About the AIR Pipeline Partnership Program

The AIR Pipeline Partnership Program (P3) is a career development initiative designed to prepare graduate students and early stage investigators for successful careers in behavioral and social science research. Through partnerships with leading universities in the United States and Africa, P3 provides students with mentorship, hands-on research experience, and training in advanced methodologies—equipping them with the skills to address complex societal challenges. As part of the program, AIR experts and AIR Scholars provide education, training, and mentorship in the latest behavioral and social science research approaches.

Historically access to tertiary education in Africa has been limited, and flagship universities have focused on science, technology, and medicine rather than social and behavioral science. This has manifested in a limited capacity and a shortage of rigorous policy analysis and impact evaluation led by national researchers, which can feed into policy dialogue and decision-making.  AIR Pipeline Partnership Program (P3) Africa aims to address this by extending P3 to African universities and organizations by providing resources, supervisory support, professional networks, and access to cutting-edge training faced by Ph.D. students in African universities.  

We aim to collaborate with universities and organizations to provide virtual and on-campus learning events, workshops, and training delivered by AIR Institute Fellows and AIR Scholars; leadership and other internal experts; networking opportunities; short courses; access to AIR’s paid Internship Program; and other opportunities.

About AIR and the AIR Opportunity Fund

The American Institutes for Research® (AIR) is a nonpartisan, not-for-profit organization that conducts behavioral and social science research and delivers technical assistance to solve some of the most urgent challenges in the U.S. and around the world.

The AIR Opportunity Fund invests in innovative research and bold solutions to expand opportunities for all. Backed by a $225 million commitment from AIR, we work alongside our partners to improve education and workforce development, promote safe and secure neighborhoods, and enhance health outcomes and community well-being. Through collaboration and evidence-based approaches, we strive to empower individuals, strengthen communities, and foster lasting, positive change. The Pipeline Partnership Program is one component of this initiative.

Our Partners

Since launching in 2020, P3 has partnered with five universities and two organizations to provide students with opportunities for mentorship, training, and career development:

• African Economic Research Consortium (AERC)

• Georgia State University (Atlanta, USA) 

• Howard University (Washington, D.C., USA) 

• The University of Texas at San Antonio (USA) 

• Union for African Population Studies (UAPS)

• University of Dar es Salaam (Tanzania) 

• University of Nairobi (Kenya)

In addition to supporting students, P3 strengthens research collaborations, expands faculty networks, and increases professional development opportunities across partner institutions.