Cambridge-Africa ALBORADA Research Fund 2026 | Grants up to £25,000 for Africa-Cambridge Research Collaborations

Applications are now open for the Cambridge-Africa ALBORADA Research Fund 2026, a prestigious funding opportunity designed to strengthen research collaborations between the University of Cambridge and African universities and research institutions. The fund supports researchers across all academic disciplines and aims to promote long-term partnerships, knowledge exchange, and research capacity building across Africa.

Established in 2012 with support from The ALBORADA Trust, the program has funded hundreds of collaborative projects involving researchers from more than 38 African countries. Many award recipients have gone on to secure major international research grants and expand their partnerships.

Funding Benefits

Successful applicants can receive grants ranging from £1,000 to £25,000 to support:

• Research projects and associated costs
• Equipment and laboratory materials
• Fieldwork activities
• Research training courses and workshops in Africa
• Capacity-building initiatives and collaborative activities

The fund does not cover overhead costs, administrative expenses, conference attendance, publication fees, or principal investigator salaries.

Eligibility Criteria

Applicants must apply as a pair consisting of:

• A researcher from the University of Cambridge or an affiliated institution
• A researcher from an African university or research institution

Both applicants must be at postdoctoral level or above and actively employed by their respective institutions. Applications are welcome from all academic disciplines, and African applicants can be based in any African country.

Application Process

Applications must be submitted jointly by the Cambridge-based and Africa-based researchers through the online application portal. The Cambridge applicant serves as the lead applicant and initiates the online application before inviting their African collaborator to participate.

Required materials typically include:

• Project proposal
• Budget plan
• Letters of institutional support
• CVs of both principal investigators
• Referee information

Why Apply?

The Cambridge-Africa ALBORADA Research Fund offers an excellent opportunity for researchers to establish or strengthen international collaborations, conduct impactful research, and build sustainable academic partnerships between Africa and Cambridge. The program has a strong track record of supporting innovative projects that later attract substantial external funding.

Key Details

• Host: Cambridge-Africa Programme, University of Cambridge
• Grant Amount: £1,000–£25,000
• Eligible Applicants: Postdoctoral Researchers and Above
• Eligible Countries: All African Countries
• Fields: All Academic Disciplines
• Application Deadline: 3 September 2026

Application Deadline: September 3, 2026. Researchers interested in building impactful Africa-Cambridge collaborations are encouraged to apply.