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Apply for the Essential Grant-Writing Skills Programme (Africa)

Deadline: 03-Apr-2026

The AREF Essential Grant-Writing Skills Programme helps early-career African health researchers strengthen their capacity to write competitive research proposals. Through structured online sessions, practical assignments, and mentorship, participants learn to develop clear, funder-ready proposals in areas ranging from biomedical to social sciences within health research.

About the Programme

The Africa Research Excellence Fund (AREF) offers the Essential Grant-Writing Skills Programme to support early-career scientists in Africa. The programme strengthens participants’ abilities to articulate research ideas, design compelling proposals, and navigate international, regional, and national funding processes. It is targeted at researchers addressing Africa’s most pressing health challenges.

Programme Objectives

Participants will gain skills to:

  • Develop and express a unique research niche

  • Formulate a compelling research question

  • Understand funders’ requirements and expectations

  • Write proposals in plain, clear English

  • Construct and refine key sections of a Case for Support or Project Description

  • Plan a proposal project plan and budget

  • Manage collaboration and research teams effectively

  • Understand and practice peer review

  • Prepare for fellowship interviews

Programme Structure

  • Online interactive sessions with preparatory materials and assignments

  • Daily commitment of approximately one additional hour for reading and preparation

  • Six-week drafting period between phases to develop individual research proposals

  • Final sessions focused on reviewing and refining participants’ proposals

Funding and Support

  • The programme does not provide financial support

  • No funding for equipment, internet access, per diem payments, or participation costs

Eligible Research Areas

The programme is open to researchers working on health-related challenges in:

  • Biomedicine, physiology, and pharmacology

  • Clinical sciences

  • Epidemiology and public health

  • Mathematics, statistics, and data science for health

  • Environmental health and veterinary science within the One Health framework

  • Behavioural and mental health

  • Social and economic sciences for health

  • Health policy and systems research

Eligibility Criteria

Applicants must:

  • Be citizens of an African country

  • Be employed in Africa by a recognised university or research institution

  • Be early-career researchers with:

    • A research doctorate (PhD, DPhil, MD) awarded on or after 1 January 2020, or

    • A medical/clinical qualification with a research-relevant Master’s degree obtained on or after 1 January 2020

  • Conduct a significant portion of their role in health research

  • Not have previously participated in similar grant-writing training

  • Not already hold international research grants totaling £250,000 or more

Why the Programme Matters

The AREF Essential Grant-Writing Skills Programme:

  • Builds capacity for competitive research proposals

  • Helps early-career researchers secure international funding

  • Strengthens scientific rigor, clarity, and collaboration in proposal development

  • Supports Africa’s health research sector by fostering innovation and impactful studies

How to Apply

  1. Confirm eligibility based on citizenship, employment, and career stage

  2. Prepare details of your current health research projects

  3. Submit the application via the AREF online portal

  4. Engage fully with preparatory materials and online sessions

  5. Complete a draft proposal during the six-week interphase period

Tips for Applicants

  • Clearly define your research niche and question

  • Highlight innovation and potential impact on African health challenges

  • Demonstrate readiness to commit time to both sessions and proposal drafting

  • Emphasize collaboration and team management experience where relevant

  • Prepare for peer review exercises and feedback sessions

FAQs

  1. Who can apply? Early-career researchers employed in Africa with a research doctorate or relevant Master’s/medical qualification obtained after 1 January 2020.

  2. Does the programme provide funding? No, it is a training programme without financial support.

  3. Which disciplines are eligible? Health-related fields including biomedical, clinical, public health, data science, veterinary, mental health, and social sciences.

  4. Are prior grant recipients eligible? Only if they do not already hold international grants totaling £250,000 or more.

  5. Is previous participation in grant-writing training allowed? No, first-time participants only.

  6. How long is the programme? Online sessions are complemented by a six-week drafting period between phases.

  7. What is the main outcome? A fully developed research proposal ready for submission to funders.

Conclusion

The AREF Essential Grant-Writing Skills Programme equips early-career African health researchers with the knowledge and practical skills to develop competitive, fundable research proposals. By focusing on clarity, innovation, collaboration, and funder alignment, the programme strengthens the continent’s research capacity and contributes to sustainable solutions for Africa’s pressing health challenges.

For more information, visit AREF.