School Leadership Research Grants for African Education Researchers

The African Centre for School Leadership (ACSL), in partnership with the Mastercard Foundation, is inviting applications for the ACSL Cohort II Grant Program. The programme funds action-oriented research that strengthens school leadership, improves education systems, and enhances learning outcomes across Africa through Descriptive Action Research Grants of up to USD 15,000 and Comparative Action Research Grants of up to USD 35,000.

About the ACSL Cohort II Grant Program

The ACSL Cohort II Grant Program supports high-quality action research that addresses key school leadership challenges across African education systems. The initiative aims to generate practical evidence that can inform education policies, strengthen leadership practices, and improve teaching and learning outcomes.

Implemented by the African Centre for School Leadership (ACSL) in partnership with the Mastercard Foundation, the programme promotes collaboration between researchers, school leaders, policymakers, practitioners, and educational institutions to ensure research findings lead to meaningful improvements in education.

Successful applicants will also become members of the School Leadership Community of Learning and participate in the Blended Exchange and Learning Trajectory (BELT) programme, providing opportunities for networking, collaboration, and professional development.

Programme Objectives

The programme aims to:

• Strengthen school leadership across Africa.
• Improve student learning outcomes through evidence-based leadership practices.
• Support rigorous action-oriented educational research.
• Generate practical solutions to school leadership challenges.
• Influence national and continental education policies.
• Foster collaboration between researchers, practitioners, and policymakers.
• Promote inclusive and equitable education systems.
• Build a community of school leadership researchers across Africa.

Research Categories

Applicants may apply under one of two funding categories.

Descriptive Action Research Grants

These grants support research conducted within a single educational context.

Key features include:

• Funding of up to USD 15,000.
• Research conducted in one educational setting or country.
• Project duration of 12 months.
• Focus on practical school leadership challenges and solutions.

Comparative Action Research Grants

These grants support research comparing school leadership across multiple educational contexts.

Key features include:

• Funding of up to USD 35,000.
• Research conducted across two or more educational contexts or countries.
• Project duration of 24 months.
• Comparative analysis of school leadership practices and policy implementation.

Funding Information

The programme provides:

Descriptive Action Research

• Maximum grant: USD 15,000
• Duration: 12 months

Comparative Action Research

• Maximum grant: USD 35,000
• Duration: 24 months

A total of 23 researchers from across Africa will be supported through the ACSL Cohort II Grant Program.

Research Focus Areas

Proposed research should address school leadership practice and contribute to improving education systems in Africa.

Projects may focus on:

• School leadership effectiveness.
• Educational leadership and management.
• School improvement strategies.
• Teaching and learning quality.
• Education policy implementation.
• Leadership development.
• Evidence-based decision-making.
• Education system strengthening.
• Inclusive education practices.
• Leadership in underserved communities.

Additional Opportunities for Successful Applicants

Grant recipients will also benefit from:

• Membership in the School Leadership Community of Learning.
• Participation in the Blended Exchange and Learning Trajectory (BELT).
• Networking with education researchers across Africa.
• Collaboration with policymakers and practitioners.
• Professional learning and knowledge-sharing opportunities.

Who is Eligible?

Applicants must:

• Be citizens of an African country.
• Be based in Africa.
• Conduct research focused on school leadership in one or more African countries.
• Meet the academic and research eligibility requirements.

Researchers from all African countries are encouraged to apply.

Eligibility Requirements

The Principal Investigator must:

• Hold a Doctorate in:
  • Education
  • Educational Leadership
  • Educational Management
  • Or a closely related field.
• Have earned the doctorate within the past five years.

Research proposals must also:

• Include multidisciplinary research teams consisting of three to five members.
• Adopt an action-research methodology.
• Demonstrate meaningful collaboration with practitioners and policymakers.
• Focus on improving school leadership practice.

Priority Areas

The programme strongly encourages proposals that:

• Promote gender equality.
• Support disability inclusion.
• Address challenges in rural communities.
• Benefit underserved populations.
• Improve educational equity.
• Strengthen leadership in marginalised communities.
• Include cross-country collaboration.

Projects addressing these priorities are encouraged to strengthen the relevance and impact of their research.

Why This Grant Matters

Strong school leadership plays a critical role in improving education quality, teacher performance, and student learning outcomes.

The ACSL Cohort II Grant Program helps generate practical research that directly informs educational policy and school leadership practices across Africa. By supporting collaboration between researchers and education stakeholders, the programme contributes to stronger, more inclusive, and evidence-based education systems throughout the continent.

How to Apply

Follow these steps to apply:

1. Review the official programme guidelines and eligibility criteria.
2. Confirm that the Principal Investigator meets the academic requirements.
3. Assemble a multidisciplinary research team of three to five members.
4. Choose either the Descriptive or Comparative Action Research funding category.
5. Develop an action-research proposal focused on school leadership.
6. Demonstrate collaboration with practitioners and policymakers.
7. Highlight the expected policy and educational impact of the research.
8. Complete and submit the application before the deadline.

Tips for Applicants

To improve your application:

• Develop a clear and practical research question.
• Demonstrate strong action-research methodology.
• Include experienced multidisciplinary team members.
• Explain how research findings will influence education policy and practice.
• Highlight collaboration with schools, practitioners, and policymakers.
• Address inclusion, equity, or underserved communities where appropriate.
• Present a realistic implementation timeline and budget.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Avoid the following:

• Submitting proposals without an action-research approach.
• Failing to include the required team of three to five members.
• Choosing a Principal Investigator who does not meet the doctorate requirement.
• Proposing research unrelated to school leadership.
• Providing weak collaboration plans with practitioners or policymakers.
• Submitting incomplete applications or missing required documentation.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Who can apply for the ACSL Cohort II Grant Program?

Citizens of African countries who are based in Africa and meet the programme’s academic and eligibility requirements may apply.

What types of research are funded?

The programme funds Descriptive Action Research conducted within one educational context and Comparative Action Research conducted across two or more educational contexts.

How much funding is available?

Descriptive Action Research Grants provide up to USD 15,000, while Comparative Action Research Grants provide up to USD 35,000.

How many researchers will receive funding?

A total of 23 researchers from across Africa will be supported.

What qualifications must the Principal Investigator have?

The Principal Investigator must hold a doctorate in Education, Educational Leadership, Educational Management, or a closely related field earned within the previous five years.

Is collaboration required?

Yes. Proposals must include multidisciplinary teams of three to five members and demonstrate meaningful collaboration with practitioners and policymakers.

Are cross-country research projects encouraged?

Yes. Cross-country collaborations and projects promoting gender equality, disability inclusion, rural education, and support for marginalised communities are strongly encouraged.

Conclusion

The ACSL Cohort II Grant Program offers an excellent opportunity for African researchers to conduct impactful action research that strengthens school leadership and improves education systems across the continent. Through funding, professional learning opportunities, and collaboration with policymakers and practitioners, the programme supports evidence-based solutions that contribute to better learning outcomes and more effective educational leadership throughout Africa.