Application deadline: 20 January, 2026
Download the applicant booklet here.
Background
The ongoing political and humanitarian crisis in Myanmar has underscored the urgent need for stronger knowledge, research, and dialogue on accountability and justice across the region. Since the 2021 military coup, communities have faced escalating armed conflict, mass displacement, and grave human rights violations. These developments have renewed global and regional attention to transitional justice not only as a post-conflict framework, but also as a practical tool for addressing ongoing harms, documenting violations, and shaping future pathways toward accountability and reconciliation. At the same time, scholars and practitioners interested in transitional justice, whether focusing on Myanmar or drawing comparative lessons from other conflict-affected contexts, often lack sustained mentorship, institutional support, and structured platforms to deepen their research. This gap is particularly evident in the disparity between lived experiences on the ground, community-driven justice initiatives, and broader academic and policy debates at regional and international levels.
The Transitional Justice Fellowship Program, jointly organized by Asia Justice and Rights (AJAR) and the Regional Center for Social Science and Sustainable Development (RCSD) Chiang Mai University, is designed to bridge this gap. The program welcomes applicants who are interested in transitional justice broadly, with a special emphasis on those who wish to engage with Myanmar-related themes or comparative cases relevant to the region. It aims to cultivate a new generation of researchers and practitioners equipped to critically engage with transitional justice theories, methodologies, and real-world applications. Through a combination of capacity-building workshops, academic training, and applied research, fellows will explore global TJ frameworks while producing original research grounded in empirical realities, whether from Myanmar or comparable contexts. The Fellowship will nurture a community of practice, bringing together emerging scholars who can learn from each other, collaborate across borders, and build long-term networks that support justice-oriented work in the region. By integrating RCSD’s academic mentorship with AJAR’s practical experience in transitional justice and human rights, the Fellowship ensures that research outputs are both academically rigorous and practically relevant. Ultimately, the program contributes to broader regional and global efforts aimed at advancing justice, accountability, and peace. It empowers emerging scholars and practitioners regardless of nationality to generate ethical, survivor-centered, and evidence-based research, strengthening both academic discourse and civil society engagement in transitional justice.
Objectives
- To enhance participants’ foundational understanding of transitional justice principles, processes, and ethical considerations.
- To equip fellows with academic and research methodologies for conducting context-sensitive TJ research.
- To provide mentorship and platforms for fellows to develop, present, and publish research proposals and papers.
- To strengthen networks between Myanmar scholars, civil society actors, and academic institutions in the region.
- To produce research outputs that contribute to knowledge, advocacy, and accountability efforts in Myanmar’s ongoing struggle for justice.
Targeted Participants
The Fellowship will select 20 fellows drawn from diverse backgrounds, including:
- Academics and early-career researchers who are beginning to publish or engage in transitional justice scholarship.
- Youth leaders and students with strong interest in transitional justice, human rights, and community-based research.
- Civil society activists and practitioners engaged in advocacy, documentation, or grassroots justice initiatives.
- Applicants must be residing in Thailand throughout the Fellowship period.
- No visa sponsorship or living allowance will be provided.
- Participants will be invited to submit research proposals as part of the Fellowship. A limited number of small research grants will be awarded to selected proposals.
- Fellows who do not receive grants are still expected to complete their research and submit papers with the support of their mentor.
Application Requirements
To apply, prepare the following:
- Application Form (online)
- Statement of Interest
- CV or short bio
- Research Idea (500–700 words) describing-
- Topic and background
- Research question
- Why it matters for Myanmar
- Possible methodology
- Ethical considerations
- Abstract of current work (project or research) that can be interpreted through a transitional justice lens, linking to intersecting issues (optional; 500–700 words).
Important Notes
- The Fellowship does not provide a visa, stipend, or living allowance beyond specified activities. However, a daily allowance and local transportation will be provided for fellows during in-person workshops in Chiang Mai, and an internet allowance will be provided for online sessions.
- Fellows must be available for in-person workshops in Chiang Mai.
- Confidentiality and safety are taken seriously; ethical conduct is mandatory.
Contact Information
For inquiries, please contact: kyawlwin@asia-ajar.org and cc: office@rcsd-cmu.com, burma@asia-ajar.org
Be part of a new generation of researchers working toward justice, accountability, and a better future.