Funding Opportunity: AREF Research Development Fellowship Programme 2024/25

The AREF Research Development Fellowship Program for 2024/25 is now open for applications. This prestigious program is designed to support emerging leaders in African health research by providing valuable placements and resources to advance their careers.

Research Development Fellowship Program

Objective: The AREF Research Development Fellowship Program aims to assist talented early-career researchers who are addressing significant health challenges. The program offers placements at leading research institutions in the UK, Europe, or Africa to enhance their research skills and career development.

Benefits:

Funding: Up to £47,000
Placement Duration: 3 to 9 months
Additional Support: Provided before and after the placement at the researcher’s home institution

Eligibility Criteria:

Target Group: Early-career researchers, including post-doctoral scientists and clinicians with higher qualifications.
Employment: Must be employed at a recognized institution in Africa.
Nationality: Must be a national of an African country.

Application Details

Application Process:

Review Guidance Documents: Applicants must carefully read the provided application guidance documents.
Submit Proposal: Applications should be completed through the AREF Portal.
Institutional Support: It is essential to secure support from leaders within both the employing and host institutions.

Key Dates:

Application Deadline: 4 October 2024, 13:00 GMT
Outcome Notification: By April 2025
Fellowship Start Date: Between July 2025 and December 2025

Important Notes:

AREF will not cover salaries during the placement but will support reasonable accommodation, travel, and training costs.
Early discussions with employing and host institutions are crucial for application success.

Click here to apply

Essential Grant Writing Skills Program

In addition to the fellowship, AREF is offering the Essential Grant Writing Skills Program, a comprehensive online training designed for early-career researchers aiming to secure significant grants.

Programme Highlights:

Dates: 21-25 October 2024 and 9-11 December 2024
Format: Eight 3-hour online sessions with additional assignments.
Focus Areas:
- Developing and articulating a research niche
- Crafting compelling research proposals
- Understanding funders’ requirements
- Managing collaboration and teams

Eligibility:

Researchers who are actively seeking independent funding and have previously won smaller grants but are targeting larger ones.
Participants must commit to the full series and complete additional preparatory work.

Expectations:

Full attendance and active participation in all sessions are mandatory.
Participants are expected to dedicate additional time for preparatory work and proposal development