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Overview

The Science Granting Councils Initiative (SGCI) has launched a Multilateral Research Call to support African-led collaborative research aligned with the Science, Technology and Innovation Strategy for Africa (STISA 2034).

The call aims to strengthen multi-country research partnerships, generate high-quality scientific evidence, and promote the translation of research into policy and practice across Africa’s priority development sectors.

Objectives

The call seeks to:

• Support collaborative, African-led research addressing STISA 2034 priorities.
• Strengthen cross-border scientific partnerships among African institutions.
• Enhance the uptake of research evidence in policymaking and practice.
• Build research capacity and regional collaboration across participating Science Granting Councils (SGCs).

Funding

• Total funding available: US$12 million
• Project duration: Up to 36 months

Funding is provided through participating African Science Granting Councils (SGCs) with support from the Government of Norway, the UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO), the Wellcome Trust, and Canada’s International Development Research Centre (IDRC), in partnership with AUDA-NEPAD.

Research Themes

Proposals should address one of the STISA 2034 priority areas:

• Health
  • Resilient health systems.
  • One Health preparedness and infectious disease surveillance.
  • Traditional knowledge for communicable and non-communicable diseases.
• Agriculture
  • Climate-resilient and agroecological production systems.
  • Precision agriculture, post-harvest systems, and value addition for smallholder farmers.
• Artificial Intelligence and Digital Technologies
  • AI applications addressing challenges in sectors such as agriculture, health, education, and the environment.
  • AI skills development, entrepreneurship, and innovation.
• Energy
  • Renewable and diversified energy systems.
  • Energy storage, smart grids, and energy efficiency.
  • Commercialisation and local manufacturing of energy technologies.
• Environment
  • Water security, biodiversity, and natural resource governance.
  • Climate resilience, adaptation, disaster risk reduction, and early warning systems.

Eligibility

Applications must be submitted by African-led research consortia.

Consortia must:

• Include at least three institutions.
• Represent at least three participating SGCI countries.
• Include up to five co-applicant institutions from up to five countries.

Country-specific eligibility, funding limits, and participating national Science Granting Councils vary by thematic area and should be confirmed through the official call documentation.

Eligible Country: Botswana, Burkina Faso, Côte d’Ivoire, Ethiopia, Ghana, Kenya, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, Nigeria, Senegal, Sierra Leone, South Africa, Rwanda, Tanzania, Togo, Uganda, Zambia, Zimbabwe

Matchmaking Platform

SGCI provides an optional matchmaking platform to help applicants:

• Create institutional and researcher profiles.
• Identify collaborators across participating countries.
• Build multidisciplinary research consortia.
• Strengthen proposals through complementary expertise and networks.

Use of the matchmaking platform is not mandatory; applicants with established consortia may apply directly to the funding call.

Key Dates

• Expression of Interest (EOI) deadline: 25 September 2026 (23:59 EDT)
• Notification of shortlisted EOIs: 19 October 2026
• Information webinar: 23 July 2026
• Information webinar: 13 August 2026

How to Apply

Applicants should first review the official call document, which contains the complete eligibility criteria, thematic requirements, country-specific funding arrangements, and application rules.

Eligible consortia may then submit an Expression of Interest (EOI) through the official SGCI funding portal. Applicants seeking partners may use the optional matchmaking platform to identify collaborators before submitting their proposal.