The African Economic Research Consortium (AERC) is inviting research proposals from early-career economists for commissioned studies under its Industrial Policy and Growth in Africa Project. Selected studies will receive funding of up to US$10,000 to generate evidence that can inform industrial development and economic growth policies across Africa.
About the Project
The Industrial Policy and Growth in Africa Project seeks to address gaps in research on Africa’s structural transformation, firm productivity, investment and industrial policy.
The initiative will support rigorous empirical studies examining the effectiveness and costs of industrial policy measures and their implications for businesses, workers and economic development.
Research may focus on individual African countries, multiple countries or specific economic sectors, with studies expected to be completed within 18 months.
Priority Research Areas
AERC is seeking proposals addressing seven themes:
- Industrial policy instruments and firm dynamics: Tax incentives, productivity, investment and business performance.
- Special economic zones and industrial parks: Their effects on employment, exports and local economies.
- Foreign direct investment and domestic capabilities: Investment linkages, technology transfer and firm development.
- Trade, AfCFTA and regional value chains: Regional integration, trade barriers and industrial competitiveness.
- Agriculture and agro-processing: Local value addition, processing incentives and agricultural value chains.
- Natural resources and critical minerals: Domestic processing, export restrictions and regional value chains.
- Data and measurement: Using satellite imagery, mobile-money data and other sources to measure business activity.
- Funding and Research Support
Each commissioned study may receive up to US$10,000.
Funding can cover researcher time, access to existing secondary datasets and analytical software. Primary data collection and field travel are not eligible expenses.
Selected researchers will also receive mentorship from senior researchers and participate in methodological and editorial workshops. They are expected to produce an academic paper suitable for publication in a recognised peer-reviewed journal and a policy brief.
Eligibility Criteria
Applicants must:
- Hold a PhD in Economics or a closely related field, awarded in 2016 or later.
- Ensure all co-applicants meet the same academic and early-career requirements.
- Already possess, or have confirmed access to, the datasets required for the proposed research.
- Demonstrate a credible research methodology and an achievable 18-month work plan.
Research teams are encouraged, particularly collaborations between African and international institutions. AERC also encourages applications from female economists and Francophone and Lusophone researchers.
Application Requirements and Deadline
Proposals must be submitted in English or French and must not exceed 2,000 words, excluding CVs, references and the budget table.
Applications should include the research question, methodology, evidence of data access, expected outputs, team composition, timeline, budget and proof of PhD completion dates.