The African Research Excellence Fund (AREF) has announced the launch of its Women Grant Writing Programme for 2025, a specialised training initiative designed to empower early-career female researchers across Africa with the skills needed to secure competitive research funding.
The programme, scheduled to run from June to September 2025, aims to build capacity among talented women researchers in health and health-related fields, equipping them with the expertise to develop high-quality research and fellowship proposals capable of winning international, regional, and national funding competitions.
The persistent gender gap in research funding continues to be a significant barrier for women scientists across Africa. This programme directly addresses this challenge by providing targeted support to help talented female researchers navigate the competitive funding landscape.
The comprehensive training curriculum will cover essential aspects of proposal development, including how to articulate a unique research niche, formulate compelling research questions, understand funders’ requirements, and write effectively in plain English. Participants will also learn about structuring different sections of a proposal, planning project budgets, managing collaborations, conducting peer reviews, and preparing for fellowship interviews.
The programme will be delivered through a series of online sessions, beginning with five daily three-hour sessions from June 30 to July 4, followed by three additional sessions from September 1 to 3. All sessions will run from 8:30 to 11:30 GMT and will be conducted entirely in English through the Zoom platform.
Between the two blocks of training, participants will be expected to develop drafts of their research proposals, which will then be utilised during the final three sessions. AREF stated that the programme is highly interactive, requiring full participation in all activities and exercises.
To be eligible, applicants must be female citizens of an African country in the early stages of their research career. They should either hold a research doctorate awarded within the previous six years (since January 1, 2019) or possess both a medical/clinical qualification and a research-relevant Master’s degree awarded within the same timeframe.
Additionally, candidates must be currently employed by a recognised African university or research institution, with a significant part of their role dedicated to developing and conducting health research. Importantly, applicants should not have previously participated in equivalent AREF training or already secured a significant portfolio of international research grants (combined value of £250,000 or more).
AREF welcomes applications from researchers working across a broad spectrum of disciplines, including biomedicine, clinical sciences, epidemiology, environmental health, mental health, public health, data science for health, and health policy systems research.
The selection process will evaluate applicants based on their capacity to benefit from the training, considering factors such as research experience and achievements, how they plan to utilise the training to advance their scientific careers, and how they intend to pass on the knowledge gained to others in their communities.
In line with its commitment to diversity and inclusivity, AREF aims to maintain a gender- and language-balanced selection of participants across its programmes. To ensure equity across research organisations, no more than two participants will be selected from any one employing institution.
Interested candidates can apply through the AREF portal by April 14, 2025. Applicants must register an account on the portal before accessing the application form. Additional information, including application guidance and FAQs, is available on the website.
AREF will inform all applicants about the outcome of their applications by May 14, 2025, with the programme set to commence the following month.
The Women Grant Writing Programme is part of AREF’s broader mission to strengthen health research capacity in Africa by nurturing talented early-career researchers and helping them overcome barriers to scientific excellence.
Follow the AkweyaTV channel on WhatsApp: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029Va7m7dvJuyA7h5XMc22i
