Cambridge-Africa ALBORADA Research Fund 2025- Apply Now

Application Deadline:September 5, 2025

Applications are now open for the Cambridge-Africa ALBORADA Research Fund 2025, offering grants of up to £20,000 to support innovative research collaborations between African researchers and counterparts from the University of Cambridge or affiliated institutions. This prestigious fund, launched in 2012 with the backing of The ALBORADA Trust, continues to strengthen academic partnerships and advance impactful research across disciplines in sub-Saharan Africa.

About the ALBORADA Research Fund

The Cambridge-Africa ALBORADA Research Fund was established to enhance research capacity and foster equitable collaboration between African institutions and the University of Cambridge. It encourages joint applications from postdoctoral-level researchers and above, enabling them to co-develop meaningful research initiatives that address shared challenges across health, education, technology, climate, agriculture, and other critical sectors.

This fund is open to researchers in any academic discipline, with an emphasis on genuine collaboration. Projects must reflect active involvement from both institutions and should not simply outsource work to one party.

Eligibility Criteria

To be eligible for funding, applications must meet the following criteria:

Each proposal must be submitted jointly by a researcher from the University of Cambridge (or an affiliated institution like the Wellcome Sanger Institute, NIAB, or the British Antarctic Survey) and a researcher based at an African institution.
Applicants must demonstrate clear, mutual collaboration in designing and executing the research.
All disciplines are welcome.

The application must reflect shared responsibilities, rather than one party carrying out work for the other. Proposals that showcase training, mutual exchange, and capacity-building will be favorably considered.

Funding Amount and Eligible Activities

The Cambridge-Africa ALBORADA Research Fund awards competitive grants ranging from £1,000 to £20,000. Funding can support:

Research expenses such as laboratory reagents, fieldwork, and equipment purchases.
Travel costs associated with collaboration between Cambridge and African institutions.
Research training activities conducted in Africa, including setting up training courses and hosting capacity-building workshops.

This initiative is particularly valuable for early-stage projects or as seed funding for developing larger collaborative proposals.

Application Process

All applications must be completed online via the Cambridge-Africa website. Both applicants are required to register on the platform and complete a collaborative application form. Final submissions must include the following documents:

A case for support, outlining the research goals and collaborative strategy
A detailed budget, using the provided template
A letter of support from the Cambridge department or faculty. (For Engineering, a letter from the Head of Division is mandatory)
A letter of support from the African partner institution
CVs for both the Cambridge and African Principal Investigators (max 2 pages each)

Application Timeline

Opening Date: Monday, 2 June 2025
Deadline for Submission: Friday, 5 September 2025
Review Period: September to October 2025 (shortlisted applicants may be asked for additional information)
Funding Decisions Announced: End of October 2025

This timeline allows ample time for collaborative proposal development and administrative approvals.

Why Apply?

This fund empowers African and Cambridge-based researchers to engage in impactful research partnerships that not only generate new knowledge but also address pressing issues in African communities. The ALBORADA Fund has a track record of promoting long-term partnerships, strengthening research skills, and producing valuable policy-relevant outputs.

Whether you’re looking to expand your academic network, pilot a new research idea, or deliver training workshops in Africa, this fund offers the resources and institutional support to turn your vision into reality.

For more information and to apply, CLICK HERE