New Grants of up to $15,000 for Africa-Based Early Childhood Development Researchers 2025

New Grants of up to $15,000 for Africa-Based Early Childhood Development Researchers. Apply below.

When is Application Deadline:

28 February 2025 at 23:59 GMT 
Webinar with more information: 23 January 2025, 10:00 am – 11:30 am (GMT) 

Tell Me About Award:

Are you passionate about transforming the lives of young children in Africa? The Research for Equitable Access and Learning (REAL) Centre at the University of Cambridge and Education Sub Saharan Africa (ESSA), with funding from the Conrad N. Hilton Foundation, are offering grants of up to $15,000 to support African Early Childhood Development (ECD) researchers in Central, East, West and Southern Africa. 

Context and importance: This initiative is part of Phase 2 of an ECD-focused project. We are building on our efforts in Phase 1 to identify the researchers, understand their professional needs, strengthen their research capacity, and address critical challenges facing the region’s youngest learners. 

Why this matters: ECD is the foundation for lifelong learning and societal progress. However, the challenges are significant: 

• 250 million children under five in low- and middle-income countries risk falling short of their developmental potential (WHO, 2020). 
• Early childhood development is key to school readiness. Children in Africa are five times less likely to achieve basic reading proficiency by the end of primary school compared to their global peers (UNESCO, 2023). 

Why fund African ECD researchers? Funding African ECD researchers based in Africa is crucial because they possess the local knowledge and contextual understanding needed to address the unique challenges faced by children in their regions. By empowering these researchers, we can: 

• Develop context-specific, policy-relevant solutions that are more effective and sustainable. 
• Build local research capacity, ensuring long-term improvements in ECD. 
• Foster collaboration and knowledge sharing within the African research community. 

Type:

Grants

Who can Apply?

Africa-based African researchers with a PhD, working in a relevant research-oriented institution or unit, such as a university, research think tank, or research unit in government department/ministry are eligible to lead applications for these grants. Applications must focus on context-specific, policy-relevant and actionable research addressing key ECD challenges. 

Where is the Award Taken?

Ghana, Kenya, Mozambique, Tanzania (priority), and other eligible sub-Saharan African countries.  In addition, funds will be available for successful applications from Central, East, West and Southern Africa. Collaborative projects between institutions or countries are encouraged. 

How Many Awards?

Not specified

Time period for carrying out research: Ten months

What is the Benefit of Award?

Grant amount: Up to $15,000 

How to Apply:

 Application form: https://forms.gle/5Ut98kfuizG8VSXBA 

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