• Early career researchers. These are research active post-doctoral scientists and clinicians with higher qualifications who are nationals of and employed in Sub-Saharan Africa

• A three to nine-month placement at a leading research institution in the UK, Europe or Africa, with additional support at your home institution before and after the placement. Up to £40,000 available 

The Africa Research Excellence Fund (AREF) nurtures and invests in talented, emerging sub-Saharan African health researchers at the most vulnerable points in their career. Our vision is a growing community of African researchers who deliver excellent research that benefits patients and populations across the continent and globally. Achieving better health demands more health research with the potential for greater impact on healthcare policies and practice.  We need to develop a new generation of leading African researchers – working in Africa on Africa’s health challenges – and we need to do this urgently.

AREF Research Development Fellowships, awarded through competition, provide 3- to 9-month placements in centres of research excellence in the UK, the rest of Europe and Africa. AREF Essential Grant Writing Skills Workshops address these deficiencies through training programmes, facilitated by world-class research experts and experienced research managers, all with extensive experience in writing successful grants, serving on or managing grant review panels and developing research leadership. In supporting AREF, together we will improve health and save lives in Africa and around the world.