Atlas: Horn of Africa > France

The Fondation Maison des Sciences de l'Homme (FMSH) and the French Center for Ethiopian Studies (CFEE) offer a short-term fellowship of two months in France for postdoc researchers from the Horn of Africa (Ethiopia, Eritrea, Djibouti and Somaliland).

This research stay is designed to enable researchers to conduct research studies in France: field enquiries, library and archives work. 

This call is part of the Atlas Programme for short-term postdoctoral mobility launched by the FMSH and its partners.

Financial details

Laureates will receive a monthly stipend of 1 700€ (paid at the beginning of each month of stay). This financial contribution is intended to cover expenditure such as transport and accommodation costs.

Eligibility criteria

• Nationality:
  This program is open to researchers originating from Ethiopia, Eritrea, Djibouti and Somaliland and affiliated with an institution of higher education and research or a public or private research institute based in one of these countries. 
• Educational Degree:
  Applicants must have obtained their PhD doctorate and presented their thesis from 2018.
• Theme:
  Applicants   must   be   involved   in   research   in   social   and   human   sciences.
• French host institution:
  Before submitting their application, applicants will have to find a French research institution to host them for the time of their stay. Applicants will have to provide a letter from the hosting institution addressed to the FMSH and the CFEE expressing the institution’s willingness to host the applicant during the time of fellowship and explaining the work conditions offered.

Researchers obligations

Within 30 days after their stay, laureates will have to provide the FMSH and the CFEE with a report presenting the work done during their stay and the benefits for their research project.

Application form

Applicants must submit a form and a scientific file (research project + annexes) on an online platform. The online platform will be accessible from 14^th January, 2024. The complete applications must be uploaded on the online platform no later than March 18^th, 2024, 17:00 (Paris time).

The application form and the scientific file must be submitted in French or english.

Content of the scientific dossier

The research proposal consists of a report between 10,000 and 20,000 characters (including spaces and notes) that must include the following:

1. The objective of the research proposal, specific issues, the state of the art, the type of data that will be collected, the methodology, and the expected results.
2. A detailed work plan outlining the activities that will be conducted during the stay, including the places and institutions to be visited, contacts, the type of data to be collected, and the work schedule (this work plan must be well detailed and proportional to the duration of the stay in France).
3. A clear explanation of the reasons for choosing the host institution in France and especially how this institution would help the candidate enrich their project. The selection committee must be convinced that this choice is solid and well-founded.
4. A relevant bibliography regarding the presented project.

If the applications do not meet the above criteria, they will not be submitted to the selection committee.

How to apply?

1. Reach the online application form and enter «Researcher Workspace».
2. You have to be registered on the online platform in order to use it. If you haven’t created an account yet, you will be asked to.
3. Create your profile by filling all your personal information and then enter “create a new application”.
4. Select “Programme Atlas incoming 2024” and then the specific call « FMSH-CFEE: Horn of Africa > France ».
5. Fill all the information tabs.
6. In the “Documents” final tab, you will need to upload your research application into one single PDF document:

• Research proposal
• Curriculum vitae (2 pages maximum)
• List of publications
• Copy of the PhD diploma
• Letter from the director of the research institution
• Letter of invitation from the director of the host research institution in France

7.  You can save your application and complete it later several times if you wish, until the closure of the call for applications. Once you have submitted your application, you will no longer have the possibility to amend it. Once submitted, you will receive an automatic email confirming the submission. Applications not submitted, incomplete application forms or applications that do not match the above description will not be taken into account.

For any information on the platform, or in case of difficulty in using it, contact fadili@msh-paris.fr

Evaluation process and criteria

A selection committee composed of members of the FMSH, the CFEE and external experts will analyze and select the applications based on the following elements:

• The quality of the scientific file and the methodology developed
• The relevance of a research stay in France regarding the scientific project and the candidate curricula
• The ability to identify scientific contacts in France

Candidates that have never benefited from the programme will be prioritized.

Candidates will be informed by email of the results at the end of May 2024.

For any communication, please mention the call for which you wish to apply in the subject of your email (“ATLAS Horn of Africa > France”).