Africa Health Collaborative Research Fund 2026: Up to USD 22,000 in Funding for Early Career Researchers Advancing Primary Health Care in Sub-Saharan Africa ·Saharan Africa

The Africa Health Collaborative (AHC) Research Fund 2026 is now accepting Expressions of Interest (EOIs) from eligible Early Career Researchers (ECRs) seeking funding to develop innovative, collaborative research projects focused on strengthening Primary Health Care (PHC) systems across Sub-Saharan Africa.

This prestigious funding opportunity aims to foster high-impact bilateral and multilateral research collaborations among member institutions of the Africa Health Collaborative. Through this initiative, researchers will receive financial support to build research capacity, strengthen partnerships across African institutions, and generate evidence capable of influencing health policy, health financing, and human resource development.

Researchers with innovative ideas addressing health workforce challenges and financing policies in primary health care are encouraged to apply before the application deadline.

About the Africa Health Collaborative (AHC)

The Africa Health Collaborative (AHC) is a multi-year partnership dedicated to strengthening primary health care systems throughout Africa by investing in:

• Health workforce development
• Medical education
• Innovation
• Entrepreneurship
• Research collaboration
• Capacity building

The collaborative recognizes research as one of the most important pillars for improving healthcare delivery across the continent. Through this funding scheme, AHC seeks to promote translational research capable of producing practical solutions that positively impact African communities.

Rather than supporting isolated research projects, the program focuses on establishing sustainable partnerships that can continue attracting larger research grants in the future.

Overview of the 2026 Research Fund

The Africa Health Collaborative member institutions are jointly contributing matching funds to support collaborative research among their institutions.

The fund specifically supports:

• Bilateral research projects involving two AHC member institutions.
• Multilateral research projects involving three or more AHC institutions.

The overall objective is to empower Early Career Researchers by providing seed funding that enables them to:

• Build international research collaborations.
• Develop competitive research portfolios.
• Generate preliminary findings.
• Position themselves for larger external research grants.
• Produce evidence that improves primary healthcare systems.

2026 Research Theme

The theme for the 2026 funding call is:

Health Human Resources Policy and Health Financing Policy in Primary Health Care in Sub-Saharan Africa

Applicants are expected to develop innovative research projects addressing policy-related issues affecting:

• Health workforce development
• Health worker distribution
• Human resource planning
• Primary healthcare financing
• Sustainable healthcare systems
• Universal Health Coverage
• Community health systems
• Policy implementation
• Health systems strengthening

Projects should demonstrate clear potential for improving health outcomes within Sub-Saharan Africa.

Funding Value

Successful proposals can receive substantial financial support.

Bilateral Projects

Eligible projects may receive:

• Up to USD 22,000
• Each participating institution may award up to USD 11,000 to its own investigator.

Multilateral Projects

Funding will be scaled according to the number of participating institutions.

Each participating institution may receive:

• Up to USD 11,000 for investigators affiliated with that institution.

Number of Projects to be Funded

The joint funding initiative plans to support:

• Up to 9 collaborative research proposals

The funding period for each project will last:

• 18 months

Project Duration

Approved research projects will:

• Begin on January 1, 2027
• Continue for a maximum period of 18 months

Eligible Research Activities

Funding may support numerous collaborative activities, including:

• Joint research workshops
• Researcher exchange visits
• Collaborative research groups
• Cross-institutional partnerships
• Data collection
• Field research
• Research meetings
• Capacity-building activities
• Knowledge exchange
• Stakeholder engagement
• Publication activities (where institutionally permitted)

The program emphasizes collaboration among institutions and encourages interdisciplinary approaches.

What the Funding Can Cover

Depending on institutional guidelines, eligible expenses may include:

• International and domestic travel
• Flights
• Hotel accommodation
• Subsistence costs
• Workshops
• Research meetings
• Research consumables (up to USD 1,500 where applicable)
• Graduate student stipends
• Research exchanges
• Field visits
• Software licenses
• External consultation fees
• Publishing costs
• Conference presentations (institution-dependent)
• Data collection
• Research dissemination activities

Costs That Are Generally Not Eligible

The program generally excludes funding for:

• Equipment purchases
• Replacement teaching costs
• Replacement research costs
• Directly allocated applicant salaries
• Estate and indirect costs
• Research assistants (institution-dependent)
• Entertainment expenses
• Excessive branding
• Non-research marketing activities

Eligible Institutions

Only Early Career Researchers affiliated with the following Africa Health Collaborative institutions may apply:

• Addis Ababa University
• African Institute for Mathematical Sciences (AIMS)
• African Leadership University
• Amref International University
• Ashesi University
• Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology
• Moi University
• University of Cape Town
• University of Toronto

Eligibility Requirements

Applicants must satisfy several important requirements.

Research Leadership

Applications must be led by an Early Career Researcher (ECR).

