CODESRIA 2026 AFRIAK Call for Proposals

About the Opportunity

The Council for the Development of Social Science Research in Africa (CODESRIA) invites submissions to the 2026 AFRIAK Call for Proposals, a research support initiative aimed at strengthening the capacities of young African scholars in the social sciences and humanities. The programme is designed to enable early-career academics to undertake high-quality research that addresses critical social phenomena across the continent.

AFRIAK (African Research Academic Integrity and Knowledge Systems) nurtures scholarly excellence, promotes methodological innovation, and enhances research skills among emerging researchers. Through competitive grants, the programme supports rigorous inquiry into contemporary issues that shape African societies, economies, cultures, and governance systems.

CODESRIA, established in 1973, has a long history of advancing African scholarship and strengthening networks of researchers dedicated to knowledge generation, policy influence, and inclusive development. The AFRIAK grants form part of the Council’s broader work to embed research integrity, academic collaboration, and contextual knowledge production across Africa.

What the Call Offers

Selected grantees will receive financial and technical support to carry out their proposed projects. AFRIAK grants are structured to:

  • Facilitate independent research that expands knowledge in the social sciences and humanities
  • Provide funding that covers fieldwork, data collection, analysis, and dissemination activities
  • Strengthen research design and methodological rigor among early-career scholars
  • Support knowledge exchange and academic engagement across African research institutions

 

The level of funding and the detailed modalities of support will be communicated in the grant guidelines and award letters to successful applicants.

 

Who Should Apply

AFRIAK is open to emerging African scholars who are:

  • Based at recognized universities or research institutions in Africa
  • Within the early stages of their academic or research careers (usually within 5 years of PhD completion, subject to CODESRIA’s eligibility definitions)
  • Engaged in research agendas that address thematic priorities of social relevance within and across African contexts

 

Applications may be submitted by individuals or, where allowed by the call guidelines, by small research teams led by an eligible principal investigator. Collaborative proposals that demonstrate cross-institutional engagement are encouraged.

 

Thematic Priorities

Proposals under the 2026 AFRIAK Call should align with one or more of CODESRIA’s strategic thematic areas, which typically include:

  • Democracy, governance, and political change
  • Economic transformations and social policy
  • Environment, climate change, and health
  • Knowledge production, academic integrity, ethics, and epistemic justice
  • Gender, youth, and intersectional inequalities

Applicants should consult the official call document  for detailed descriptions of thematic areas and specific research priorities.

 

Application Deadline & Submission Process

 

Proposal requirements typically include:

  • A research proposal outlining objectives, literature foundation, methodology, and expected outputs
  • A detailed budget and work plan for the proposed research
  • Curriculum vitae and institutional affiliation documents
  • Support letters where required by the call guidelines

 

Additional Information

  • Proposals should demonstrate methodological clarity, theoretical relevance, and the potential to contribute new insights to African scholarship.
  • Applicants may submit only one proposal per call round.

 

Important Notice

This funding opportunity is external to our organisation and is shared for informational purposes only.