AERC CALL FOR PROPOSALS: INDUSTRIAL POLICY AND GROWTH IN AFRICA PROJECT

The African Economic Research Consortium (AERC) is inviting early-career economists to submit proposals for commissioned studies of up to USD 10,000 each.

The project aims to generate rigorous, policy-relevant research on the micro and macro foundations of industrialisation in Africa, including what instruments such as tax incentives, special economic zones and trade policy do for firms, workers and public finances.

Research themes:

Policy instruments, allocation and firm dynamics

Special economic zones, industrial parks and place-based policy

FDI, linkages and domestic capabilities

Trade, AfCFTA and regional value chains

Agriculture and agro-processing

Natural resources and critical minerals

Data and measurement

Key details:

Funding: up to USD 10,000 per study, covering researcher time, access or licence fees for existing secondary data, and software. Primary data collection (including new surveys and interviews) and field travel are not eligible.

Eligibility: the lead applicant and all co-applicants must hold a PhD in Economics or a closely related field, awarded in 2016 or later.

Data: applicants must already hold, or have confirmed access to, the data needed to answer the proposed question.

Teams: research teams are strongly encouraged over single authors, particularly teams combining researchers at African institutions with researchers at international institutions. Applications from female economists and from Francophone and Lusophone economists are strongly encouraged.

Outputs: funded papers are expected to target publication in refereed journals ranked CABS-AJG 2 or above (or the equivalent ABDC or Scopus tier), plus a short policy brief. Grantees receive mentorship from senior researchers.

Proposal: maximum 2,000 words, in English or French, submitted through the AERC Research and Capacity Development Portal.

Deadline: 21 November 2026 (midnight EAT)

Full call and application link: https://aercafrica.org/opportunities/industrial-policy-and-growth-in-africa-project/?fbclid=IwY2xjawVYCQRleHRuA2FlbQIxMQBwZG9mAXNydGMGYXBwX2lkEDIyMjAzOTE3ODgyMDA4OTIAAR9iVAv5hepF0ZAL1pADZwUDbQpgHO0u4ClP0_jHMd4QrE5HbAYM8R4rpIzhNA_aem_cCxbf-4mDCfbMPf6jclhCg

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