Overview
Application deadline: June 30, 2026
Start date September 1, 2026
The Causal and Adaptive Learning for Policy (CALP) research group, led by Prof. Yonas Alem, hosted within the School of Economics, University of Cape Town (UCT), invites applications for a two-year Postdoctoral Research Fellowship. The Fellowship is funded by the Standing Panel for Impact Assessment (SPIA) and is associated with the project "The Uptake and Impact of CGIAR Innovations in Nigeria" — a three-year initiative aimed at identifying, measuring, and understanding the adoption and impact of CGIAR-related agricultural innovations across Nigeria over the past two decades.
CALP is a policy-embedded research laboratory that collaborates with governments, donor agencies, and implementing organisations to improve the effectiveness, efficiency, and accountability of development policies and programmes in low- and lower-middle-income countries.
The Project
The project investigates the reach, adoption, and impact of agricultural innovations promoted by CGIAR institutions in Nigeria over the past twenty years. Key outputs include a stocktaking report, a nationally representative household survey dataset (5,000 households), a comprehensive project report, and a series of peer-reviewed academic papers on agricultural technology adoption and causal inference.
The Postdoctoral Fellow will play a central role across all phases of the project, from data collection and analysis through to dissemination, and will be recognised as a co-author on project reports and research papers in accordance with the Vancouver authorship guidelines.
Responsibilities
The Fellow will be expected to contribute across the following areas:
• Project coordination: Overseeing the operational and logistical aspects of the SPIA Nigeria project, including survey design, data collection, data management, and analysis.
• Research: Conducting rigorous empirical research in collaboration with the CALP research group and project partners.
• Mentorship: Supervising and supporting junior team members, including doctoral students and research assistants.
• Grant development: Assisting with the preparation and coordination of research grant applications related to causal inference and development economics research.
Qualifications and Selection Criteria
Required:
• A completed doctoral degree in economics, with specialisation in economics, agricultural economics, development economics, or environmental economics, conferred no more than five years prior to the commencement date.
• No prior permanent academic or professional appointments.
• A strong foundation in applied econometrics, including panel data methods and causal inference techniques, evidenced by publications, working papers, or a research pipeline.
• Demonstrated ability to work independently and manage complex, multi-stakeholder research projects.
Advantageous:
• Experience in project coordination in multicultural or international development contexts.
• Prior fieldwork experience in sub-Saharan Africa or other Global South settings.
Applications from women candidates are particularly encouraged.
Fellowship Value and Terms
Stipend: R543,000 per annum (total value of R1,086,000 over two years). The University will apply for tax-exempt status on behalf of the successful candidate in accordance with applicable regulations.
Payment schedule: The stipend is disbursed in four semi-annual instalments. The initial payment is made upon registration; subsequent payments are conditional on satisfactory progress reports submitted by the Principal Investigator.
Duration and renewal: The Fellowship is tenable from 1 September 2026 to 31 August 2028 and may be renewed for a further two years, subject to satisfactory academic progress, continued compliance with the conditions of award, and the availability of funding.
Travel: The fellowship stipend does not include a travel or relocation allowance. Reasonable project-related travel expenses will be covered separately by the project.
Location: The Fellow is expected to be based at the University of Cape Town. In exceptional circumstances, remote working arrangements may be considered for highly competitive candidates, subject to agreement with the Principal Investigator and project coordinators.
Supervisory Team
The Postdoctoral Fellow will work under the primary supervision of:
• Professor Yonas Alem, Principal Investigator, School of Economics, University of Cape Town
• Dr. Meseret B. Abebe, Project Coordinator, School of Economics, University of Cape Town
How to Apply
Applications must be submitted via the following link [https://forms.gle/c4wCXRu7s8NopaeAA] by
30 June 2026, with the subject line: "CALP Postdoctoral Fellowship Application."
The application should include:
• A cover letter (maximum two pages) addressing the selection criteria and outlining the applicant's relevant experience and research interests
• A curriculum vitae (maximum two pages; and copies of PhD certificate and transcripts)
• Contact details (name and email address) of two academic referees
Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted. The University of Cape Town reserves the right not to make an appointment.
Conditions of the award
- Eligibility. The Fellowship is open to candidates who hold a doctoral degree obtained within the five years preceding the commencement date and who have not previously held any permanent academic or professional appointment.
- Tenure. The Fellowship is tenable from Sept. 1 2026 to 31 August 2028. Renewal for a further two years is contingent upon a satisfactory academic progress review conducted in August 2028, full compliance with these conditions, and the continued availability of funds.
- Stipend. The Fellowship is valued at R543,000 per annum and is tax-exempt. Payment is made in four semi-annual instalments over the two-year period; each instalment is conditional upon satisfactory progress as assessed by the Principal Investigator.
- Travel allowances. No travel or relocation allowances are included in the fellowship value. Necessary work-related travel costs will be met separately by the project.
- Professional development. As part of their professional development, the Fellow may be required to participate in departmental activities, including limited mentorship of junior researchers and other incidental academic duties.
- Exclusivity of appointment. The Fellow may not hold concurrent employment during the tenure of the award and must devote their full effort to the designated research activities.
- Registration. The successful candidate must formally register as a Postdoctoral Research Fellow in the School of Economics, University of Cape Town.
- Legal agreements. The Fellow is required to execute a Memorandum of Agreement (MoA) with the University and a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Principal Investigator, and to adhere to all applicable UCT policies, procedures, and practices governing postdoctoral appointments.
- Degree registration. Fellows may not register for a degree during the tenure of the award. With the written approval of the Principal Investigator, a Fellow may enrol in a specific course where this is directly relevant to the research.
- Termination. Registration may be terminated at any time in the event of a material breach of contract, sustained underperformance, or on disciplinary grounds, following a formal hearing conducted in accordance with UCT procedures.
- Facilities. The Fellow will be provided with dedicated office space and access to UCT's computing facilities. The Fellow is responsible for providing their own personal computer.
- Medical insurance. Comprehensive medical insurance is compulsory for all international Postdoctoral Fellows and must be in place prior to registration. While the Fellow bears this cost, access to UCT Student Health Services will be available.
- Visa requirements. International candidates must secure a valid visa before entering South Africa; the University does not bear responsibility for visa-related delays or costs.
- Leave. The Fellow is entitled to 15 days of vacation leave per full calendar year, pro-rated in the event of a part-year appointment.
- Right not to appoint. The University of Cape Town reserves the right to disqualify ineligible, incomplete, or otherwise unsuitable applications, to amend the conditions of award, or to make no appointment at all.