University of Cambridge Special Issue On Business And Human Rights In Africa for African Researchers, UK 2023

Application is now open for the Special Issue On Business And Human Rights In Africa for African Researchers at the University of Cambridge. Interested applicants are encouraged to send their applications in before the deadline date.

About the University of Cambridge and Scholarship

In Cambridge, England, there is a public college research institution known as the University of Cambridge. The institution of Cambridge is the third-oldest still in existence, having been founded in 1209.

Several factors have put Africa as a continent in an extremely unusual position regarding the application of business and human rights (BHR) standards, including the conflict between the region’s abundant natural resources and its extreme poverty, its reputation for having weak governance systems, the intense conflict between its trade and investment liberalization policies, and the absence of effective foreign direct investment regulation. Above all, there are a lot of negative corporate human rights implications, especially for disadvantaged communities.

The growth of global and regional norms, such as the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights (UNGPs), has given academics and professionals the chance to think more deeply about the effects that these norms have on the area. However, whatever contribution Africa may have made to BHR practice and standards has not yet received adequate recognition or rigorous research. To close the gap between academia and practice, the Business and Human Rights Journal (BHRJ) is publishing this Special Issue. This issue’s main goal is to offer a forum for discussion and analysis of the contributions that the area has made and might make in the future to BHR.

The four articles are the following:

• African philosophical ideas’ relevance and critiques of mainstream BHR philosophy in the African environment;
• Evaluations of the relevance, significance, and effects of global initiatives on BHR such as the UNGPs, OECD Guidelines, and ILO Tripartite Declaration on MNEs;
• Regional and sub-regional efforts (such as those endorsed by the African Union Commission, the African Union Commission on International Law, the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights, and sub-regional tribunals) and their potential, limitations, and contribution to BHR;
• Reflections on specific business and human rights (BHR) concerns in Africa, such as the impact of weak governance systems or conflict on BHR; emerging constitutional and other legal mechanisms for protecting the vulnerable in Africa from detrimental human rights impacts of business enterprise; the impact of corporate capture, anti-corruption, and (illegal) financial transfer regimes on BHR in Africa; the challenge of informality for BHR; and the value of BHR in responding to the human rights challenge.

Details about Special Issue On Business And Human Rights In Africa for African Researchers at the University of Cambridge:

Scholarship Sponsor: University of Cambridge, UK

Scholarship Value: Check Below

Number of awards: N/A

Study level: Fellowship

Host Institution(s): University of Cambridge, UK

Benefits:

In March and April 2024, a writing workshop will be held at the University of Cape Town, and the writers of chosen scholarly papers and pieces will be asked to present their drafts there. It is highly recommended that you attend the workshop. The selected participants will get more details, including possible financing for certain writers, in due time.

Special Issue On Business And Human Rights In Africa for African Researchers – Eligibility Criteria

On any of the four chosen subjects mentioned above, the school invites academic publications (of 9,000–12,000 words). By drawing as much as possible from the significance of African concepts, philosophies, and values toward a better understanding and realization of BHR ideals globally, regionally, and domestically, the contributions must constitute specifically African reflections to the practice and scholarship on BHR in the area.  

They also seek shorter papers (2,000–3,000 words) for the BHRJ’s Development in the Field (DiF) section that concentrates on the present BHR-related legislation, policies, practices, and initiatives in Africa. These analyses are expected to evaluate official government initiatives such as laws, discussions, plans, and initiatives as well as the work of non-state actors such as corporations and non-governmental organizations, as well as judgments, recommendations, and decisions made by courts, national human rights organizations, arbitration panels, and traditional actors.

Interview Date, and Process for Special Issue On Business And Human Rights In Africa

The following are the projected release dates for the special issue:

• Deadline for submission of abstracts: 15 October 2023
• Notification to authors concerning acceptance of abstracts: 31 October 2023
• Deadline to submit drafts of the article or piece: 28 February 2024
• Deadline to submit complete draft: 30 June 2024

Application Process for Special Issue On Business And Human Rights In Africa for African Researchers

By October 15, 2023, send an abstract of no more than 500 words to [email protected] with the author(s), affiliation, email, and working title of the proposed paper included. Please make it clear if your abstract is for a DiF essay or an academic publication. All contributions must adhere to the BHRJ style manual: CityULR – Call for Paper (cambridge.org). You can also visit the University of Cambridge website for further details.

The Submission Deadline is: October 15, 2023

Not interested in this particular scholarship? See other UK scholarships here.