Africa Initiative

Student Opportunities

Each year, the Africa Initiative, in collaboration with Brown affiliates and external partners, offers an array of opportunities for students, including a summer internship program, university conferences, academic talks, events and symposia.

African Film and Arts Festival

For the past few years, the Africa Initiative has collaborated with PVD World Music to host an Annual Film and Arts Festival.

As one of our most popular events, it is typically held near the start of the fall semester. The festival serves both as a gateway for students and faculty interested in Africa to meet and engage with one another, and as a celebration of African music, film, and art.

Summer Research Fellowships in Sierra Leone

Each year, two students are offered a fully-funded opportunity to intern with the Sierra Leonean non governmental organization, Focus 1000.

Focus 1000 concentrates mainly in public health programs, and especially on maternal and child health in close collaboration with Sierra Leone’s Ministry of Health and other local and international NGOs. Brown research fellows are assigned to an existing Focus 1000 project where they will contribute to research-related activities ranging from data collection and analysis to publication, and with an emphasis on translating data into policy recommendations and programmatic interventions.

RECENT CALLS FOR APPLICATIONS 

Spring 2026 Conference Delegations to Harvard Business Conference and Yale Africa Innovation Symposium

The Africa Initiative is excited to share that we will sponsoring tickets for four students to attend the 2026 edition of the Harvard Africa Business Conference. This will be taking place on the 27th-28th of March at Harvard Business School. Interested students have up until February 27th to fill out the Google Form if they are certain they would be able to attend the Conference as it is during Spring Break! 

The Africa Initiative is excited to share that we will sponsoring tickets for five students to attend the 2026 edition of the Yale Africa Innovation Symposium.This will be taking place on the 16th-18th of April at Yale University. Interested students have up until February 27th to fill out the Google Form if they are certain they would be able to attend the Conference as it starts on a Thursday!

Summer 2026 Research Fellowships in Sierra Leone 

With support from the Africa Initiative at the Watson School of International and Public Affairs,  two summer 2026 research fellowships are available with the Sierra Leonean non governmental organization, Focus 1000. Focus 1000 concentrates mainly in public health  programs, and especially on maternal and child health. The organization works in close  collaboration with Sierra Leone’s Ministry of Health and other local and international NGOs. Much of their work includes a significant research component. The Brown research fellows will  be assigned to an existing Focus 1000 project where they will contribute to research-related  activities ranging from data collection and analysis to publication, and with an emphasis on  translating data into policy recommendations and programmatic interventions. 

The research fellows’ job descriptions will emphasize contributing to the public health and  development mission and research priorities of Focus 1000 and its partners, but opportunities  may arise for fellows to utilize Focus 1000 data for their own research, such as for an  undergraduate senior honors thesis, a master’s thesis, or even a PhD dissertation. These  research fellowships will be for 8-10 weeks (a minimum commitment of 8 weeks is required),  June – August 2026. 

The Africa Initiative and Focus 1000 will cover the two selected fellows’ travel costs and living  expenses in Sierra Leone. The fellows will also be provided with a stipend such that all  applicants, including students with a summer earnings obligation as part of their financial aid  package, should be eligible to participate. 

Interested Brown University students should apply using this form. Eligible applicants include  both undergraduate and graduate students at Brown University whose programs continue  through the 2026-27 academic year or longer, as well as those graduating with bachelor’s or  master’s degrees in 2026. Among the criteria for selection are demonstrated interests in public  health, development, and related policymaking issues; interest in Africa; relevant skills, which  may include laboratory experience, statistical or qualitative data analysis; and grant writing  and/or academic/publication writing experience. Previous experience in lower income countries is welcome, but not required. 

Applications are due no later than February 18, 2026. Selections will be finalized by March 20, 2026. 

African Film and Arts Festival

For the past few years, the Africa Initiative has collaborated with PVD World Music to host an Annual Film and Arts Festival.

As one of our most popular events, it is typically held near the start of the fall semester. The festival serves both as a gateway for students and faculty interested in Africa to meet and engage with one another, and as a celebration of African music, film, and art.

Summer Research Fellowships in Sierra Leone

Each year, two students are offered a fully-funded opportunity to intern with the Sierra Leonean non governmental organization, Focus 1000.

Focus 1000 concentrates mainly in public health programs, and especially on maternal and child health in close collaboration with Sierra Leone’s Ministry of Health and other local and international NGOs. Brown research fellows are assigned to an existing Focus 1000 project where they will contribute to research-related activities ranging from data collection and analysis to publication, and with an emphasis on translating data into policy recommendations and programmatic interventions.