APPLICATION ARE NOW OPEN FOR THE AERC-WORLD BANK VISITING SCHOLARS PROGRAMME 2026

Applications are now open for the AERC-World Bank Visiting Scholars Programme 2026, an opportunity for research-active African economists and researchers to strengthen their economic policy research through a visiting placement at the World Bank. The programme provides access to World Bank research, data, facilities, mentorship and international research networks.

The AERC-World Bank Visiting Scholars Programme 2026 offers an important research opportunity for eligible African researchers working on economic development and policy issues relevant to Sub-Saharan Africa.

The programme is delivered through a collaboration between the African Economic Research Consortium (AERC) and the World Bank’s Africa Region Chief Economist’s Office (AFRCE). AERC and the World Bank established the visiting scholars partnership to strengthen economic policy research capacity, expand global research linkages and improve the policy impact of research relating to Africa.

Unlike a conventional scholarship aimed at undergraduate or postgraduate tuition, this opportunity is designed specifically around active economic research. Successful visiting scholars have the opportunity to spend time at the World Bank, benefit from interaction with Bank researchers and access research facilities, information and economic data.

Background & Programme Description

The African Economic Research Consortium is a pan-African economics research and capacity-building institution established to strengthen the ability of African researchers and institutions to conduct rigorous economic research and contribute to policymaking.

The AERC-World Bank Visiting Scholars Programme forms part of AERC’s wider research and capacity-building activities.

The partnership with the World Bank was established through a Memorandum of Understanding between AERC and the World Bank Africa Region Chief Economist’s Office. The programme is intended to strengthen economic policy research in Sub-Saharan Africa while connecting African researchers with the wider global research community.

The programme provides eligible AERC researchers with the opportunity to visit the World Bank for up to four months.

During the placement, visiting scholars can work on their research while benefiting from the expertise, facilities, information and research networks available through the World Bank.

AERC states that the programme selects researchers from its active research network, including faculty members, with a limited number of researchers able to participate each year.

Objectives of the AERC-World Bank Visiting Scholars Programme

The programme has several important objectives focused on strengthening African economic research.

According to AERC, the collaboration aims to:

Enhance AERC’s capacity to boost economic policy research in Sub-Saharan Africa.
Strengthen global linkages in economic policy, academic research and graduate training.
Deepen and broaden the policy impact of AERC and the World Bank Africa Region Chief Economist’s Office.
Improve the skills and research output of individual African researchers.
Provide researchers with access to broader information, economic research and data through the World Bank.

These objectives make the programme particularly relevant to researchers whose work addresses economic development challenges facing African countries.

What Visiting Scholars Will Do

The programme is centred on research rather than classroom-based study.

Selected researchers will use their visiting period to advance an eligible AERC-supported research project while benefiting from interaction with World Bank researchers and access to research resources.

The programme can provide exposure to:

Economic research and policy analysis.
World Bank research programmes.
Economic and development data.
Research facilities.
International research networks.
Mentorship and interaction with World Bank staff.
Academic and policy research collaboration.

The ultimate purpose is to help researchers improve the quality and relevance of their work and strengthen connections between African researchers and the global economic research community.

Eligibility Requirements

The AERC-World Bank Visiting Scholars Programme is not designed as a general opportunity for anyone interested in economics.

AERC specifies that applicants must be AERC researchers, including PhD researchers. Applicants must also have an active AERC research project that has reached at least the interim/post-field stage or final research paper stage.

The research project must also be relevant to the World Bank Africa Region’s research agenda and address challenges relevant to African countries.

Eligible applicants can include:

AERC thematic researchers with active projects.
AERC Collaborative PhD Programme students who have reached the post-field research stage.
Faculty members meeting the programme’s research requirements.

Because the programme is competitive and research-focused, applicants should ensure that their proposed work clearly satisfies the programme’s requirements before applying.

Qualifications and Research Requirements

Education and Certification

The programme information does not specify a universal academic degree requirement such as a particular bachelor’s or master’s qualification.

However, eligibility is linked to active participation in AERC research activities. The programme specifically includes AERC researchers and eligible PhD researchers within its target group.

Applicants should therefore focus on demonstrating their active research status and the relevance of their research project.

Research Experience

Research experience is central to this opportunity.

Applicants must have an active AERC research project that has progressed to at least the interim/post-field stage or final research paper stage.

The project must also be pertinent to the World Bank Africa Region’s research agenda and relevant to challenges affecting African countries.

This means that applicants should have a clearly defined research project rather than simply proposing a general area of interest.

Research Areas and Policy Relevance

AERC’s broader thematic research programme covers major areas of economic policy and development.

