About the Award
This award program, administered by CAORC in collaboration with the West African Research Association and its member center in Senegal, the West African Research Center, funds participation in a capacity building workshop in Dakar that also includes visits to Gorée Island, Toubacouta, and Saint-Louis, among other locations. The seminar is currently scheduled for January 3 - January 23, 2026.
Funding for this program is provided to CAORC through a grant from the U.S. Department of State's Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs, with additional financial assistance from the following U.S. National Resource Centers in African Studies: Boston University, Howard University, Indiana University, Michigan State University, University of California, Berkeley, University of Kansas, and University of Wisconsin, Madison.
Seminar Overview: West Africa - Continuities and Transformations
This two-week seminar for faculty at U.S. colleges and universities will feature lectures, site visits, panel discussions, and film screenings on the history, culture, arts, economy, and political life of Senegal, with a focus on cultural, intellectual, political, and economic connections between West Africa and the diaspora. The seminar will also place a special emphasis on Senegal’s spiritual diversity and religious tolerance, as well as the region’s growing transnational movements and their impact on society and especially young people.
Eligibility and Program Expectations
The program is open to full-time or part-time faculty and administrators at U.S. colleges and universities. The program is open to faculty in all fields and encourages applicants from all academic departments. Applicants must be U.S. citizens at the time of application and must also have a valid passport or have already submitted an application for a new passport.
At the conclusion of the program, participants will be required to complete a self-directed project on their campus. Participants are required to file a project report within one-year of the conclusion of the program, along with supporting materials.
The application deadline for this seminar is September 2, 2025 at 5:00 PM EST. Applications submitted after the deadline will not be accepted for review.
If you have questions, please email: fellowships@caorc.org.
OFDS 2026 Senegal: West Africa - Continuities and Transformations
About the Award
This award program, administered by CAORC in collaboration with the West African Research Association and its member center in Senegal, the West African Research Center, funds participation in a capacity building workshop in Dakar that also includes visits to Gorée Island, Toubacouta, and Saint-Louis, among other locations. The seminar is currently scheduled for January 3 - January 23, 2026.
Funding for this program is provided to CAORC through a grant from the U.S. Department of State's Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs, with additional financial assistance from the following U.S. National Resource Centers in African Studies: Boston University, Howard University, Indiana University, Michigan State University, University of California, Berkeley, University of Kansas, and University of Wisconsin, Madison.
Seminar Overview: West Africa - Continuities and Transformations
This two-week seminar for faculty at U.S. colleges and universities will feature lectures, site visits, panel discussions, and film screenings on the history, culture, arts, economy, and political life of Senegal, with a focus on cultural, intellectual, political, and economic connections between West Africa and the diaspora. The seminar will also place a special emphasis on Senegal’s spiritual diversity and religious tolerance, as well as the region’s growing transnational movements and their impact on society and especially young people.
Eligibility and Program Expectations
The program is open to full-time or part-time faculty and administrators at U.S. colleges and universities. The program is open to faculty in all fields and encourages applicants from all academic departments. Applicants must be U.S. citizens at the time of application and must also have a valid passport or have already submitted an application for a new passport.
At the conclusion of the program, participants will be required to complete a self-directed project on their campus. Participants are required to file a project report within one-year of the conclusion of the program, along with supporting materials.
The application deadline for this seminar is September 2, 2025 at 5:00 PM EST. Applications submitted after the deadline will not be accepted for review.
If you have questions, please email: fellowships@caorc.org.