About this opportunity
UNESCO has opened the first pilot call under its Science for Crisis Response and Solutions Programme, a small grants scheme built to help African researchers pick natural science work back up after war, a natural hazard or a biological hazard interrupted it. Six institutional grants of up to USD 2,000 each are available in this round, and the point is continuity rather than a brand new project, so the money follows a clearly defined piece of the research you were already doing.
The grant can pay for consumables and small research supplies, local fieldwork and research travel, data collection, processing or secure storage, minor equipment repair or essential short term access to a lab or facility, and laboratory, publication or open access costs. It will not cover salary replacement, honoraria or personal allowances, international relocation or long term subsistence, major equipment or construction, institutional overheads, or activities that sit outside the interrupted research. Applicants also confirm that the same costs are not being funded from another source.
Applications come from African nationals based at a recognised university or research institute in an African country who hold at least a Master's degree or an equivalent recognised research qualification in a relevant field, and who conduct natural science research, including interdisciplinary work with a substantial natural science component. You must be able to show that the research was interrupted within the previous three years or continues to be materially affected by the consequences, and that the proposed activities finish inside six months and within the USD 2,000 ceiling. UNESCO particularly encourages women scientists, researchers under 40 and colleagues from least developed countries and Small Island Developing States in Africa.
The call closes on 15 November 2026 at 23:59 Paris time. Read the Call for Applications and the Terms of Reference on the UNESCO page first, then complete and sign the online form in English or French and attach a CV, proof of your highest relevant qualification and a support letter signed by an authorised representative of your host institution, along with any ethics, research or fieldwork authorisation your activity requires.
What you receive
- An institutional grant of up to USD 2,000 to resume or complete a defined part of interrupted research
- Funding for consumables and small research supplies
- Support for local fieldwork and research travel
- Data collection, processing or secure storage costs
- Minor equipment repair or essential short term access to equipment or facilities
- Laboratory, publication or open access costs
- A route to preserve valuable data and scientific capacity in a crisis affected setting
Who can apply
- African nationals based at a recognised university or research institute in an African country
- At least a Master's degree or an equivalent recognised research qualification in a relevant field
- Natural science research, including interdisciplinary research with a substantial natural science component
- Research interrupted by an armed conflict or a natural or biological hazard within the previous three years, or still materially affected by its consequences
- Activities that can be completed within six months and inside the USD 2,000 grant ceiling
- A signed support letter from an authorised representative of your host institution
- Confirmation that the same costs are not funded from another source
- Applications are welcome from all African countries meeting the crisis criteria, and women scientists, researchers under 40 and researchers from least developed countries and Small Island Developing States in Africa are particularly encouraged
Who should not apply
- Salary replacement, honoraria and personal allowances
- International relocation and long term subsistence
- Major equipment and construction
- Institutional overheads
- Activities unrelated to the interrupted research
- Costs already covered by another funder
- Applicants without a host university or research institute in an African country
Documents to prepare
- Completed and signed application form in English or French
- Curriculum vitae
- Proof of your highest relevant qualification
- Support letter signed by an authorised representative of your host institution
- Any ethics, research or fieldwork authorisation required for the proposed activities
How to apply
- Read the Call for Applications, the Terms of Reference and the Concept Note linked on the UNESCO call page at https://www.unesco.org/en/articles/call-applications-science-crisis-response-and-solutions-research-continuity-grants-africa
- Confirm your research falls inside the crisis criterion, meaning an armed conflict or a natural or biological hazard in the previous three years, or consequences that still materially affect the work
- Ask an authorised representative of your host institution to sign the support letter before you start the form
- Open the UNESCO application form at https://forms.cloud.microsoft/e/ZPZXMxni9A and complete and sign it in English or French
- Attach your CV, proof of your highest relevant qualification and the signed institutional support letter
- Upload any ethics, research or fieldwork authorisation your proposed activities need
- Submit the application online before 15 November 2026 at 23:59 Paris time and keep the confirmation
Selection process
- UNESCO assesses each submission against the criteria published in the Call for Applications and the Terms of Reference linked from the call page
- The reviewer confirms the crisis interruption, the natural science component and the institutional link before the grant is considered
- Proposed activities must be completable within six months and inside the USD 2,000 ceiling
- Six institutional grants are awarded under this first pilot call, with women scientists, researchers under 40 and applicants from least developed countries and Small Island Developing States in Africa given encouragement
- The Call for Applications and Terms of Reference documents are published on the UNESCO call page and govern the award
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Questions applicants ask
What counts as interrupted research?
UNESCO asks for research interrupted by an armed conflict or a natural or biological hazard within the previous three years, or work that continues to be materially affected by the consequences of one of those events.
Do I apply as an individual or through my institution?
The grant is institutional. You apply as a researcher based at a recognised university or research institute in an African country, and a support letter signed by an authorised representative of that institution is part of the application.
Can the grant pay my salary?
No. UNESCO states the grant does not cover salary replacement, honoraria or personal allowances, and it also excludes international relocation, long term subsistence, major equipment, construction and institutional overheads.
Which languages can I apply in?
The application form is available in English and French, and both versions are linked from the UNESCO call page.
Is there an application fee?
No fee is stated on the UNESCO call page. The application runs through the online form.
When does the call close?
15 November 2026 at 23:59 Paris time.
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