Collaboration

Projects must be either:

• Bilateral (two participating institutions), or
• Multilateral (three or more participating institutions)

Student Participation

Every proposal must include participation by:

• Master’s students
• Doctoral students
• Postdoctoral trainees

Application Limits

Applicants may lead only one application.

Applicants Without Co-applicants

Researchers who do not yet have collaborators may still submit an application.

If approved by their home institution, their proposal may be placed in a public repository to help identify suitable collaborators from other AHC member institutions.

External Collaborators

Researchers from:

• Government
• NGOs
• International universities
• Community organizations
• Other research institutions

may participate in projects but cannot serve as principal applicants.

Institutional Definitions of Early Career Researchers

Each institution has its own definition of an Early Career Researcher.

Examples include:

• Faculty within a specified number of years after PhD completion.
• Assistant professors.
• Lecturers.
• Postdoctoral researchers.
• Newly appointed researchers.
• PhD graduates within defined timeframes.
• PhD students meeting publication requirements.
• Master’s graduates with peer-reviewed publications (institution dependent).

Applicants should carefully review the requirements applicable to their institution before submitting an application.

Equality, Equity, Diversity and Inclusion

The Africa Health Collaborative strongly promotes Equality, Equity, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI).

Applicant teams are encouraged to foster research environments that:

• Respect diversity
• Promote inclusion
• Encourage different perspectives
• Support persons with disabilities
• Promote gender equity
• Recognize indigenous peoples
• Include diverse sectors and disciplines

Evaluation Criteria

Applications will be assessed by a joint review committee representing all participating institutions.

Evaluation will consider:

1. Project design
2. Research rationale
3. Academic quality
4. Complementarity among collaborators
5. Potential translational impact
6. Demonstrable societal impact
7. Potential for future funding
8. Alignment with Africa Health Collaborative priorities

Application Process

The application process consists of two stages.

Stage One: Expression of Interest (EOI)

Applicants first submit an Expression of Interest demonstrating:

• Eligibility
• Research concept
• Institutional affiliation

Successful EOIs will receive an invitation to submit a full proposal.

Stage Two: Full Proposal

Only approved applicants from Stage One will be invited to submit comprehensive research proposals.

One joint proposal will be submitted on behalf of the project team.

Important Dates

• Applications Open: Currently Open
• Expression of Interest Deadline: 15 August 2026 (12:00 PM GMT)
• EOI Results Announcement: 7 September 2026 (12:00 PM GMT)
• Invitation for Full Proposals: 7 November 2026 (12:00 PM GMT)
• Project Start Date: 1 January 2027

How to Apply

Interested applicants should:

1. Confirm eligibility through their institution.
2. Prepare an Expression of Interest.
3. Submit the EOI before the deadline.
4. Await institutional review.
5. If invited, prepare and submit the full proposal.

Applicants requiring clarification may contact: africasecretariat@utoronto.ca

APPLY HERE

Why You Should Apply

The Africa Health Collaborative Research Fund represents an outstanding opportunity for emerging researchers to establish long-term international collaborations while addressing some of the most pressing healthcare challenges facing Sub-Saharan Africa.

Beyond financial support, successful applicants gain access to an expanding network of leading African and international universities committed to advancing primary healthcare research. The collaborative nature of the program also enhances researchers’ competitiveness for future international funding, strengthens institutional partnerships, and contributes to evidence-based policymaking that can improve health systems across the continent.

For Early Career Researchers seeking to build impactful research careers while contributing to stronger primary healthcare systems, this fund offers an excellent platform for professional growth and meaningful scientific collaboration.

Visit HERE to learn more about the Africa Health Collaborative Research Fund 2026

Conclusion

The Africa Health Collaborative Research Fund 2026 presents an outstanding opportunity for Early Career Researchers to contribute meaningfully to the future of primary health care in Sub-Saharan Africa. By providing substantial funding, encouraging cross-institutional collaboration, and supporting innovative research on health human resources and health financing policies, the program aims to generate practical solutions that can strengthen health systems and improve healthcare delivery across the region.

Beyond the financial support of up to USD 22,000 for bilateral projects, the initiative offers researchers a valuable platform to establish international partnerships, build research capacity, mentor graduate trainees, and develop competitive projects capable of attracting larger grants in the future. The emphasis on translational research ensures that funded projects will not only advance academic knowledge but also contribute to evidence-based policies and sustainable improvements in primary health care.

Eligible Early Career Researchers affiliated with participating Africa Health Collaborative member institutions are encouraged to begin preparing their Expressions of Interest well in advance of the 15 August 2026 (12:00 PM GMT) deadline. Applicants should carefully review their institution-specific eligibility requirements, develop strong collaborative partnerships, and design impactful research proposals that align with the 2026 funding theme. For researchers committed to advancing health systems and creating lasting impact across Africa, this grant represents an exceptional opportunity to transform innovative ideas into meaningful change.

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