Apply Now: 2022 Cambridge-Africa ALBORADA Research Study Grant in UK

Application Deadline: September 5, 2022.

Fantastic offer! The application portal for the 2022 Cambridge-Africa ALBORADA Research Study Grant is now open to all outstanding applicants who have been waiting patiently to apply for it.

Founded in 2012, the Cambridge-Africa ALBORADA Research Fund has received lots of kind support from The ALBORADA Trust Board.

These study grants aim to help researchers at the Post-doctorate level and above from the University of Cambridge (or an affiliated institution such as the Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute, NIAB, and British Antarctic Survey) and sub-Saharan African institutions, across disciplines, to initiate and/or strengthen research collaborations.

At present, more than 260 awards have been made, to allow Cambridge researchers to engage with African colleagues from 31 African countries.

A certain number of awardees have been able to use the preliminary results from their seed fund/research collaboration to apply for and win relevant funding (e.g. Royal Society/Leverhulme Awards, Global Challenges Research Fund, etc.).

Table of Contents

Aim of Research Grant

The aim of the Cambridge-Africa ALBORADA research fund is to motivate training, research and engagement activities between Cambridge and sub-Saharan Africa.

The candidates from Cambridge apply jointly with applicants from universities/ institutes in sub- Saharan Africa and co-create the projects. It is pertinent that the funding is not simply used to provide services that will be carried out at one institution on behalf of the other, and that true collaboration is demonstrated in the application.

A pertinent of function the grant is to act as a seed fund/catalyst to enable the development of new research activity and further joint funding applications. Preference will be given to applications that build new partnerships (or expand existing ones) with the potential for long-term collaboration. The projects should also genuinely strengthen the research capacity of the African researcher and/or the African research institution/university.

Scholarship Perks:

The Cambridge-Africa ALBORADA Research Fund competitively offers awards of between £1,000 and £20,000:

For research costs (such as reagents, equipment and fieldwork)
For research-related travel between Cambridge and Africa (bearing in mind the feasibility of travel due to COVID restrictions)
For conducting research training activities in Africa (e.g. setting up courses/workshops).

Selection Method

Both candidates must be at the Post-doctorate level or above, and by completing an application, it is understood that they are both doing so with help from their Head of Department or equivalent.
Both candidates should have a formal link to a research group/department/faculty in their home institution
It is required that both candidates remain employed beyond the end date of their ALBORADA awards.
The awards are not intended to help Post-doctorate students, nevertheless, limited help for students (e.g. as part of a research project or training visit) will be considered when there is a clear demonstration that this will enhance the relationship between the Cambridge and African Principal Investigators (PIs).
The Cambridge candidate must be either working at the University of Cambridge, or at a Research Institute affiliated with the University.
The Cambridge candidates will act as the lead candidates, for administrative reasons, as the grants have to be paid to their Cambridge Departments/Faculties/Institutes.

Region Applicable

Sub-Saharan African Countries (As well as Sudan)

The African candidate must be living in a sub-Saharan African Research Institution or University.

Application Procedure

Both candidates must register and complete their online application form, available on the Cambridge- Africa website. The final submissions should have the following documents:
A case for support and a lay summary
Itemised budget (template provided)
Letter of Support from the department/faculty of the Cambridge PI. For the Department of Engineering, a Letter of Support from the Head of Division is needed.
Letter of Support from the department/institution of the African PI
Curriculum Vitae (maximum 2 pages) for both the Cambridge and Africa PI The information of two suggested referees are also required; these should be individuals who have no conflicts of interest with the project or investigators (e.g. they should not be from the same Department).
Are you eligible to apply, but unable to register on the page above? Kindly contact [email protected].
Conclusion: Cambridge-Africa ALBORADA Research Fund competitively provides awards of between £1,000 and £20,000: