First CMI Global Fellowships
CMI’s first Global Fellowships – two fully funded, three-month academic residencies in Bergen, Norway, for early-career researchers from the Global South concluded last month.
The purpose of the fellowship is to provide space for scholars from the Global South/ non- OECD countries to further develop their academic publications and to support mutual exchanges and collaborations with CMI researchers. The fellowships have been established as part of CMI’s commitments to Equal Knowledge Production and to address the injustices inherent in current global research practices.
This year’s fellows, Olga Mapanje and Ng Sourav Singha, brought distinct research interests, offering rich contributions to the research environment at CMI while also gaining new research perspectives, access to broader networks, and a unique experience of life in Bergen.
Both Olga and Sourav were fully integrated into CMI’s research environment and affiliated with internal research groups here at the institute. They engaged in presentations, group discussions, and mentoring sessions that shaped their thinking and research output.
Olga, whose PhD research explores weather index insurance services, appreciated the opportunity to gain critical feedback CMI researchers through group presentations. “The feedback was very constructive and thought-provoking,” she said. “It challenged my assumptions and helped refine my analytical framework.”
Viola Asri worked closely with Olga during her work at CMI. “Olga shared her ongoing research on climate risk management with researchers, presenting her study on smallholder farmers’ preferences for weather index insurance in Zimbabwe, and sparking many interdisciplinary discussions on climate adaptation strategies in agriculture.”
Sourav’s research focuses on conservation-induced displacement in Assam, India. Discussions with CMI’s Democracy and Governance group prompted him to think more critically about his methodology. “The suggestions I received pushed me to reassess how I was framing key parts of my research,” he said. Observing internal meetings on grant development added another layer of learning: “Understanding how proposals are built was invaluable experience.”
Nick Harvey Sky worked closely with Sourav. “Sourav brought a deep understanding of the often contentious nature of biodiversity conservation and protected areas to CMI,” he said, “which he had gained during extensive fieldwork in Assam, India. While here, he applied the theory of claim-making to his results to tease out how power hierarchies determine the process of contesting land dispossession carried out in the name of conservation.”
The fellowship wasn’t just an academic opportunity, but also one for further personal growth.
Arriving during the Norwegian winter, Olga recalled the initial shock of the cold and darkness. But as spring unfolded, so did her connection to Bergen. “I started to appreciate the stillness of the landscape,” she said. From riding the Fløibanen cable car to hiking Lyderhorn with colleagues, she embraced the outdoor culture.
Sourav described Bergen as a city “easy to fall in love with.” “We all complain about the rain, but it’s overshadowed by those trails in the hills that take you to a completely different world. As a scholar, it’s great that you can engage with researchers not just from CMI, but also from the University of Bergen and the Norwegian School of Economics (NHH).”
In the final days of their fellowship, both scholars spoke of its lasting impact.
Olga described the experience as “deeply rewarding,” saying it pushed her to grow both academically and personally. “Despite the rain, the cold, and the unfamiliarity, I found inspiration in my research, formed meaningful connections, and created lasting memories.”
Sourav emphasized the importance of such programmes for Global South researchers: “The exposure it offers and the networking avenues it creates are very significant. All in all, I would do it again.”