African funding bodies
African funding bodies
Most frequent sponsors of research in Africa include the National Research Foundation and Medical Research Council in South Africa, the UK Department for International Development, the World Health Organization, the World Bank and various national development organisations, such as USAID, NZAID, and AUSAID. Subject matter varies, but much of the funding is for agricultural programmes and healthcare research, especially work on diseases such as tuberculosis and HIV/Aids.
Africa is very different from the other areas we report on, as the majority of its funding comes from outside the continent. As a result we have extended our editorial remit to cover smaller sponsors who provide funding for grassroots organisations undertaking development activities that are not necessarily directly related to academia or innovation.
Research funding awards – UK x Africa
There are a number of research funding schemes which enable African and UK academics to undertake collaborative work. Many fellowship schemes also aim to facilitate collaborative research with UK colleagues. This list is not comprehensive - please see our pages on funding databases to search for other available research funding schemes and grants.
British Academy International Partnership and Mobility Scheme
The International Partnership and Mobility Scheme aims to support the development of partnerships between the UK and other areas of the world where research excellence would be strengthened by new, innovative initiatives and links. Three-year and one-year partnerships between UK scholars and scholars in Africa, Latin America and the Caribbean, Middle East, South Asia, and East Asia are supported. Awards cover any branch of the humanities or social sciences and are intended to focus on collaborative research on a specific theme of mutual interest, rather than purely on establishing networks. Awards are worth £10,000 per year. Closing dates are usually in February. For details see http://www.britac.ac.uk/funding/guide/intl/International_Partnership_and_Mobility.cfm
Leverhulme Trust Research Project Grants
Grants are for up to £250,000 over a duration of two to three years. If compelling evidence is provided, awards may be made for sums between £250,000 and £500,000 for research over a period of up to five years. Applications for research on any topic are eligible for support. Eligible institutions are universities, other institutions of higher and further education in the UK, and registered charities in the UK. The scheme is also open to institutions or organisations of similar status in developing countries where, in the opinion of the Trustees, the provision of research funding is seriously limited. For details see https://www.leverhulme.ac.uk/funding/grant-schemes/research-project-grants
Leverhulme Trust Research Programmes
The Trust selects on an annual basis two themes of research for which bids are invited. Normally one grant is awarded for each theme. For each theme, a minimum of £500,000 and a maximum of £1.75 million is available for the support of work extending over periods of up to five years. Eligible institutions are universities, other institutions of higher and further education in the UK, and registered charities in the UK. The scheme is also open to institutions or organisations of similar status in developing countries where, in the opinion of the Trustees, the provision of research funding is seriously limited. For details see www.leverhulme.ac.uk/grants_awards/grants/research_programmes/
Wellcome Trust
The Trust provides funding for research and training in the medical humanities including the history of medicine and biomedical ethics. Funding is available to researchers in developing countries. For details see www.wellcome.ac.uk & www.wellcome.ac.uk/Funding/Medical-humanities/index.htm
AHRC Research Networking grants
The Research Networking Scheme is intended to support forums for the discussion and exchange of ideas on a specified thematic area, issue or problem. The intention is to facilitate interactions between researchers and stakeholders through, for example, a short-term series of workshops, seminars, networking activities or other events. The aim of these activities is to stimulate new debate across boundaries, for example, disciplinary, conceptual, theoretical, methodological, and/or international. Proposals should explore new areas, be multi-institutional and can include creative or innovative approaches or entrepreneurship. Proposals must justify the approach taken and clearly explain the novelty or added value for bringing the network participants together.
For details see http://www.ahrc.ac.uk/Funding-Opportunities/Pages/Research-Networking.aspx
ESRC International Partnership and Networking Scheme
International Partnership and Networking Scheme Awards are intended to provide flexible support for a programme of activity with the objective of establishing sustainable collaborations, leading to the development of joint research proposals. Activities which might constitute an IPNS programme of activity might include (but not limited to): visiting fellowships, scholar exchanges, workshops and summer schools. While some modest research costs can be requested (ie for data exploration) it is not intended that IPNS awards will be used to fund collaborative research. Applicants seeking support for collaborative research funding can submit applications to standard ESRC research calls by making use of our International Co-Investigator Policy or via one of our bilateral or multilateral agreements. Such applications may be one of the outcomes of an IPNS. For details seewww.esrc.ac.uk/funding-and-guidance/funding-opportunities/15752/esrc-international-partnership-and-networking-scheme.aspx