Examine structural drivers of learning disparities

About PAL Network The People’s Action for Learning (PAL) Network is a South-South partnership comprising 17 member organisations operating across Africa, Asia, and the Americas. Contents • Applications Open for PAL Network Research Fellowship 2026 with Up to USD 6,000 Stipend for Education Researchers • Available Datasets • Areas of Research Interest • Fellowship Benefits • Fellowship Duration • Key Responsibilities • Research Proposal Requirements • Suggested Proposal Structure • Eligibility Criteria • Fellowship Support • Application Process • How to Apply The network supports children’s foundational reading and numeracy skills through citizen-led assessments and action interventions designed to improve learning outcomes. PAL Network coordinates and accelerates the collective work of its members towards achieving shared educational goals and is recognised as an organisation that is created by, for, and led by the Global South. Applications are now open for the PAL Network Research Fellowship Programme 2026. Job Title: Research Fellow – PAL Network Research Fellowship Programme 2026 Location: Remote or Nairobi, Kenya (No Relocation Support) Application Deadline: 30 June 2026 Contract Type: Fellowship (3–5 Months) Start Date: 20 July 2026 Organisation: PAL Network (People’s Action for Learning Network) Stipend: USD 4,000–USD 6,000 The programme is designed to support emerging and established researchers interested in generating innovative, policy-relevant, and equity-focused insights from large-scale foundational learning data across the Global South. The 2026 Fellowship Cohort will focus on analysing data from the 2025 International Common Assessment of Numeracy (ICAN) and the International Common Assessment of Reading (ICAR), collected across 11 countries through nationally representative citizen-led household assessments. Unlike school-based assessments, ICAN and ICAR capture information from both in-school and out-of-school children, providing unique opportunities to examine educational exclusion, learning inequalities, and contextual factors influencing learning outcomes. The fellowship provides access to extensive cross-country datasets, including: • Foundational literacy and numeracy assessment results • Household and child-level demographic information • School participation and educational access indicators • Socio-economic and contextual variables • Geographic and population subgroup information PAL Network particularly encourages proposals that: • Explore under-researched dimensions of learning inequality • Use comparative cross-country approaches • Connect learning outcomes with contextual and policy variables • Integrate external datasets or policy indicators where appropriate • Examine structural drivers of learning disparities • Generate actionable insights for educational policy and programming Researchers are encouraged to develop original and complementary analytical approaches that expand the use and interpretation of the datasets. Selected fellows will: • Access unique cross-country learning datasets • Receive mentorship from PAL Network researchers • Produce policy-relevant research outputs • Join a collaborative community of researchers across the Global South • Participate in peer-learning and methodological discussions • Gain opportunities for conference presentations and policy engagement • Contribute to working papers and peer-reviewed publications in collaboration with PAL Network researchers and partners The fellowship will typically last between three and five months . Selected fellows will be required to: • Conduct original quantitative analyses using PAL Network’s ICAN and ICAR datasets • Develop a focused research agenda aligned with their approved proposal • Participate in methodological discussions and peer-learning sessions organised by PAL Network • Produce at least one high-quality analytical output, including: • Working papers • Methodological notes • Academic manuscripts • Comparative analysis reports • Present interim findings and final outputs to PAL Network and relevant stakeholders • Collaborate with PAL Network researchers and member organisations to ensure contextual relevance and policy usefulness of findings • Actively engage in mentorship, knowledge-sharing, and peer-learning activities throughout the fellowship period Applicants must submit a concise research proposal of no more than two pages outlining the analysis they intend to undertake during the fellowship. Applicants are expected to: • Access and familiarise themselves with PAL Network’s ICAN and ICAR microdata hosted on the DataFirst platform. • Review all available documentation and codebooks. • Develop a feasible and policy-relevant analytical idea based on the datasets. Proposals may focus on: • Country-specific analyses • Cross-country comparative studies • Equity-focused analyses • Methodological innovations • Linkages between ICAN/ICAR data and external datasets or policy indicators • Analyses connected to education reforms, programmes, or development initiatives Applicants should structure their proposals using the following headings: • Proposed Title • Research Question(s) • Rationale and Policy Relevance • Proposed Analytical Approach/Methodology • Variables or Dimensions of Interest • Potential Contribution to Foundational Learning Research or Policy • Proposed Outputs (such as papers, policy briefs, dashboards, or articles) The proposal should demonstrate: • Familiarity with the datasets • Clarity of analytical direction • Feasibility within the 3–5 month fellowship period • Potential policy and practical relevance Applicants should possess: • A completed or in-progress Master’s or Doctoral degree in Education Measurement, Data Science, Statistics, Development Studies, Public Policy, Economics, or related disciplines • Applicants with undergraduate degrees and a proven record of relevant work experience will also be considered • Strong technical expertise in quantitative data analysis and proficiency in Stata, R, or Python • Experience working with large-scale learning assessments or education datasets • Demonstrated ability to manage data systems and produce high-quality analyses and reports • Excellent written communication skills and the ability to present complex data in accessible formats Successful fellows will receive a fellowship stipend ranging from USD 4,000 to USD 6,000 , depending on the scope, duration, and analytical complexity of the proposed work. To apply for the PAL Network Research Fellowship Programme, applicants must submit: • Completed Online Application Form • Updated Resume/Curriculum Vitae (CV) • Two-page Research Proposal How to Apply Interested applicants should complete the online application form available through the PAL Network Research Fellowship Programme page and submit all required documents on or before 30 June 2026 . For additional information, applicants may visit the PAL Network Research Fellowship Programme page and the Terms of Reference. For enquiries, applicants may contact: Email: jobs@palnetwork.org Email: nkishani@palnetwork.org FULL TERMS OF REFERENCE MORE FELLOWSHIP OPPORTUNITIES: • Fully Funded SARAFACDi Advocacy Fellowship 2026 for Young Changemakers Worldwide • Earth Journalism Network Biodiversity COP17 Fellowship 2026 for Journalists | Fully Funded to Armenia • Youth for Responsible AI Fellowship 2026 – Fully Remote Global Opportunity • Cartier Women’s Initiative 2027 Awards: Funding, Fellowship and Global Recognition for Women Impact Entrepreneurs • Utrecht University opens fully-funded 4-year PhD on Air and Water Pollution’s Impact on Planetary Health Share This Article Facebook Email Print Leave a Comment Leave a Comment Leave a Reply Cancel reply