Africa Research Excellence Fund (AREF) Essential Grant-Writing Skills Programme 2025
The Africa Research Excellence Fund (AREF) invites applications for its Essential Grant-Writing Skills Programme—an intensive, fully online training designed to empower early-career researchers in Africa with the expertise to craft winning research and fellowship proposals. This programme focuses on enhancing biomedical and health research capacity in Africa, fostering a new generation of independent researchers to address critical health challenges.
Programme Overview
- Objective: To equip talented, early-career African researchers with the skills necessary to develop competitive grant and fellowship proposals.
- Format: Two-part online series consisting of:
- Part 1: March 17–21, 2025 (3-hour sessions daily, 08:30–11:30 GMT).
- Part 2: May 5–7, 2025 (3-hour sessions daily, 08:30–11:30 GMT).
- Break: Between March 21 and May 5, participants will draft a mini research proposal and engage in peer review.
Sessions will be conducted on Zoom, in English, and include preparatory exercises, collaborative activities, and individual assignments.
Topics Covered
The programme will guide participants through:
- Identifying and articulating a unique research niche.
- Developing compelling research questions.
- Understanding funders’ expectations.
- Writing in clear, concise English.
- Crafting key proposal components (Case for Support, budget, project plans).
- Strategies for managing collaborations.
- Navigating the peer review process.
- Preparing for fellowship interviews.
Exclusions: This programme does not cover ethics approval processes, funder-specific application forms, or intellectual property management.
Eligibility Criteria
Applicants must:
- Be citizens of an African country.
- Be employed in Africa by a recognized university or research institution.
- Demonstrate emerging research leadership in biomedical or health-related disciplines.
- Meet one of the following educational criteria:
- A PhD (or equivalent) awarded on or after January 1, 2019.
- A clinical qualification plus a research-relevant Master’s degree awarded on or after January 1, 2019.
- Not have previously undertaken equivalent grant-writing training.
- Have limited experience in managing large-scale grants (total value of grants under £250,000).
Participant Expectations
Successful applicants must:
- Attend all programme sessions.
- Dedicate additional hours for preparatory assignments and proposal drafting.
- Commit to applying the skills acquired to enhance future grant submissions and contribute to institutional research capacity.
Application Process
- Visit the AREF portal and create an account.
- Access and complete the application form.
- Refer to the Application Form Guidance and FAQs guide for additional support.
Key Dates:
- Call Opens: December 5, 2024.
- Application Deadline: January 8, 2025.
- Outcome Notification: February 3, 2025.
Selection Criteria
Candidates will be evaluated based on their:
- Research experience and achievements.
- Potential to benefit from the programme and apply the knowledge gained.
- Vision for using skills to address African health challenges.
- Commitment to sharing skills (cascading) with colleagues.
AREF prioritizes diversity and inclusivity, with a gender and language-balanced selection process.
Contact Information
- Programme Enquiries: Use AREF portal.
- Portal Registration Issues: Email [email protected] with “Portal Registration” in the subject line.
Unlock your potential to secure impactful research funding and contribute to Africa’s health challenges. Apply today for this transformative programme!
