Deadline: 08-Aug-2025
Are you an early-career researcher or professional based in East, West, or Southern Africa with a strong interest in co-producing weather and climate services? The Weather and Climate Information Services (WISER) Africa co-production fellowship is now open for applications. This opportunity is supported by the UK’s Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office through the Africa Regional Climate and Nature (ARCAN) Programme.
The fellowship offers three positions, one for each region: East, West, and Southern Africa. It targets talented individuals with expertise or passion for co-production, aiming to develop them into leaders of collaborative climate services.
Selected fellows will work with local and regional organisations to strengthen climate services. They will connect scientific research to community outcomes and promote innovative co-production practices to enhance climate resilience in their regions.
Fellows will provide technical support, assist Regional Climate Centres and Meteorological Services, and engage stakeholders to co-design development priorities. They will conduct research on topics like stakeholder engagement, indigenous knowledge, and communication strategies, contributing to learning across the WISER programme.
Each fellow will receive mentorship from regional and international experts and participate in training and peer learning activities involving all three regions. The fellowship includes funding up to £150,000 over 2.5 years, with budgets encouraged to align closely with proposed work needs.
Applicants with skills such as fluency in a second widely spoken regional language, knowledge of policy or sectors like water, energy, or health, and experience in social sciences or qualitative research are especially encouraged to apply. A strong professional network across climate service, academic, and policy communities is also beneficial.
Fellows are expected to produce learning outputs like academic publications, document their co-production support, help define climate-focused priorities, and contribute actively to WISER’s collective learning. Regular reporting, including monthly check-ins, progress reports, quarterly meetings, and participation in evaluation, is required.
Applicants must be nationals of eligible countries within East, West, or Southern Africa. They may be hosted by their current institution if it meets WISER standards or arrange an eligible host before applying. The West Africa fellow will be hosted at AGRHYMET in Niamey, Niger.
Eligible countries in East Africa include Burundi, Djibouti, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Kenya, Rwanda, Somalia, Tanzania, and Uganda. Southern Africa includes Angola, Botswana, Comoros, Democratic Republic of Congo, Eswatini, Lesotho, Madagascar, Malawi, Mauritius, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa, Zambia, and Zimbabwe. West Africa eligibility covers Burkina Faso, Chad, Mali, Mauritania, Niger, and Senegal.
Applicants must hold a Master’s degree in fields like climate, environmental, or sustainability science. They should demonstrate academic interest in co-production, participatory methods, and a solid grasp of climate services and climate science. Strong communication skills, the ability to bridge science and society, an understanding of equity and inclusion, and independence are essential. Fluency in written and spoken English is required.
For more information, visit Met Office.
