Selection Report: African Fellowships for Research in Indigenous and Alternative Knowledges (AFRIAK)
The African Fellowships for Research in Indigenous and Alternative Knowledges (AFRIAK) is a collaboration resulting from a discussion between CODESRIA and Mastercard Foundation. The discussion goes back to 2021, when CODESRIA reached out to Tade A. Aina, then Head of Research and Senior Director: Research and Learning at Mastercard Foundation, to consider support for research and policy impact initiatives at CODESRIA. Although the thematic focus was not clear at the meeting, it soon zeroed in on the mutual interest that CODESRIA and the Foundation shared in Indigenous knowledge systems (IKS). Between that meeting and 2024, a range of discussions were held to concretise the initiative and frame a concept note that would encapsulate the mutual interests of the two organisations in supporting work on the dynamic between IKS, the youth and livelihood opportunities that this intersection offers.
The culmination was the official launch of AFRIAK in November 2024. AFRIAK is a three-year research and mentorship programme implemented in partnership with the Mastercard Foundation. It aims to broadly strengthen the research and training ecosystem in Africa by focusing on IKS as a thematic area and seeking to support the education and skilling of young people to undertake research based on Indigenous and endogenous knowledge perspectives.[1]Â It is envisaged that this project will enable the application of Indigenous Knowledge perspectives and evidence to promote growth in priority sectors and spur economic activities led by young people as a source of dignified livelihoods for themselves and their communities.
