Call for Applications: Strengthening African Legal Scholarship through the AECLSN
The advancement of constitutionalism, human rights, and accountable governance in Africa is closely tied to the strength of the continent’s legal scholarship. Yet, many emerging researchers face systemic barriers, including limited access to mentorship and publication opportunities.
The African Early Career Legal Scholars’ Network (AECLSN) has been established to address this gap by supporting early career African scholars to develop high-quality, policy-relevant legal research.
A platform for the next generation of legal scholars
The AECLSN is designed for advanced doctoral candidates and early postdoctoral researchers seeking to strengthen their academic and research trajectories. The programme places particular emphasis on scholarship that engages with:
- Legal pluralism
- Human rights
- Sustainable development in African contexts
Participants will benefit from:
- Two in-person, fully funded workshops in 2026:
- University of Dar es Salaam, Tanzania (25–26 May 2026)
- University of the Western Cape, South Africa (12 November 2026)
- One year of structured mentorship with senior legal scholars
- Support to develop and refine manuscripts for publication in leading academic journals
- Capacity-building in research design, academic writing, and grant proposal development
Eligibility and selection priorities
The programme is open to:
- Doctoral candidates nearing completion.
- Postdoctoral researchers who obtained their PhD after 1 January 2021.
In line with broader efforts to promote equity within African academia, preference will be given to:
- Scholars based in under-resourced institutions especially in countries such as Uganda, Kenya, Tanzania, Liberia, the Central African Republic and the Republic of Congo.
- Female researchers (with childcare support provided during workshops).
Resourcing participation
All selected participants will receive full financial support, including travel, accommodation, and a daily subsistence allowance during the workshops.
Application process
Applicants are required to submit:
- A thoughtful motivation letter (maximum 500 words). You may also submit a working paper that aligns with legal pluralism, human rights and sustainable development in Africa. An independent selection committee will assess submissions based on applicants’ motivation, location, and thematic quality of their submission. All selected participants will sign an MoU before the commencement of the programme.
- An optional working paper aligned with the programme themes
🗓 Deadline: 9 April 2026
📢 Outcome notification: 17 April 2026
Link to apply: https://forms.gle/4AaiCtZVCw65gTCh8
In case of any enquiries, please reach out to Professor Anthony Diala at
Initiatives such as the AECLSN are critical to building a robust, self-sustaining ecosystem of African legal scholarship. By investing in early career researchers, the programme contributes to shaping the intellectual foundations necessary for advancing constitutionalism and the rule of law across the continent.
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