a research institute in East or West Africa after the resident fellowship at UC Berkeley or Northwestern University. If currently enrolled in a PhD program outside the African continent, scholars may complete their PhD before their return.

Please direct any questions about eligibility to our staff team at cegafellowship@gmail.com.

SELECTION CRITERIA

Successful candidates must:

Demonstrate strong analytical skills, with past coursework in quantitative methods;
Have participated in or have familiarity with impact evaluation research (either randomized or quasi-experimental studies), policy analysis, and field data collection;
Demonstrate a commitment to evidence informed policy making, either through direct experience or an understanding of the process;
Demonstrate a commitment to building the capacity of African research institutions;
Be fluent in English (written and spoken), and a strong communicator.

Who we will sponsor: A total of seven Resident fellows and up to five Non-Resident fellows will be accepted for the 2023-2024 Academic Year. Of these, one resident slot will be reserved for a fellow interested in studying problems associated with infectious disease (HIV excepted, unless in the case of comorbidities with other infectious diseases) with a rigorous implementation science lens (see here).

The other slots are available for fellows interested in any field related to economic development—including agriculture, financial inclusion, gender, technology for development, energy and climate change, and others. Female applicants are strongly encouraged to apply.

Option 1: Resident Fellowship Program
The program will cover the costs of housing at UC Berkeley/Northwestern University, health insurance, board (UCB) or food costs (included in stipend for Northwestern), a monthly stipend, visa fees, and round-trip economy airfare. Please note that the program does not provide financial support for spouses or other family members.

RESIDENT FELLOWSHIP ACTIVITIES
During the resident fellowship, researchers will:

Participate in seminars and conferences on research in social and economic development;
Present their own research during seminars and workshops;
Engage in UC Berkeley/Northwestern University coursework, such as a rigorous doctoral-level seminar in impact evaluation;
Carry out an independent research project under the mentorship of a CEGA/GPRL faculty member (projects can use existing data for retrospective analysis or set-up a study design for future data collection);
Participate in tailored, hands-on modules on research transparency and reproducibility, communication skills, qualitative data analysis, and cost-effectiveness analysis;
Meet and collaborate with faculty and students in multiple academic departments;
Visit and present at other campuses, including UC San Diego, University of Chicago, UC Davis, and/or Stanford University;
Design impact evaluation curricula that will be taught at an East or West African institution
Join team building and sightseeing activities with CEGA staff.

Option 2: Non-Resident Fellowship Program
CEGA Non-Resident Fellows will be engaged remotely for 12 weeks, at about 15-20 hours per week. Fellows will receive a stipend to support their internet data costs and their time spent on the fellowship.

NON-RESIDENT FELLOWSHIP ACTIVITIES
During the 12-week fellowship, non-resident fellows will:

Actively audit one online course, such as an intensive causal inference workshop or a doctoral-level seminar in impact evaluation;
Participate in tailored, hands-on (virtual) modules on research transparency and reproducibility, communication skills, qualitative data analysis, and cost-effectiveness analysis
Carry out an independent research project under the mentorship of a CEGA faculty member, a peer mentor, and an Africa-based mentor (projects can use existing data for retrospective analysis or set-up a study design for future data collection);
Meet via Zoom to collaborate with faculty and students in multiple academic departments;
Present their own research during online seminars and workshops;
Attend online CEGA conferences and other relevant events
Design impact evaluation curricula that will be taught at an East or West African institution

In the year following successful completion of the Non-Resident fellowship, fellows will receive:

A 1-2 week in-person visit to UC Berkeley to present their research in person, meet with CEGA affiliates and PhD students, attend 2-3 PhD level seminars, and engage in a sightseeing activity.

WHICH OPTION IS THE RIGHT FIT FOR ME?

If you are seeking an immersive learning experience and would like to commit to a semester or quarter of in-person engagement, our Resident Fellowship might be the right option for you. Resident fellows will have the opportunity to join a wide variety of seminars, workshops and networking events that the UC Berkeley and Northwestern Universities have to offer. This is an intensive in-person fellowship and most resident fellows will spend at least 8 hours per day, engaged in research, attending courses and
seminars, networking, and studying. It is therefore important to limit work engagements back home during the fellowship.

