The African Peacebuilding Network and Next Generation Social Sciences in Africa programs had the chance to attend the 3rd Biennial…
Next Gen Dispatches

Next Gen Dispatches is our newest platform showcasing the work of current and former fellows of the Next Generation Social Sciences in Africa fellowship program, an initiative of the SSRC. It provides a space for reflections on how the program is impacting/has impacted Next Gen fellows’ doctoral research experience and careers. The concept of dispatches is built around communications between Next Gen fellows, colleagues, and other members of scholarly, policy and philanthropic communities.
Dispatches posts will fall under the following categories:
Spotlight focuses on interviews of current and former fellows regarding their research and publications. These interviews are organized in relation to specific themes and programmatic priorities: Environment, Identity, Gender, Migration and Displacement, Peacebuilding, Security and Development. Here, fellows capture in a succinct manner the experiences and challenges doctoral students face in the course of conducting fieldwork and data collection using short essays, photo essays or videos. Sharing such experiences can be either inspirational or facilitate the sharing of deeper insights into challenges doctoral students from diverse disciplines face in the course of conducting fieldwork in different countries. It will also help promote knowledge on best practices from various contexts.
Doctoral Voices tells the stories and captures the visions of fellows who have recently defended their doctoral dissertations and graduated with their PhDs. It features in their own words the narrative of their doctoral journey, the impact of Next Gen on their research and career, and the contributions they hope to make to their institutions, communities, knowledge production, and global scholarly discourses.
An Interview with Patricia Serwaa Afrifa, Next Generation Social Sciences in Africa Alumnus
Dr. Patricia Serwaa Afrifa holds a PhD in African studies from the University of Ghana, Legon. She obtained a Bachelor…
Points of Tension between African States and the International Criminal Court
The International Criminal Court (ICC) has been accused of unfairly targeting African states. The ICC began operating in 2002 and…
Navigating the Research Terrain for Graduate Students in Africa: A Reflection
Early this year, a woman I know from her public engagement in Uganda walked up to me after I had…
Civil Society Organization and Counter-Terrorism in Northeastern Nigeria: A Conversation with Emeka Thaddues Njoku
Emeka Thaddues Njoku is an alumnus of the Next Generation Social Sciences in Africa Doctoral Dissertation Proposal Fellowship (2015) and…
An Interview with Sisanda Mguzulwa
At our July 2018 bi-annual fellows workshop in Kampala, Uganda, program staff sat down with Sisanda Mguzulwa, a 2016 and…
The Disappearing Lake
Is climate change likely to be a threat multiplier in conflict-prone regions? Under what conditions? What can be done to…
Researching China in Africa
My initial attraction to the study of China’s activities in Africa stemmed from an intellectual imbalance I noticed while writing…
An Interview with Next Gen Fellow Sisanda Mguzulwa
Next Gen fellow Sisanda Mguzulwa (2016-2018) is passionate about her research on youth violence in South Africa. Here’s a sneak…
Pursuing an Integrative Approach to Ending Gender-Based Violence: A Conversation with Ruth Lekakeny
Ruth Nekura Lekakeny, a 2017-18 Next Generation Social Sciences in Africa Doctoral Dissertation Completion fellow, is a feminist human rights…