Purpose
The CFK Africa Peacock Fellowship offers UNC students the opportunity to apply their skills and talents to engage in participatory research and development in Kenya. The fellowship is an immersive, global experience at CFK’s office in Nairobi, Kenya. Fellows will work directly with Kenyan staff to strengthen our programs, contribute relevant skills and expertise, implement new strategies, and provide mutual benefit to the organization and fellow.
The year-long fellowship begins in the spring semester with project formulation, collaborating with CFK staff in the US and Kenya. Fellows participate in a pre-departure orientation before leaving for Kenya. In the summer, fellows will travel to Nairobi, Kenya and spend at least eight weeks implementing their project or carrying out their work. During the fall semester, fellows will complete final reports and engage in campus outreach activities to help raise awareness of CFK’s global impact. The fellowship provides a stipend of $6,000 for graduate-level students and $4,000 for undergraduate-level students to support the costs of international airfare, in-country transport, and housing.
Eligibility
This fellowship is for UNC undergraduate, graduate, or Ph.D. students who can help develop sustainable projects, contribute relevant skills and expertise, or conduct equitable research in collaboration with CFK staff. Students must be returning to UNC the following semester after their summer engagement (i.e., graduating students who matriculate in the Spring of 2023 are not eligible).
Focus Areas
Education Focus: The Education Theory Fellow will work with our US and Kenyan staff to explore the intersectionality between education and other social development sectors, strengthen organizational capacity to adapt and respond to the changing education landscape, and investigate the impact of quality improvement in schools. Education research projects or policy development can be explored based on the needs of the organization and the interests of the fellow.
Livelihood Focus: The Livelihood Sustainability Fellow will work with our US and Kenyan staff to explore new and creative approaches to sustainable livelihoods, with a focus on productive assets and cash transfer. Together, the fellow and CFK team will co-design and conduct livelihood intervention research and conduct livelihood intervention workshops.
Create Your Own Project: We also welcome Masters and Ph.D. applicants that wish to bring their unique skills and interests to CFK to conduct mutually beneficial research or implement short-term projects in Kenyan informal settlements that relate to our focus areas of female empowerment, sexual and gender-based violence, nutrition, health, education, economic empowerment or livelihoods training, water sanitation and hygiene (WASH), or maternal and child health.
Fellowships available: 2
Application & Selection Process and Timeline
- Application Opens: October 14, 2022
- Application Deadline: 11:59 EST on October 31, 2022
- Applications are reviewed by past fellows, UNC faculty, and CFK staff and board members.
- Candidates selected for interviews will be notified by November 15, 2022.
- Finalists will attend a short interview with Kenya staff via Zoom.
- Selected fellows will be notified by the end of November.
Deadline to Submit
All application materials should be uploaded to our application portal linked here no later than 11:59 PM ET Monday, October 31, 2022.
Online Application Form & Materials Required for Submission
Online application form and materials required for consideration:
- Complete the online application form which consists of demographic and education information, short essay questions, and a section to upload the documents listed below.
- Upload your CV/Resume and cover letter explaining why you are applying for the fellowship with CFK, your future goals, and your area(s) of interest in PDF format.
- Upload one professional or academic reference letter in PDF format.
Please note, our application form does not save your work. We strongly suggest saving your work on a separate document until you are ready to submit your application. For your convenience, you can view a PDF version of the application questions here.
Review Criteria/Evaluation of Applicants
CFK staff from both the US and Kenya, along with past Peacock Fellows, UNC Faculty, and board members, will select fellows based on how prepared and qualified they are to work with CFK to better themselves and the organization. We will pay close attention to the applicant’s interest areas, past experiences, and future goals to assess the impact this fellowship can have on the applicant’s and organization’s goals, with preference given to those with a demonstrated interest in global health, education, or one of our other focus areas.
All applicants must possess the ability to work independently, efficiently, and reliably with demonstrated research and cross-cultural communication skills. Although the fellow will further develop their intercultural competency, they must exhibit a high level of cultural sensitivity and self-awareness to work well with others.
Award Requirements
- Bi-weekly updates to US staff
- Final report of project findings
- Two written blogs surrounding the student project activities, lessons, and reflections, one mid-fellowship and one final to be published on CFK’s website
- Attendance at campus outreach events (seminars, lunch series, info sessions, etc) about your fellowship experience with CFK
- Participation in CFK Alumni Network activities
- Support CFK fundraising efforts on campus and digitally
Questions
Email fellowship@cfkafrica.org or view our informational recording.
Reflections From Past Fellows
About the Organization
This fellowship is administered by CFK Africa in collaboration with the UNC African Studies Center.
CFK Africa is improving public health and economic prosperity in informal settlements through participatory research, health systems strengthening, and education and economic development initiatives. Headquartered in Kibera, located in Nairobi, Kenya, CFK combines public service with responsible research to transform health, education, and economic outcomes in informal and peri-urban settlements. CFK supports Kibera residents through integrated primary healthcare facilities, education and livelihoods initiatives, and youth empowerment programs. Co-founded by a UNC student in 2001, CFK is a UNC Affiliate organization and a registered 501(c)3 nonprofit in the U.S. and a non-governmental organization (NGO) in Kenya. Visit https://www.cfkafrica.org/ to learn more about what we do.
The UNC African Studies Center works to provide the University and the people of North Carolina with a campus hub for interdisciplinary inquiry and communication on Africa. Their activities include sponsoring a wide variety of activities, bringing together interested faculty and students from a large number of academic disciplines. They focus on interconnected issues of political change, expressive culture, gender, sustainability, health, and Islam.