If you have an engagement at home or at work (i.e. not able to take a sabbatical or have childcare responsibilities), our Non-Resident Fellowship might be a more flexible option for you. Our online mentorship and extensive virtual opportunities will provide you with plenty of avenues to connect with relevant training and faculty. This is a rigorous remote fellowship and will take about 15-20 hours of
work per week, although we are flexible on accommodating each fellows’ needs. With the follow-up activities provided, you’ll still have ample opportunities for in-person engagement after the successful
completion of the fellowship.

Application Process

To respond to the 2023-2024 CEGA Visiting Fellowship Request for Applications (RFA), please submit the following information and documents through this Submittable portal by Thursday, February 23rd, at 5 pm GMT:

Personal Statement (1 page): Please describe your personal motivations for applying to the CEGA Visiting Fellowship–of all fellowships available to you, why are you particularly interested in this program? What do you hope to accomplish during the fellowship and beyond? Please also comment on your ability to commit to the fellowship (Resident or Non-Resident) and how this will fit into your current commitments.
Curriculum Vitae/Resume: In your CV, please also include relevant quantitative coursework you have completed.
Research Proposal: Not to exceed 2 pages. Refer to Appendix A “Instructions for Research Proposal” and Appendix B “Research Proposal Example,” below. During the fellowship, you should work on the proposal you have submitted unless you decide to change it (with agreement from CEGA staff and your mentor).
Evidence of Leave Approval from the applicant’s supervisor or department chair demonstrating support and certifying that, if the applicant is selected, he/she will be able to take a 4-month leave of absence.
Name and contact information for two referees: Please provide a name, email, phone number, and affiliation for two individuals (supervisors, senior colleagues, professors) who can speak to your research capacity, quantitative skills, and qualifications for the CEGA fellowship.
OPTIONAL: You may attach one working paper or publication.

SUBMIT APPLICATION MATERIALS HERE

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q: [Resident and Non-Resident Fellowship] Do I need to hold a Ph.D. to apply for the CEGA fellowship program?

A: No. Applicants to the CEGA Visiting Fellowship must have completed at minimum a Master’s degree in economics, statistics, epidemiology/public health, or another social science discipline.

Q: [Resident and Non-Resident Fellowship] I’m from a Francophone country in West Africa, am I eligible to apply?

A: Yes, we have recently expanded our eligibility to include countries in Francophone West Africa. Please note that our selection criteria include fluency in English (written and spoken) and strong communication skills.

Q: [Resident and Non-Resident Fellowship] I’m from an eligible East or West African country, but am currently based in Europe/East Asia/ U.S. etc. Am I eligible to apply?

A: Yes, as long as you hold a staff or student position in an eligible East or West African country and have plans to return to the country to do research.

Q: [Resident Fellowship] My university/organization won’t allow me to leave for 4 months and continue being paid, will CEGA provide me with a salary?

A: No. The CEGA Resident Fellowship program will cover the costs of room and board in Berkeley, health insurance, visa fees, and roundtrip economy airfare for selected fellows. In addition, fellows will be provided a monthly stipend to cover any other expenses that may occur during their stay at UC Berkeley (local transportation, personal hygiene items, etc.). If taking a leave without pay from work will be challenging, the Non-Resident Fellowship may be a better option for you.

Q. [Resident Fellowship] What is CEGA’s policy on travel to present at conferences during the resident fellowship?

We are very supportive of fellows attending conferences where they’ve been selected to present their research, as it aligns with their professional development and the goals of the fellowship! It is essential to let CEGA program staff know as soon as possible about this opportunity. If you are selected to present during the fellowship, we ask that you follow the following guidelines:

Inform CEGA/Northwestern staff as soon as this is a potential possibility, to ensure the dates do not conflict with program activities and will not affect your J-1 visa (international conferences may not be possible to present on your visa).
Confirm expenses are covered by the conference organization or yourself (CEGA and Northwestern do not have additional resources to support this during the fellowship).

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