Funder Library
Funders relevant to African research universities
A curated set of global, pan-African, bilateral, and national funders. Pre-loaded into every workspace so your research office can run eligibility checks, draft proposals, and chase deadlines without re-keying the rulebook.
- GlobalHealthCapacity-BuildingEarly-Career
Open to LMIC institutions partnering with a US collaborator. Strong fit for health-research capacity-building, training programs, and chronic / infectious disease research.
- Typical award
- USD 100k–1M over 1–5 years
- Cadence
- annual
- GlobalHealthEarly-CareerSocial Sciences
Eligible African PIs at recognised universities. Multiple schemes including Early-Career Awards, Discovery Awards, and Climate & Health.
- Typical award
- GBP 50k–3M
- Cadence
- rolling
- GlobalHealthAgricultureEducation
Application by invitation for large grants. Grand Challenges and Catalytic Innovations open RFPs accept applications from African institutions, especially for global-health and agriculture.
- Typical award
- USD 100k–10M
- Cadence
- ad-hoc
- GlobalHumanitiesSocial SciencesEducation
Supports humanities and arts research at African universities, often through ARUA and consortium programs.
- Typical award
- USD 50k–2M
- Cadence
- ad-hoc
- GlobalEducationCapacity-BuildingEarly-Career
Funds African higher-education strengthening, PhD programs, and research administration capacity. Notable funder of AAS, RUFORUM, and AfOx.
- Typical award
- USD 100k–5M
- Cadence
- ad-hoc
- Pan-AfricanHealthSTEMEarly-Career
Programs include AESA, AREF, Grand Challenges Africa. African PI at an African institution required.
- Typical award
- USD 50k–500k
- Cadence
- annual
- Pan-AfricanSocial SciencesCapacity-BuildingEarly-Career
Open to African economists at consortium-member institutions for thematic and collaborative research grants.
- Typical award
- USD 10k–80k
- Cadence
- biennial
- Pan-AfricanSTEMClimateSocial Sciences
Research excellence funding limited to ARUA member universities and their partners. Centres of Excellence model.
- Typical award
- varies
- Cadence
- ad-hoc
- Pan-AfricanSTEMEarly-CareerHumanities
Junior researcher mobility, intra-Africa mobility, and Africa–Germany collaboration grants for African PhDs and postdocs.
- Typical award
- EUR 5k–20k
- Cadence
- annual
- Pan-AfricanAgricultureEducationCapacity-Building
Limited to member universities (170+ across Africa). Funds graduate research, community action research, and curriculum strengthening.
- Typical award
- USD 20k–250k
- Cadence
- annual
- Pan-AfricanHealthSocial SciencesEarly-Career
Collaborative grants between Oxford and African researchers; visiting fellowships for African scholars.
- Typical award
- GBP 10k–100k
- Cadence
- annual
- GlobalClimateSocial SciencesInnovation
Funds Southern-led research. African universities are core eligible institutions. Strong portfolio in climate, gender, and digital innovation.
- Typical award
- CAD 100k–2M
- Cadence
- ad-hoc
- GlobalHealthEducationClimate
Calls vary by program; African institutions eligible as PI or as part of UK-led consortia. Often routed via UKRI partnerships.
- Typical award
- varies
- Cadence
- ad-hoc
- GlobalCapacity-BuildingHealthClimate
Long-running bilateral research-cooperation programs with Makerere, Addis Ababa, Rwanda, and Mozambique.
- Typical award
- SEK 1M–50M
- Cadence
- ad-hoc
- GlobalCapacity-BuildingAgricultureEducation
Implementation partner for German Federal Ministries. Frequent calls for African research and TVET capacity-building.
- Typical award
- varies
- Cadence
- ad-hoc
- GlobalEducationCapacity-BuildingHealth
NORHED-II calls support partnerships between Norwegian and African higher-ed institutions.
- Typical award
- NOK 5M–30M
- Cadence
- biennial
- GlobalSTEMSocial SciencesHumanities
African researchers eligible as co-applicants under bilateral cooperation schemes (e.g. African–German collaborations).
- Typical award
- EUR 50k–3M
- Cadence
- rolling
- European UnionSTEMClimateHealth
African institutions eligible as Associated Partners; African Union countries can join MSCA and EU Africa Global Gateway calls.
- Typical award
- EUR 500k–10M
- Cadence
- annual
- European UnionSTEMHumanitiesSocial Sciences
PI must hold position at a European host institution; African researchers often eligible as team members.
- Typical award
- EUR 1.5M–3.5M
- Cadence
- annual
- European UnionEarly-CareerSTEMSocial Sciences
African universities can host MSCA-PF fellows and participate in doctoral networks and staff exchanges.
- Typical award
- EUR 100k–250k per fellow
- Cadence
- annual
- GlobalSTEMInnovation
African researchers eligible as subawardees or co-PIs on US-led projects. Limited direct funding routes.
- Typical award
- USD 100k–2M
- Cadence
- rolling
- GlobalAgricultureClimateInnovation
Open to African universities as collaborators on US-led Innovation Lab projects.
- Typical award
- USD 50k–1M
- Cadence
- ad-hoc
- East AfricaSTEMSocial SciencesInnovation
Kenyan researchers at accredited institutions. Also operates the national research permit and ethics-approval registry.
- Typical award
- KES 1M–10M
- Cadence
- annual
- East AfricaSTEMHealthInnovation
Kenyan citizens at accredited universities. Multi-disciplinary research, postgraduate scholarships.
- Typical award
- KES 1M–25M
- Cadence
- annual
- East AfricaSTEMHealthSocial Sciences
Ugandan institutions. Also the national clearing house for research permits and ethical clearance.
- Typical award
- varies
- Cadence
- rolling
- East AfricaSTEMSocial SciencesInnovation
Rwandan researchers at accredited institutions.
- Typical award
- varies
- Cadence
- annual
- East AfricaSTEMAgricultureSocial Sciences
Tanzanian researchers and institutions. National research permit authority.
- Typical award
- TZS 5M–100M
- Cadence
- annual
- Southern AfricaSTEMSocial SciencesHumanities
South African researchers at accredited institutions. Multiple schemes incl. rated-researcher grants, SARChI Chairs.
- Typical award
- ZAR 50k–5M
- Cadence
- annual
- West AfricaSTEMEducationHumanities
Nigerian public universities and polytechnics; institutional and individual grants.
- Typical award
- NGN 5M–500M
- Cadence
- annual
- West AfricaEducationSTEMSocial Sciences
Ghanaian universities and research institutions.
- Typical award
- GHS 50k–5M
- Cadence
- ad-hoc
- GlobalAgricultureClimateInnovation
Open to African universities as research partners across the 15 CGIAR centres (CIMMYT, ILRI, IITA, etc.).
- Typical award
- varies
- Cadence
- rolling
- GlobalSocial SciencesInnovationCapacity-Building
Hewlett Foundation supports digital governance and policy research in the Global South, often via AERC.
- Typical award
- USD 50k–500k
- Cadence
- ad-hoc
Tip — From any workspace, ask /eligibility <funder> to get a grounded eligibility verdict for your project, citing the funder's own rules.