Adɔyɛ Research Associates Programme
CAPSI invites scholars, researchers, and practitioners from Africa to contribute to research and knowledge production on women, African philanthropy, and social investment.
About the Call
The Centre on African Philanthropy and Social Investment at Wits Business School, University of the Witwatersrand, South Africa, is advancing a new generation of African researchers, academics, and experts through research, publications, convenings, and related initiatives.
Adɔyɛ, formerly known as Women in African Philanthropy, is a CAPSI programme that recognises, understands, amplifies, and supports the significant role and impact of women in all spheres of philanthropy in Africa.
Adɔyɛ means “Love in Action” and centres women in African philanthropy, including everyday givers, community and civic contributors, high-net-worth philanthropists, and professionals or academics engaged in African philanthropy.
Objective and Scope
This programme aims to build a network of affiliated researchers contributing to scholarly and policy-oriented knowledge on women, African philanthropy, and social investment.
- Conduct original research
- Contribute to CAPSI’s institutional research outputs
- Strengthen academic inquiry on gender, philanthropy, and social investment
- Support policy and practitioner-oriented knowledge production
Research Thematic Pillars
Submissions must align with one or more of the following thematic pillars.
Pillar 1: African Feminist Leadership, Ethics and Power
Explores the lived experiences, ethical frameworks, and exercise of power by African women leaders in philanthropy, social investment, and development spaces.
This includes feminist values in organisational culture, governance, accountability, decision-making, resource allocation, representation, inclusion, and institutional transformation.
Leadership & GovernancePillar 2: African Women in Philanthropy, Social Investment and Long-term Systemic Change
Examines how women’s philanthropic agency, social investment, and collective solidarity contribute to socio-economic development and structural transformation.
The pillar focuses on everyday giving, community-based giving, institutional philanthropy, impact investing, and catalytic funding.
Systems ChangePillar 3: Feminist Funding and Women-Led Philanthropic Institutions
Investigates the architecture of feminist funding in Africa and how resources flow to, through, and from women-led philanthropic institutions, social enterprises, and grassroots organisations.
Focus areas include access to capital, sustainability models, regulatory environments, organisational capacity, and participatory financing models.
Feminist FundingPillar 4: Women, Philanthropy, Social Investment and Climate Philanthropy
Explores the intersections between women’s philanthropy, social investment, and climate action in Africa.
Research may focus on climate resilience, environmental justice, adaptation, mitigation, renewable energy, sustainable agriculture, water security, sanitation, and climate finance.
Climate PhilanthropyEligibility
Eligibility is open to African citizens, including academic researchers, early-career scholars, PhD candidates, independent researchers, and practitioners with demonstrated research experience in philanthropy, civil society, the nonprofit sector, voluntary action, or related fields.
Women are strongly encouraged to apply.
Expected Deliverables
- One peer-reviewed journal article
- One policy brief or practitioner note
- Outputs demonstrating academic quality, policy relevance, and practical significance
- All outputs must acknowledge CAPSI and include CAPSI as an affiliate institution
Application Requirements
Interested applicants should prepare and submit the following documents.
Research Proposal
A brief 2–3 page proposal outlining the proposed research title, problem statement, objectives, methodology, and expected contribution.
Curriculum Vitae
A current CV detailing academic, research, professional, and publication experience.
Writing Sample
A writing or publication sample that demonstrates research, analytical, or scholarly capability.
Role of Research Associates
Selected Research Associates will contribute to CAPSI’s research agenda and strengthen African scholarship on philanthropy and social investment.
- Conduct independent and high-quality research
- Participate in periodic research engagements, seminars, and knowledge-sharing activities convened by CAPSI
- Contribute to scholarly collaboration and knowledge exchange
- Support the visibility and impact of CAPSI’s research agenda
- Contribute to strengthening African scholarship on philanthropy and social investment
Proposed Timeline
Applicants should note the following key dates for the Adɔyɛ Research Associates Programme.
| Milestone | Date |
|---|---|
| Launch Call | 3 May 2026 |
| Application Deadline | 10 July 2026 |
| Shortlist | 17 July 2026 |
| Selection Announcement | 21 July 2026 |
| First Draft | 1 October 2026 |
| Second Draft and Policy Brief or Practitioner Note | 25 October 2026 |
| Final Drafts of Outputs | 10 November 2026 |
Validation Workshop
A validation workshop will be convened prior to final submission to facilitate peer engagement, author dialogue, and scholarly strengthening of the commissioned papers. The workshop will be held in a hybrid format, online and in-person, to ensure regional inclusivity across Africa and the diaspora.
