ATPS ARISE PhD Scholarships & Postdoctoral Fellowships in AI
ATPS ARISE PhD Scholarships & Postdoctoral Fellowships in AI: Why It Matters for M&E
The African Technology Policy Studies Network (ATPS), through its ARISE project (Advancing Responsible and Gender-Inclusive Artificial Intelligence Capacity in Africa’s Higher Education Ecosystem), offers fully-funded AI research positions. This initiative explicitly supports applied, ethical AI with direct relevance to public policy, gender inclusion, and social impact — the exact terrain where the M&E community operates.
PhD in AI‑enabled evaluation
For emerging evaluators & researchers already enrolled or accepted into a PhD in Africa. Focus on responsible AI applications in health, climate, education, agriculture.
- AI-assisted impact evaluation
- ML for outcome prediction
- Gender‑responsive AI metrics
- Automated qualitative analysis (NLP)
Lead AI for policy & M&E
For senior evaluators / data scientists (PhD within last 5 years) hosted by an African AI institution. Publish on AI‑driven evaluation systems, responsible frameworks, gender‑inclusive metrics.
- AI evaluation systems for national programmes
- Responsible AI for development agencies
- Scaling AI tools for donors
- Evidence‑based policymaking with AI
Why the ATPS–ARISE Call is a Game‑changer for the M&E Community
Artificial intelligence is rapidly reshaping monitoring, evaluation, research, and learning (MERL). From real‑time monitoring systems to predictive modelling of programme outcomes, AI is becoming a core capability. Without AI literacy, evaluators risk depending entirely on external data scientists. The ARISE programme builds African‑led AI capacity, ensuring evaluators remain decision‑makers, not just data users. It prioritises gender‑inclusive, ethical AI — directly aligned with equity‑focused evaluation principles advocated by OECD and UN Women.
- Automated data cleaning & pattern detection in complex datasets
- Predictive evaluation models for adaptive management
- Faster synthesis of qualitative evidence (interviews, focus groups)
- AI‐powered early warning systems for humanitarian programmes
What M&E‑Relevant Research Topics Fit Perfectly?
Proposals must link AI, evaluation, and development. Strong topics include machine learning for impact evaluation in agriculture, NLP for gender‑responsive evaluation, and AI tools to close evaluation capacity gaps in low‑resource settings. The call explicitly encourages gender‑inclusive and responsible AI — ideal for evaluators working on inclusion.
How Can Senior Evaluators Apply for Postdoctoral Fellowships?
Ideal profiles: PhD in the last 5 years, publications in evaluation/data science, and a clear vision to apply AI to development policy. Applicants need an African host institution actively involved in AI. Research angles such as “AI‑driven evaluation systems for national health programmes” or “gender‑inclusive AI metrics for donors” are highly competitive.
📊 Why AI education is becoming essential for M&E
AI is not about becoming an engineer — it’s about remaining relevant as an evaluator. Without AI literacy, evaluators risk being sidelined in donor projects. This ATPS call directly supports African evaluators to lead in evidence‑based policymaking.
Frequently Asked Questions – ATPS ARISE PhD & Postdoc
| What does the PhD scholarship cover? | Tuition/research support, mentorship, conference participation (up to 3 years). |
| Can I apply if my PhD is not yet started? | Yes, but you must provide proof of acceptance/enrolment in an African institution. |
| Which thematic areas are prioritised? | Agriculture, climate, health, education, digital economy, creative industries — all with AI application. |
| Is this only for African citizens? | Open to African nationals or permanent residents living in Africa, committed to continent’s development. |
| How to submit? / contact | Online portal (via ATPS). Inquiries: info@atpsnet.org / executivedirector@atpsnet.org |
📌 verified deadlines PhD: 15 March 2026 · Postdoctoral: 31 March 2026 — Official call document ↗
How EvalCommunity Members Can Use This Call Strategically
For individuals: apply directly, reframe your PhD/postdoc as AI‑enabled evaluation research. For the platform: promote the call, curate an “AI for M&E” learning track, and build guidance on AI research proposals for evaluators. EvalCommunity is the bridge between AI and evaluation.
© EvalCommunity — neutral, authoritative guidance for M&E professionals. This call is verified via ATPS ARISE project documents.
