Kuhusu

The African Research Fellowship (ARF) Programme 2026 is now open, offering four African researchers a fully funded one-year research residency at the European Space Agency’s ESRIN centre in Frascati, Italy.

The African Research Fellowship is part of the EO AFRICA flagship initiative of the European Space Agency (ESA), delivered in partnership with the African Space Agency (AfSA), an organ of the African Union, and in coordination with the African Union Commission (AUC). Since its launch in 2021, the programme has empowered ten fellows to advance Earth Observation research at ESA, and is now seeking its 2026 cohort of four researchers. The fellowship period is scheduled to commence in October 2026.

About the Programme

The ARF programme promotes long-term leadership and deeper institutional collaboration between Africa and Europe, while strengthening Africa’s role in the global scientific community. Selected fellows will spend one year working directly alongside ESA experts at ESRIN, conducting innovative, high-impact research that leverages large-scale satellite Earth Observation (EO) data, integrates in-situ measurements, and applies cloud computing and AI modelling to address Africa’s most pressing development challenges.

Research Themes

Applicants are invited to propose a one-year research and development project aligned with one of the following EO AFRICA thematic priority areas:

• Agriculture and Food Security: precision agriculture, crop yield modelling, pest and disease monitoring, resilience analysis
• Disaster Risk Reduction and Response: early warning systems, impact forecasting, vulnerability mapping
• Urban Development and Infrastructure: urban change detection, infrastructure monitoring, classification of informal settlements
• Health and Epidemiology: disease vectors, pollution exposure, and environmental health correlations
• Energy and Natural Resource Management: renewable energy mapping, forest and water resource management, monitoring of extractive activities
• Climate Change and Natural Capital: ecosystem degradation research, climate impact modelling, carbon tracking
• Coastal and Marine Monitoring: fisheries management, coastal erosion monitoring, marine ecosystem assessments
• Calibration and Validation (Cal/Val): deploying in-situ sensors and organising field campaigns to improve EO product accuracy

Resources and Support

All research projects will be fully integrated into the EO AFRICA Research and Development Initiative. Fellows will have access to:

• ESA-supported cloud computing resources, including the EO Africa Innovation Lab and Space-HPC, to support collaboration with European scientists
• The EO AFRICA Space Academy and Digital Campus, offering dedicated training, scientific tools, and broad technical expertise
• A professional network that promotes open research practices and reproducible science

Who Should Apply

The programme welcomes applications from African researchers who hold a PhD, or a Master’s degree with substantial proven research experience, in satellite Earth observation, satellite remote sensing, or a closely related field. Candidates should be innovators driven to translate data into practical, sustainable solutions.

Application Requirements

A complete application must include:

• A research proposal using the official ARF template (maximum 10 pages; applications not using the provided template will be disregarded)
• A curriculum vitae of no more than 3 pages, including a list of recent publications
• A copy of a valid identification document (preferably a passport)
• A scan of the highest academic diploma held (PhD or Master’s)
• Two confidential letters of reference

Key Dates

• Call Opens: 18 March 2026
• Submission Deadline: 29 April 2026
• Communication of Acceptance: July 2026
• Fellowship Commencement: October 2026

Any questions regarding the call must be directed to [email protected] no later than one week before the closing date.

Apply Here -> Download the application package and submit your application via the official ESA portal.