writing grant

UNDERGRADUATE AND MASTERS WRITING GRANTS

Kenya Female Advisory Organisation (KEFEADO) in partnership with SDG Kenya Forum, are pleased to announce a new grant to support undergraduate and master’s women students in Kenyan universities who are in the final stages of their dissertation work. 

The Dolphine Okech Writing Grant (DOWG) seeks to facilitate rigorous engagement of undergraduate and master’s students in research, strengthen their research skills, and provide the fellows an opportunity for timely completion of their dissertations. The grant targets undergraduate and master’s women students with a strong commitment to a career in training and/or research. 

This call focuses on students whose dissertations address questions on culture, gender and sexuality. Exceptions will also be made for community-based organisations with existing baseline research under these thematic areas

DOWG’s overall goal is to support the training and retention of women scholars. In addition, it aims to engage young women scholars who would ordinarily not be exposed to feminist theory and research methods as their primarily fields of enquiry.

DISSERTATION AWARDS

In keeping with the principles of the late Dolphine Okech, founding Executive Director of KEFEADO, who recognized the importance of research in anchoring programme development and implementation, the DOWG is meant to offer modest resources to women in advanced stages of undergraduate/master’s research work and women’s rights organisation’s who conduct grassroots research. 

These resources are designed to motivate, generate and sharpen local knowledge through attention to the ways in which local approaches to rethinking gender, sexuality and culture can contribute to transforming conflict by ensuring women’s bodily integrity.  The writing grant will create an opportunity to infuse feminist theory and epistemology especially through the writing and reflection seminars to students who may otherwise not have access to these frameworks. 

The DOWG will award a maximum of 5 modest grants. These fellowships will be awarded to advanced masters and undergraduate students who are within ten months of completing their thesis at a Kenyan university. Dissertations that address aspects on culture, gender and sexuality are eligible for consideration. 

ELIGIBILITY

The fellowship will primarily support research which includes data collection and or analyses. Funds may not be used to support coursework. 

Applicants must: 

  • Be citizens or permanent residents of Kenya.
  • Be registered community based organisations.
  • Be undertaking undergraduate/Master training at a recognized Kenyan university,
  • Have completed all pre-dissertation requirements,
  • Provide a detailed timeframe for completing their dissertation which should be endorsed by the head of department and supervisor, 
  • Be able to complete their dissertation within 10 months of the start of the fellowship.

SELECTION CRITERIA

  • The fellowship will target individuals and/or organisation’s whose dissertation or research contributes to strengthening analysis on gender, culture and sexuality with linkages made local capacities for conflict transformation.
  • Studies with clear linkages to relevant national policy and advocacy directions will be preferred.
  • The fellowship will support research that addresses a clear research question, employs appropriate and rigorous design, and has clear policy and advocacy implication(s). 

EVALUATION CRITERIA

The applications will be evaluated on the following criteria (maximum score in parentheses): 

  • Candidate’s scientific background and potential for development of a strong research career (20%),
  • Scientific merit of the proposed research project including originality of research question(s); clarity and adequacy of the study design; demonstrated knowledge of relevant/current literature; detailed analysis plan, ethical considerations, etc. (40%),
  • Research environment including commitment of main supervisors and department to facilitate timely completion of the dissertation (20%),
  • Well elaborated statement on the policy relevance of the research (10%), and
  • Budget summary and justification, including clear plan to complete the dissertation within 10 months (10%). 

GRANT BUDGET

  • Specific items may include field research and other research materials.
  • Applicants may also include the cost of one local or regional conference where the results of the dissertation may be disseminated.  

EXPECTATIONS

  • Successful candidates will attend two five-day training workshops. During these workshops, grantees will receive training and mentorship on various aspects of research (design and methods, ethics, data analyses, scientific writing, proposal development and communication of research results). The first workshop will focus on research methods.  The second workshop will focus largely on data management and analyses and writing skills. 
  • Successful applicants will be expected to contribute an article from their dissertation for publication.

HOW TO APPLY

All application materials must be received by December29th 2023, in order to be reviewed. 

Each applicant must submit;

  • Proof of Kenyan citizenship.
  • Proof or registration for CBO’s A detailed curriculum vitae.
  • Two letters of reference (at least one must come from a faculty member with extensive knowledge of applicant’s academic history and performance). Referees’ contact information must be provided.
  • A 10-page research proposal that details the research question(s), study design, a detailed plan for completing the dissertation within a period not longer than 10 months after the award.
  • A statement of future research interest and career plans. 

Applications not meeting these requirements will not be reviewed.

Applications should be sent to: info@kefeado.org with the subject heading DOWG

Application