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The Africa Research Excellence Fund has just announced the forthcoming launch of a short research development fellowship scheme targeting early-career postdoctoral scientists (up to 5 years post-PhD). But does it hit the spot?
 
There are few or no data from sub-Saharan Africa on the numbers of postdoctoral researchers – the PhD supervisors and the African research leaders of the future.  However, a recent study indicates that are relatively few postdoctoral fellowship programmes compared to those for PhDs1.
This is perhaps not surprising.  Health research systems are weak2,3, characterised by lack of funding, uncertain careers, underdeveloped administrative systems and weak engagement with policy-makers4.  
For a recent PhD-graduate, the prospect of a research career in Africa must surely be daunting.  Fortunately, there is evidence of new commitments to strengthen institutional health research capacity5.  But it is early days.
The Africa Research Excellence Fund is a new charity.  With generous donations, the AREF is able to launch a programme of short Research Development Fellowships.  
In what we hope to be the first of many competitions, the AREF will enable outstanding early-career African scientists to develop their own research ideas and proposals, their collaborations and networks, and to put themselves on the track towards research leadership in Africa, for Africa.  
Have a look at the preliminary announcement: does it hit the spot?  And, if and as our funds grow, what would you like to see next?  
 
Authored by: Tumani Corrah (Director) and Peter Dukes (Deputy Director) – Africa Research Excellence Fund
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References:
1 “Dedicated post-doctoral support opportunities appear relatively limited, and anecdotally it is recognised as a challenging period for LMIC researchers. Many LMIC institutions do not have formal post-doctoral positions, and teaching demands, limited mentoring opportunities, and other barriers can make it very difficult for LMIC researchers at this level.”  See also Figure 2. Health Research Capacity Strengthening: A UKCDS Mapping.   
2 African Innovation Outlook II: NEPAD Planning and Coordinating Agency (NPCA) (2014), African Innovation Outlook 2014, NPCA, Pretoria   
3 A Decade of Development in Sub-Saharan African Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics Research.    
4 Africa Mapping – Current State of Health Research on Poverty-Related and Neglected Infectious Diseases in Sub-Saharan Africa. EDCTP.   
5 For example, the establishment of the Alliance for Accelerating Excellence in Science in Africa (AESA) by the African Academy of Sciences (AAS) and the NEPAD Agency.