African Researcher's Small Grants Program (SGP VIII) Request for Applications
Call opening date: Friday, July 24, 2026 17:00 GMT
Call closing date: Friday, August 24, 2026 17:00 GMT
Early-Career grants: USD 30,000 (maximum funding) – 4 Awards
Mid-Career grants: USD 65,000 (maximum funding) – 2 Awards
Introduction
The African Research Network for Neglected Tropical Diseases (ARNTD), in partnership with the Coalition for Operational Research on Neglected Tropical Diseases (COR-NTD), is pleased to invite applications for the eighth edition of the Small Grants Program (SGP VIII), supporting implementation research. Funded by the UK government’s Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) through its Global Research and Technology Development portfolio, SGP VIII aims to provide support to mid-career African research scientists to contribute to the control and elimination agenda by addressing implementation and other programmatic challenges through implementation research portfolios. Research studies to be supported will be aligned with the goals established in the WHO 2030 NTD Roadmap.
Objectives
- To increase African leadership, involvement, and visibility in NTD operational and implementation research, including through direct engagement with national NTD programs;
- To contribute to improving the research capacity of African NTD researchers and strengthening African research institutions in the process by supporting operational and implementation research on NTDs that is locally originated and African-led;
- To provide an opportunity for young upcoming researchers not only to gain experience in research, but also in preparation of grant applications and management;
- To supplement a clearly defined aspect of ongoing research or to answer a new question linked to ongoing research being carried out by mid-career researchers;
- To improve South-South communication and collaboration among researchers, policymakers, and implementers, and for community participation in research and agenda-setting;
- To encourage a North-South collaboration model that facilitates productive engagement between researchers and NTD control programs, while promoting local leadership and ownership of initiatives and activities.
Target Group
This request for applications (RFA) is targeted at outstanding researchers and academics based in research institutions or universities in Africa. Applicants will have to demonstrate that the proposed research or activity is aligned with their country’s NTD program interests and has potential institutional and individual capacity-building impact. The early-career grants target researchers and PhD students who are at the early phase of their research career, while the mid-career grants target previous SGP grantees (SGP I-VI) who have successfully completed and demonstrated excellence in the conduct of their previous SGP research and are seeking opportunities to continue/expand and or conduct more advanced research within the scope of this RFA. More details on eligibility, scope, and specific application process can be found in the individual call for the two funding streams. Applications are accepted in English, French, and Portuguese. However, shortlisted applicants will be required to submit full proposals and additional documentation in ONLY ENGLISH in order to be eligible for the award.
Applications from all qualified researchers who have taken career breaks due to health conditions and/or family demands are also encouraged.
Download detailed Call below
Early-Career Grants
Mid-Career Grants
ARNTD exists to support evidence-based control and elimination of NTDs from Africa by empowering current and future generations of African researchers.
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