AREF Research Development Fellowship 2025 for Sub-Saharan African Researchers

The AREF Research Development Fellowship (RDF) Programme is being launched to support African researchers who are working on important challenges for human health in Africa. 

Application Deadline: 4th October 2024 12:00 GMT

Eligible Countries: sub-Sahara African countries  

To be taken at (country): Europe or Africa

Eligible Field of Study: Not specified

About the Award: AREF Research Fellowship is designed to enable talented, early-career African researchers to develop their own research ideas and specialist skills, to grow their research relationships through collaboration and mentorship, and to work towards a major funding proposal. This year, funding will be made available for a “planned follow-through” in the awardee’s home institution.

The RDF Programme aims to develop emerging African scientists who are working on important challenges for human health in Africa, growing their skills, experience, confidence and research outputs.

The scope of the Programme includes both infectious and non-communicable diseases that are significant and/or identified as “neglected” in Africa.

The RDF Programme enables talented early-career researchers to:

• acquire advanced research skills
• develop and test their own compelling research questions
• develop highly effective mentoring relationships
• grow their potential collaborations
• raise their profile through international networking

Offered Since: 2015

Type: Research Fellowship

Eligibility: Research active post-doctoral scientists and clinicians who are nationals of and employed in Sub-Saharan Africa who were awarded their doctorate after May 2014; and clinicians without a doctorate but who have a research-relevant Master’s degree and at least two and up to seven years active research experience.

Selection Criteria:

• Applicants will need to demonstrate a credible, ambitious vision for their research career in an area of human-health challenge for Africa; and a transformational, well-supported development plan that would be significantly enhanced by the RDF Programme. Potential applicants are strongly encouraged to discuss their plans at an early stage with their employing and potential host organisations.
• Equality and diversity are core values of AREF and we encourage applications by scientists irrespective of gender, colour, race, or creed.  We strongly welcome eligible applicants from francophone and lusophone countries as well as from anglophone countries.

Number of Awardees: Not specified

Value of Fellowship: A three to nine-month placement at a leading research institution in Europe or Africa, with additional support at your home institution before and after the placement, up to a maximum of £40,000. 

Duration of Fellowship: Three(3) to nine (9) months

How to Apply: Read the guidance documents carefully before developing your proposal and starting your application. Complete the application form via the portal at https://programmes.aref-africa.org.uk/

We aim to notify all applicants of the outcomes of their applications by April 2025.  

Successful Fellowships are expected to start between July 2025 and no later than December 2025.  

Deadline for submission of all application documents: 13:00 GMT, 4 October 2024 

What you need before starting your application:

1. Read the Application  Scheme Information Scheme Information
2. Thoroughly review the  Guidance on Completing the Application Forms 
3. AREF Terms and Conditions .This is also available on the portal 

Next steps:

We will be hosting information sessions, and providing more insights about the Research Development Fellowships to applicants. You can stay connected by Following our Twitter and LinkedIn for updates, and subscribe to our newsletter to be the first to hear about our opportunities.

Visit Fellowship Webpage for details