Grants and opportunities for your next phase

The World Academy of Sciences (TWAS)

TWAS Research Professors in Least Developed Countries Programme 2026/2027

TWAS is inviting requests from research groups and scientific institutions in least developed countries, including many across Africa, to host a TWAS Research Professor for a two to four week visit during a one year appointment. Applications close 23 November 2026.

Eligibility: Requesting institution must be a research group or scientific institution located in a least developed country (LDC)

Deadline

November 23, 2026

Location

Benin, Burkina Faso, Burundi

Funding or benefit

TWAS covers economy class round-trip travel, additional travel expenses and an honorarium for the visiting professor. The host institution covers local expenses.

African Organisation for Standardisation (ARSO)

ARSO 14th Continental Essay Competition 2026/2027 for African Tertiary Students

ARSO invites tertiary students across African Union member states, aged 35 and below, to the 14th Continental Essay Competition on advancing intra African trade through the cotton to clothing value chain under the AfCFTA, with cash prizes of $1,000, $800 and $500.

Eligibility: Enrolled in an accredited tertiary institution in an African Union member state at the time of submission

Deadline

April 23, 2027

Location

Nigeria, Ghana, Kenya

Funding or benefit

Cash prizes of $1,000 for first place, $800 for second place and $500 for third place, each with certificates of excellence.

Manaaki New Zealand Scholarships (Manaaki New Zealand)

Manaaki New Zealand Scholarships Africa Programmes 2027: Trade Policy and Geothermal Energy Project Management

Manaaki New Zealand Scholarships has opened two fully supported Africa programmes for 2027: a Trade Policy short course delivered online from 25 January to 26 February 2027, and a Geothermal Energy Project Management short course delivered in New Zealand from 26 April to 24 May 2027. Nigerian citizens appear on both country lists, alongside nineteen other African countries. Applications for Trade Policy close 25 October 2026 and applications for Geothermal close 6 December 2026.

Eligibility: Citizen of one of the eligible countries for the selected programme (Nigeria appears on both the Trade Policy list and the Geothermal list)

Deadline

December 6, 2026

Location

Nigeria, Ghana, Kenya

Funding or benefit

Manaaki New Zealand Scholarships Africa programmes cover the short course in the selected delivery mode. Specific coverage amounts, allowances and inclusions are not published on the programme page and applicants should confirm them directly on the official Manaaki application page before submitting.

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UNESCO-TWAS

TWAS-SISSA-Lincei Research Cooperation Visits Programme 2026

The TWAS-SISSA-Lincei Research Cooperation Visits Programme gives early career scientists who are nationals of a least developed country a three month funded research visit to laboratories in the Friuli Venezia Giulia region of Italy. UNESCO-TWAS runs it with the Accademia Nazionale dei Lincei and the International School for Advanced Studies, and applications for this cycle close on 31 October 2026.

Eligibility: Maximum age of 40 years on 31 December of the application year

Deadline

October 31, 2026

Location

Afghanistan, Angola, Bangladesh

Funding or benefit

Travel expenses and subsistence costs for the three month stay in Italy are covered by the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation and the Italian Agency for Development Cooperation, through UNESCO-TWAS. TWAS publishes no cash stipend figure for this programme, and administration and financial operation of TWAS is undertaken by UNESCO under an agreement with the organisation.

Pro Helvetia, the Swiss Arts Council

Pro Helvetia Residency in Switzerland 2027 for Artists and Cultural Practitioners from Africa and Other Regions

Pro Helvetia funds residencies of up to three months at a partner institution in Switzerland for artists and cultural practitioners who live in one of its liaison office regions, which covers West, Central, East and Southern Africa among other areas. Accommodation, travel and daily allowances are covered, and applications open on 1 January each year with a deadline of 1 March at 23:59 Central European Time.

Eligibility: Artists and cultural practitioners with permanent residence in one of Pro Helvetia's liaison office regions and active participation in that cultural scene

Deadline

March 1, 2027

Location

Nigeria, Ghana, Kenya

Funding or benefit

Pro Helvetia covers accommodation, travel costs and daily allowances for a residency of up to three months, plus a coach from the local artistic field, and can add a workstation and a contribution towards production or material costs on request. Applicants with childcare responsibilities can request up to 1,000 CHF per month towards childcare or the travel costs of their children and, where necessary, a carer.

beVisioneers by The DO School, funded by Mercedes-Benz

beVisioneers The Mercedes-Benz Fellowship 2027 Cohort

A fully funded, hybrid fellowship for eco-innovators aged 18 to 28, with scholarship opportunities of up to EUR 15,000 to grow a planet positive project, plus mentoring, a global community and funded travel to key events.

Eligibility: Eco-innovators aged 18 to 28 on the application closing date of 31 January 2027

Deadline

January 31, 2027

Location

Kenya, Rwanda, South Africa

Funding or benefit

Scholarship opportunities of up to €15,000 to grow your project, within a fully funded fellowship that covers travel, accommodation and expenses for key programme events, plus additional financial support for accessibility.

My Little Big Thing (MK-Africa with Cambridge ISL)

My Little Big Thing Sustainability Challenge 2026/2027, 10th Anniversary Edition

A free three-month sustainability innovation challenge for young African innovators, closing with a Demo Day at Strathmore University in front of investors.

Eligibility: Anyone aged 18 to 35 living anywhere in Africa

Deadline

November 30, 2026

Location

Kenya, Nigeria, Ghana

Funding or benefit

Entry is free and no cash prize amount is published. Support includes 12 months of one to one mentorship for the Top 15 and a sponsored Cambridge ISL sustainability course for the Top 3. An optional verified certificate costs $20.

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D-Prize

D-Prize Global Competition 2026: Up to US$20,000 to Launch an Organization Distributing Proven Poverty Solutions

A global competition that gives up to US$20,000 in seed funding to first-time founders building organizations that deliver proven, evidence-based poverty solutions to underserved communities. The 2026 round runs from 14 September 2026 with submission deadlines on 25 October, 15 November and 6 December 2026.

Eligibility: Open to applicants worldwide, including individuals and founding teams

Deadline

November 15, 2026

Location

Global, Kenya, Nigeria

Funding or benefit

Up to US$20,000 in seed funding to launch a new organization that distributes a proven poverty solution. The award can support initial programme implementation, team costs, early operations and pilot activities, and awardees spend the following months piloting their distribution idea and building the organization.