Its research groupings include:

Poverty, labour markets and income distribution.
Macroeconomic policy and growth.
Finance and resource mobilization.
Production, trade and economic integration.
Agriculture, climate change and natural resource management.

These areas demonstrate the broader policy context in which AERC conducts its research and capacity-building activities.

Applicants should nevertheless rely on the current programme call for the precise research priorities and requirements applicable to the 2026 visiting scholars selection.

Benefits of the Programme

The AERC-World Bank Visiting Scholars Programme can provide several professional and research benefits.

Access to World Bank Research Resources

Researchers can benefit from access to wider information, research and economic data available through the World Bank.

Mentorship and Professional Interaction

The programme provides opportunities for researchers to interact with World Bank staff and benefit from their expertise and mentorship.

International Research Networks

The programme is also intended to strengthen connections between African researchers and the wider global research community.

Research Development

A key objective is to improve the skills and research output of individual researchers, including work that can contribute to publications and broader economic policy discussions.

Policy Impact

By connecting research with the World Bank’s Africa-focused economic policy work, the programme can help researchers strengthen the policy relevance of their work.

Programme Duration

The AERC information states that the visiting scholars programme provides for researchers to visit the World Bank for up to four months.

The placement is therefore designed as a focused research period rather than a long-term academic programme.

Researchers should use the available period to advance their approved research activities, interact with relevant researchers and make effective use of available research resources.

Application Process

Interested researchers should review the current AERC-World Bank Visiting Scholars Programme call and confirm that they satisfy the eligibility criteria.

AERC’s programme information indicates that eligible applicants are expected to submit a short research proposal of no more than three pages describing the proposed AERC-supported research to be undertaken during the fellowship.

Applicants should ensure that their proposal clearly explains:

The research question or policy issue.
The current stage of the research.
The work they intend to undertake during the visit.
How the proposed research relates to African development challenges.
The relevance of the research to the World Bank Africa Region’s agenda.

A strong proposal should demonstrate a clear connection between the applicant’s existing AERC-supported research and the purpose of the visiting placement.

Who Should Apply?

The programme may be particularly suitable for:

African economic researchers.
AERC network researchers.
Economics faculty members.
Eligible AERC PhD researchers.
Researchers working on African economic policy.
Researchers studying macroeconomic policy and growth.
Researchers working on poverty and labour markets.
Researchers studying finance and resource mobilization.
Researchers working on trade and economic integration.
Researchers studying agriculture, climate change and natural resources.

Applicants should remember that the programme is intended for research-active AERC researchers, rather than general students seeking an international scholarship.

Important Information for Applicants

The AERC-World Bank Visiting Scholars Programme should not be confused with a conventional fully funded university scholarship.

Its primary purpose is research capacity development and collaboration.

The official AERC information confirms the opportunity to visit the World Bank for up to four months and benefit from mentorship and research facilities.

However, the source material available here does not provide a specific stipend amount, airfare package or detailed financial benefits for the 2026 call. Applicants should therefore avoid relying on unverified claims about funding and should consult the current official call for the applicable financial and logistical arrangements.

Why This Opportunity Matters

Economic research plays an important role in improving evidence-based policymaking across Africa.

AERC’s work is focused on strengthening local capacity for rigorous economic research and connecting research with policy. The organisation’s current strategic direction continues to emphasise research, capacity building and policy engagement across the continent.

The AERC-World Bank Visiting Scholars Programme builds on this mission by creating a bridge between African researchers and the World Bank’s global research environment.

For researchers with active projects, the opportunity can provide valuable exposure to international research networks, additional data resources and expert interaction while allowing them to continue developing research relevant to African economic challenges.

Final Thoughts

The AERC-World Bank Visiting Scholars Programme 2026 provides a specialised research opportunity for eligible African economists and researchers connected to AERC.

The programme allows selected researchers to spend up to four months at the World Bank, where they can benefit from mentorship, research facilities, economic data and interaction with World Bank researchers.

Eligibility is focused on AERC researchers, including eligible PhD researchers, who have active AERC research projects that have reached at least the interim/post-field or final research paper stage. The research must also be relevant to the World Bank Africa Region’s agenda and African development challenges.

Applicants should prepare a concise research proposal of no more than three pages explaining the AERC-supported research they intend to undertake during the visiting period.

For African researchers seeking to strengthen their economic research, expand international networks and improve the policy relevance of their work, this programme represents a valuable research-development opportunity.

Prospective applicants should consult the current official AERC call for the exact 2026 application deadline, submission instructions and any financial or logistical provisions before submitting an application.

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