Are you an aspiring African researcher ready to tackle the continent's most pressing agricultural challenges? The PANAP Mentorship Programme 2025–2026 is your gateway to making a real impact. But here's where it gets exciting: this isn't just another mentorship program. It's a fully-funded, year-long journey designed to transform early-career researchers into published experts in agricultural and development economics.
Organized by the Joint Research Centre (JRC) of the European Commission in partnership with the Platform for African–European Partnership on Agricultural Research for Development (PANAP), this initiative offers a unique blend of mentorship, exclusive resources, and networking opportunities. And this is the part most people miss: it’s not just about writing a paper; it’s about shaping policies that could redefine sustainable agriculture across Africa.
Programme Highlights
Selected researchers will receive:
- One-year mentorship from senior JRC or partner institution researchers, culminating in a co-authored publication.
- Access to premium datasets covering agriculture, livelihoods, and rural development in West and Central Africa. Think cocoa production in Cameroon or harmonized household surveys across eight African nations—data that’s rarely available to early-career researchers.
- Training in advanced modeling tools, including JRC’s FSSIM-Dev model, for those diving into farm-level analyses.
- Full sponsorship to attend the 8th African Conference of Agricultural Economists (ACAE) in Nairobi, Kenya, in September 2026—a golden opportunity to showcase your work.
- Support for publication in high-impact agricultural economics journals, ensuring your research reaches the right audience.
Research Themes: Where Controversy Meets Innovation
Proposals should focus on sustainable agriculture and rural development, but here’s where it gets controversial: how do we balance traditional farming practices with modern agroecological techniques? Proposed topics include:
1. Yields, Productivity, and Agroecological Farming Practices: Explore productivity gaps across systems and zones, or model the impact of climate-resilient farming. But is agroecology truly scalable for smallholder farmers?
2. Labor and Gender in Food Systems: Dive into labor allocation and gender disparities. Are agricultural labor markets inherently biased, and what can we do about it?
3. Market Access and Institutional Support: Investigate the role of cooperatives and contract farming. But are these institutions truly empowering smallholders, or are they perpetuating dependency?
4. Crop and Income Diversification: Analyze income strategies and resilience. But is diversification always the answer for farming communities?
5. Livelihoods and Food Security: Examine poverty dynamics and food insecurity. But how do we measure progress when definitions of poverty vary so widely?
Datasets: The Backbone of Your Research
Participants will gain access to datasets like:
- Cocoa Production in Cameroon: A cross-sectional dataset of 4,000+ cocoa-farming households, with plot-level details and economic activities.
- Enquête Harmonisée sur les Conditions de Vie des Ménages (EHCVM): A panel survey covering 60,000+ households across eight West African countries, harmonized for consistency.
Application Requirements: Keep It Concise, But Bold
Your one-page proposal must include:
- Clear research questions aligned with the themes.
- Contextualization of the problem in your target region.
- Methodology, emphasizing econometric analysis, modeling, or statistics. Preferred approaches include farm-level modeling with FSSIM-Dev, but innovative methods are welcome.
- References (not included in the one-page limit).
Eligibility: Who Can Apply?
To qualify, you must:
- Hold a master’s degree in economics, statistics, agricultural science, or a related field.
- Be an African national and a registered PANAP member. Why only PANAP members? This ensures a community-driven approach, but does it limit inclusivity? We’d love to hear your thoughts in the comments.
- Be actively engaged in policy-relevant research on African agri-food systems.
Selection Process: What Sets You Apart?
Up to eight proposals will be selected based on:
- Scientific rigor and policy relevance: Does your research address real-world challenges?
- Alignment with programme themes: How well does your proposal fit the focus areas?
- Feasibility: Can it be completed within a year?
Timeline and Submission
- Deadline: 15 December 2025
- Format: PDF (proposal + CV)
- Portal: EU Survey platform
- Contact: emailprotected
Programme Impact: Beyond the Paper
Funded by the European Union’s Horizon Europe Programme, this initiative aims to nurture African scholars and strengthen local research capacity. But here’s the bigger question: Can mentorship programs truly bridge the gap between research and policy implementation in Africa? Share your views below.
Apply Now and Stay Connected
Visit the official website to apply. For more opportunities, follow us on Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp, Twitter, LinkedIn, and Telegram.
Disclaimer: Global South Opportunities (GSO) is not the organizing body. For inquiries, contact PANAP directly. Due to high volumes, we may not respond to all emails. Thank you for understanding.
