Call for Applications: Grants for African Researchers (Research Grants of up to USD 35,000 awarded)

Are you passionate about enhancing school leadership to promote educational quality, equity, and system resilience across Africa? ACSL is offering up to $15,000 for Descriptive Action Research and $35,000 for Comparative Action Research to support the generation of high-quality, context-specific, and policy-relevant evidence on school leadership in eligible African countries.

The research is an initiative of Education Sub Saharan Africa (ESSA), VVOB – Education for Development, and Association for the Development of Education in Africa (ADEA), under the  African Centre for School Leadership (ACSL) with funding from Mastercard Foundation.

Application for Research Grants for Africa-based School Leadership Researchers and Research Institutions to conduct School Leadership Research in Africa

With funding from the Mastercard Foundation, the African Centre for School Leadership (ACSL), in partnership with Education Sub Saharan Africa (ESSA), invites Africa-based researchers to apply for grants focused on school leadership research. This call for research grants is part of ACSL’s ongoing efforts to strengthen school leadership in Africa and will support research that is context-specific, policy-relevant, and capable of driving meaningful improvements in leadership preparation, professional development, and systemic transformation across African education systems.

The Grants for African Researchers aim to enhance the capacity of researchers in Africa to undertake rigorous, policy-relevant studies that inform leadership practice and contribute to national and continental education agendas.

Grants for African Researchers Overview 

• Eligible countries: Tanzania (Tanzania mainland and Zanzibar) and other African countries.
• Research Duration: 12 months (Descriptive Action Research) and 24 months (Comparative Action Research).
• Webinar with more information: Tuesday, 2nd December 2025 at 12.00pm–1:30 pm GMT (3.00 pm-4.30pm EAT)

Grant Amount

Tanzania (Tanzania mainland and Zanzibar)

• Descriptive Action Research Grants: 10 descriptive action research grants, each valued at up to $15,000.
• Comparative Action Research Grants: Four comparative action research grants, each valued at up to $35,000. 

Other African countries

• Descriptive Action Research Grants: 15 descriptive action research grants, each valued at up to $15,000.  
• Comparative Action Research Grants: 10 comparative action research grants, each valued at up to $35,000. 

Why this Matters

Evidence reviewed by ACSL, along with insights from stakeholder engagements, identified a research gap in school leadership across the continent. Studies are limited, fragmented, and often insufficiently connected to policy reforms or system priorities.

This complicates efforts to generate distinct and comprehensive insights on leadership itself. Moreover, many African researchers experience inadequate access to research funding, often relying on personal resources to initiate or complete their projects.

Why Fund African Education Researchers

ACSL aim to build local research capacity by directly supporting African education researchers to produce new, context-specific evidence on school leadership that can inform policy, strengthen practice, and advance advocacy efforts across countries.

Who is Eligible

African researchers based in Africa with a PhD and affiliated with an African university, research institution, government department/ministry, or other recognised research or knowledge organisation are encouraged to apply. Experienced researchers without a PhD may also apply, provided they demonstrate a strong research track record.

Proposals that demonstrate collaboration with early-career researchers, include women researchers, involve practitioners such as head teachers or middle-tier educators, and/or reflect geographical diversity are strongly encouraged to apply.

The proposed research must clearly align with one or more of the priority school leadership themes identified in the concept note.

Apply today and join other researchers shaping the future of school leadership in Africa.

Important Notes for All Applicants:

• Applicants are encouraged to carefully review all links and documents provided in the call and take all necessary steps to ensure full compliance with the application requirements, thereby strengthening their chances of a successful submission.
• Applications must be submitted in either English or French. Successful applicants will also be required to report on their research in one of these two languages.  

Click here for more information.