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SHARPER Catalyst Grants 2026

SHARPER Consortium

The SHARPER Consortium is inviting applications for its 2026 Catalyst Grants, offering US$15,000 in seed funding to early-career African researchers developing innovative ideas in epidemic and pandemic sciences. Up to eight grants will support six-month projects that strengthen Africa’s preparedness and response to epidemics and pandemics.

Who can apply

  • Early-career African researchers
  • Researchers within seven years of their qualifying research degree or equivalent research qualification
  • Mid-level research officers or scientists transitioning toward research independence
  • Researchers affiliated with African academic institutions
  • Researchers affiliated with African research institutions
  • Researchers affiliated with African public health institutions
  • Researchers affiliated with African industry institutions

Focus areas

  • Epidemic preparedness
  • Pandemic preparedness
  • Health systems resilience
  • Community-centred preparedness and response
  • Social and behavioural aspects of epidemic preparedness
  • Ethics and human rights in pandemic preparedness
  • Health research dissemination and uptake
  • Decolonial approaches to African health systems
  • Outbreak analytics
  • Mathematical modelling
  • One Health
  • Environmental determinants of health
  • Clinical research
  • Operational research
  • Diagnostics
  • Disease surveillance
  • Laboratory systems

Requirements

  • The lead applicant must be an early-career researcher or a mid-level research officer/scientist transitioning toward independence.
  • The applicant must be affiliated with an African academic, research, public health or industry institution.
  • The proposed research must be relevant to epidemic or pandemic sciences.
  • The total requested budget must not exceed US$15,000.
  • The proposed project must be designed for a maximum six-month implementation period.
  • Personnel costs may account for up to 40% of the total budget.
  • Equipment costs may account for up to 25% of the total budget.
  • Fieldwork costs may account for up to 20% of the total budget.
  • Indirect costs may not exceed 15% of the total budget.
  • The application must include a research proposal in PDF format.
  • The application must include a detailed budget in XLSX format.
  • An institutional support letter is required.
  • PI and Co-PI CVs must be provided and should not exceed three pages each.
  • An ethical approval plan must be included.
  • Lead applicants may submit only one proposal per funding cycle as Principal Investigator.
  • Co-funding is not mandatory, although in-kind contributions from the host institution are encouraged.

Application steps

  • Review the official SHARPER Catalyst Grants 2026 call and eligibility requirements.
  • Create an account on the SHARPER application platform.
  • Download the official call documents and application templates.
  • Prepare the research proposal using the required format.
  • Prepare the detailed project budget using the SHARPER budget template.
  • Obtain an institutional support letter.
  • Prepare the PI and Co-PI CVs, each not exceeding three pages.
  • Prepare an ethical approval plan.
  • Upload all required application documents to the SHARPER online portal.
  • Review the application carefully before final submission.
  • Submit the complete application by 30 September 2026.
Global Grants Hub strategic note

A strong seed-funding opportunity for early-career African researchers seeking to generate preliminary evidence, test an innovative research concept or establish a pathway toward larger epidemic and pandemic research funding. The modest US$15,000 budget and six-month duration make this particularly suitable for focused pilot studies rather than large multi-year projects. Applicants should show a clear pathway from research findings to practical public health action, policy uptake or stronger epidemic preparedness in Africa.

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