A small, fully funded summer school in Dakar is inviting early-stage PhD researchers to step back and rethink how their work on Africa is structured. The 7th CODESRIA ZASB Summer School 2026 focuses less on output and more on the foundations—how research questions are framed, which concepts are used, and what assumptions sit underneath them.
Quick Facts
- Host Country: Senegal (Dakar)
- Study Level / Type: Summer School (PhD & Early Career Scholars)
- Funding: Fully Funded (Travel, accommodation, meals for selected participants)
- Eligible Countries: African countries + Swiss universities
- Deadline: May 1, 2026
About the Opportunity
Most academic programs push toward quick production—papers, panels, deliverables. This one takes a different route.
At its core, the 7th CODESRIA ZASB Summer School 2026 is concerned with how knowledge about Africa is formed. Not just the topics researchers choose, but the deeper structures shaping how those topics are approached and understood.
The program runs in Dakar from July 20 to 24, 2026, and draws on the work of Valentin-Yves Mudimbe. His critique of the “Colonial Library” still shapes debates around African knowledge systems, particularly the ways inherited frameworks continue to influence research.
That idea isn’t treated as a theory alone—it guides the entire format.
Discussions are intensive and deliberately small in scale. Participants work closely with senior scholars, revisiting their own research designs and questioning the conceptual tools they rely on. The emphasis is not on presenting finished work, but on refining how that work is built.
There’s also a clear cross-regional element. The program connects CODESRIA’s network across Africa with African Studies communities in Switzerland, creating a space that is both locally grounded and internationally engaged.
For many early-career researchers, the funding matters just as much as the intellectual focus. Travel, accommodation, and meals are covered for participants based in African institutions, making participation more accessible.
The Summer School is jointly organized by CODESRIA and the Centre for African Studies in Basel (ZASB), with applications handled through the official portal.
Eligibility Criteria
Applicants are expected to meet the following:
- PhD student or early career scholar in the Social Sciences or Humanities
- Affiliation with a higher education institution in Africa
- PhD candidates from Swiss universities may also apply
- Priority given to those in the first or second year of their PhD
- Research aligned with African Studies, Area Studies, or related fields
- Ability to engage critically with conceptual and methodological questions
- Complete application with all required documents
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What the Funding Covers
Financial Support
- Travel costs (for participants from African institutions)
- Accommodation during the program
- Meals for the full duration of the Summer School
Academic Value
- Direct exchange with senior scholars in African Studies
- Time to refine research frameworks and methodological choices
- Exposure to interdisciplinary perspectives
- Connections across African and European research networks
- Positioning within broader academic debates
Who This Is For
This is not a general training workshop. It suits researchers already deep into their PhD work.
If your research has reached the stage where core assumptions need revisiting—whether theoretical, conceptual, or methodological—this setting becomes useful. It’s particularly relevant for those questioning whether existing frameworks fully capture the realities they are studying.
Expect a serious intellectual environment. Engagement with African thought is not optional or surface-level; it requires careful reading, reflection, and a willingness to rethink parts of your approach.
For some, this kind of pause comes at the right time—early enough to reshape a project before it hardens.
Application Process
Applicants must prepare and submit the following:
- Motivation letter (max 500 words) outlining research and interest
- Concept paper (max 2500 words) linked to the Summer School theme
- Updated academic CV
- One recommendation letter
- Proof of PhD registration (or doctoral certificate for early career scholars)
- Copy of passport
All materials should be submitted through the official application portal.
How to Apply
The concept paper is central to your application. Clarity matters more than style—reviewers are looking at how well you situate your research within the broader questions the program raises.
If your work already challenges standard approaches, make that clear and specific.
