The competition for the 3^rd and 4^th editions of the Education Research in Africa Award (ERAA) is now open. Launched in 2012, the Award aims to promote high quality education research, produced by African universities, research centers and research networks. There are four award categories: (1) emerging educational researcher, (2) accomplished educational researcher, (3) outstanding mentor of educational researchers, and (4) enabling institutional environment for education research.

Applicants’ research can focus on a wide range of thematic areas, but the following will receive special attention: technical and vocational skills development (TVSD); early childhood development and education (ECDE); information and communication technology (ICT); science, technology and innovation (STI); gender issues; special education needs; teacher training and the teaching profession. This year the Award will also give special attention to education, training or capacity building work related to the African Development Bank’s five operational priorities known as the High 5s: energy, food and agriculture, industrialization, continental integration and improving the quality of life for the people.

The terms and conditions of participation in the competition are available online at:  http://www.adeanet.org/eraa. The organizing committee strongly encourages female candidates to apply.

Research on education is crucial for African education systems. It provides decision-makers with the information they need to tailor policy, conduct reforms and enhance the quality, equity, relevance and efficiency of their education and training systems. Yet, education research in Africa remains limited and underused. The main drawbacks are inadequate institutional environment for education research and the weak involvement of higher education in the policy-making process.

The objectives of the Education Research in Africa Award are:

• To strengthen the link between education research and education policy-making and practice in Africa;
• To encourage and supporting Africa-based researchers and their institutions to produce and disseminate rigorous and relevant research that stimulates innovative policy-making for Africa;
• To facilitate interaction between researchers and policy-makers in order to promote the systematic use of research findings in policy conceptualization, formulation, design, implementation and evaluation;
• To facilitate the identification of strong researchers to provide content for the ADEA Knowledge Hub, one of the main pillars of the ADEA Strategic Plan 2018-2020.

It is ERAA’s main goal to develop a culture of quality research which would contribute to informed decision-making and to effective implementation of promising reforms and practices.

The juries for the Award are made up of African and Africanist (pan-African/diaspora/afro-centered) researchers and education specialists working in universities, research centers, research organizations and Pan African institutions, Multilateral Development Banks (MDBs),  across Africa and the world.

The Award is organized by the Association for the Development of Education in Africa (ADEA) and the African Development Institute (ECAD) of the African Development Bank Group, with financial support from the Korea-Africa Economic Cooperation (KOAFEC).

For further information on ERAA, visit the website http://www.adeanet.org/eraa or contact Ms. Raky Gassama, Knowledge Management Officer, ADEA, e-mail:  [email protected]

About the African Development Bank Group - The African Development Bank Group (AfDB) is Africa’s premier development finance institution. It comprises three distinct entities: the African Development Bank (AfDB), the African Development Fund (ADF) and the Nigeria Trust Fund (NTF). On the ground in 44 African countries with an external office in Japan, the AfDB contributes to the economic development and the social progress of its 54 regional member states.
For more information: j.mp/AfDB_Media