Grants Overview

The Research for Equitable Access and Learning (REAL) Centre at the University of Cambridge, in partnership with  Education Sub-Saharan Africa (ESSA) and with funding from the Conrad N. Hilton Foundation, is excited to offer grants of up to $15,000 to support early childhood development (ECD) researchers in sub-Saharan Africa.

Deadline: Friday, 28 February 2025, at 23:59 GMT
Webinar for more information: 23 January 2025, 10:00 am – 11:30 am (GMT)
Countries of research: Ghana, Kenya, Mozambique, Tanzania (priority), and other eligible sub-Saharan African countries
Grant amount: Up to $15,000
Research Timeframe: 10 months

Context and Importance

Early childhood development is critical to shaping the future of children and communities. However, over 250 million children under the age of five in low- and middle-income countries risk falling short of their developmental potential. In Africa, children are five times less likely to achieve basic reading proficiency by the end of primary school compared to their global peers. This initiative, part of Phase 2 of an ECD-focused project, builds upon efforts from Phase 1 to strengthen local research capacity, address challenges, and develop context-specific solutions for the region’s youngest learners.

Why Fund African ECD Researchers?

Supporting African researchers based in Africa is key to developing effective and sustainable solutions to local challenges. By funding these researchers, the project aims to:

  • Develop context-specific and policy-relevant solutions tailored to the unique needs of African children.
  • Strengthen local research capacity to ensure long-term improvements in ECD.
  • Foster collaboration and knowledge-sharing within the African research community.

What is on Offer?

  • Grant Amount: Up to $15,000 to support research activities, including data collection, analysis, and dissemination.
  • Number of Grants: 20 to 25 grants will be awarded to support high-impact, policy-relevant research focused on the intersection of education, health, nutrition, caregiving, play, or environmental protection for children aged 0 to 8 years.
  • Focus Countries: Ghana, Kenya, Tanzania, Mozambique, and additional sub-Saharan African countries.

Eligibility Criteria

  • Target Researchers: Africa-based researchers with a PhD working at a research-oriented institution (e.g., universities, research think tanks, or research units in government ministries).
  • Research Focus: Applications must focus on policy-relevant, actionable research addressing key ECD challenges in the context of Africa.
  • Collaborative Research: Collaborative projects between institutions or countries are highly encouraged.

How to Apply?

  1. Complete the Application Form
  2. Join the Webinar: On 23 January 2025, from 10:00 am to 11:30 am (GMT), we will be hosting a webinar to provide more information about the grants. Please express your interest to join and submit any questions in advance via researchenquiries@essa-africa.org.
  3. Deadline for Applications: 28 February 2025 at 23:59 GMT.

Why This Matters

ECD is the foundation for lifelong learning, but the challenges are great. With millions of African children facing developmental risks, this initiative aims to empower African researchers to address these gaps and improve outcomes for young children across the continent.

Join us in transforming early childhood development research and making a positive impact on the future of Africa’s youngest generation!

For more information and to apply, visit here.