Apply for the Cambridge-Africa ALBORADA Research Fund 2023 Scholarship

Apply now for the Cambridge-Africa ALBORADA Research Fund 2023 Scholarship.

Stimulating research, training, and collaboration between Cambridge and sub-Saharan Africa, this fund has supported 300 awards fostering partnerships across 34 African countries.

Grants range from £1,000 to £20,000 for research costs, travel, and training activities. Joint applications from Cambridge and African institutions are encouraged.

Overview of the Cambridge-Africa ALBORADA Research Fund

As part of an initiative to promote research collaborations and forge lasting partnerships, the Cambridge-Africa ALBORADA Research Fund was established in 2012.

Funded by The ALBORADA Trust, this scholarship program provides opportunities for pairs of researchers, from the University of Cambridge (and its affiliates) and Sub-Saharan African institutions, to start and/or enhance joint research initiatives across all disciplines.

Since inception, the ALBORADA Research Fund has bestowed 300 awards, enhancing the ability of Cambridge researchers to collaborate with counterparts from 34 African nations.

Many awardees have utilized their seed funding to secure further substantial financing, like the Royal Society/Leverhulme Awards and Global Challenges Research Fund.

For the 2023 cycle, there is potential for applications from North Africa.

The Role of Cambridge-Africa

Cambridge-Africa is a university program that aids African researchers and fosters fair collaborations and partnerships between Africa and Cambridge.

The initiative prioritizes Sub-Saharan Africa with the aim of:

Initiating new collaborations and strengthening existing ones between Cambridge and African researchers

Providing a conducive academic environment for African early career researchers

Supporting training for research support teams

Facilitating networks of dedicated researchers for outstanding research in Sub-Saharan Africa
The ethos of the programme, as well as its partnerships, is based on equity, transparency, and trust.

Identified needs of African partners drive activities, thereby addressing African research priorities.

Benefits of the Cambridge-Africa ALBORADA Research Fund

The ALBORADA Research Fund grants awards ranging from £1,000 to £20,000 competitively for:

Research costs (like reagents, fieldwork, and equipment)

Research-related travel between Cambridge and Africa (with due considerations for COVID restrictions)

Conducting research training activities in Africa (such as setting up courses/workshops)

Qualifications for the Cambridge-Africa ALBORADA Research Fund

The ALBORADA Research Fund fosters research, training, and engagement between Cambridge and sub-Saharan Africa.

Cambridge applicants partner with applicants from universities/institutes in sub-Saharan Africa to co-create the projects.

The funding is not merely for providing services that one institution performs for the other; instead, it should facilitate true collaboration.

The ALBORADA Research Fund serves as a catalyst or seed fund to stimulate the development of new research activities and subsequent joint funding applications.

The priority is for applications that establish new partnerships or expand existing ones with a prospect for long-term collaboration.

Ideally, projects should also enhance the research capacity of the African researcher and/or the African research institution/university.

Application Procedure and Requirements

Both applicants must register and complete an online application on the Cambridge-Africa website.

The final submission should include:

• Case for support and a lay summary
• An itemised budget (template provided)
• A letter of support from the department/faculty of the Cambridge PI (and a letter of support from the Head of Division for the Department of Engineering)
• Letter of support from the African PI’s institution
• CVs (2-page limit) for both Cambridge and African PIs
• The details of two suggested referees with no conflicts of interest with the project or investigators
• Submission deadline: September 4, 2023.

For inquiries, please email alboradafund@cambridge-africa.cam.ac.uk.

For more details, visit the official Cambridge-Africa website.

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