The American Political Science Association (APSA) has officially opened applications for the 2026 APSA MENA Workshop Fellowship. This initiative invites early-career academics to take part in a four-day, in-person program centered on the theme of participatory and engaged research within the Middle East and North Africa region. The workshop will be conducted in collaboration with the Doha Institute for Graduate Studies and is scheduled to take place in Doha, Qatar, from January 5 to 8, 2026. This fellowship forms part of APSA’s broader, long-term commitment to advancing political science scholarship among emerging researchers in the MENA region while also fostering stronger connections between Arab scholars and their international peers.

The program is designed for advanced doctoral candidates, postdoctoral fellows, and scholars who have completed their PhDs within the last five years, along with early-career practitioners holding doctoral degrees who are citizens of MENA countries. It particularly encourages applications from researchers in political science and related fields such as international relations, development studies, conflict resolution, and other neighboring social science disciplines. The focus is on individuals whose work adopts participatory or engaged methodologies, especially projects that rely on fieldwork, original data collection, and address the methodological, ethical, and practical challenges of conducting applied social research in the region. Preference will be given to candidates currently affiliated with institutions based in the MENA region. All applicants must demonstrate professional proficiency in English.

The fellowship provides comprehensive support for up to 20 selected participants, covering travel expenses, accommodation, and workshop materials. Upon successful completion of the program, fellows will also receive a complimentary one-year membership with APSA. Beyond logistical assistance, the workshop will create a platform for participants to engage deeply with key themes in participatory research, such as methodological debates, successful case studies, the challenges and opportunities of survey research in MENA, the integration of diverse data sources, and critical reflections on collaboration, ethics, and researcher positionality.

Applications must be submitted in English and include several components. Prospective fellows are required to complete an online form and provide an updated curriculum vitae. Graduate students and early-career scholars must submit a research statement of no more than 2,000 words, outlining the research questions they plan to discuss, their methodological approach, the significance of the project, and its connection to the workshop themes. This should reflect original, ongoing research rather than completed or published work. Projects derived from dissertations may be submitted if they align with the focus of the workshop. Doctoral practitioners, on the other hand, are asked to provide a cover letter of up to 1,500 words explaining their motivation for participation, current research interests, methodologies, and the professional value of attending, alongside details of any applied research they are undertaking or planning. Finally, one letter of reference is required: for graduate students, this should be from their dissertation supervisor, while for postdoctoral researchers, faculty, or practitioners, it may be written by a former supervisor, a colleague, an institutional representative, or an employer.

Scroll down for more details and click on the official link attached below to apply for this opportunity