SHARPER Research & Innovation Fellowship Grants 2026

Who can apply

• Early-career African researchers
• Researchers within 0–7 years post-PhD or equivalent terminal research qualification
• Mid-level research officers or scientists transitioning toward research independence
• Researchers holding a primary academic appointment at an African university
• Researchers holding a research appointment at an African public health institute
• Researchers holding a clinical appointment at an African institution
• Researchers affiliated with African biomedical research centres

Focus areas

• Health systems strengthening
• Pandemic equity
• Genomic epidemiology
• Pathogen surveillance
• Outbreak analytics
• Mathematical modelling
• Early-warning systems
• Community-centred preparedness
• Behavioural sciences
• African health sovereignty
• Diagnostics innovation
• Point-of-care technologies
• One Health
• Climate change and health
• Zoonotic spillover
• Ethics in health emergencies
• Human rights in public health emergencies

Requirements

• The applicant must be an early-career researcher within 0–7 years post-PhD or equivalent research qualification, or a mid-level researcher transitioning toward independence.
• The applicant must hold a primary academic, research or clinical appointment at an African university, public health institute or biomedical research centre.
• The host institution must provide an official commitment letter guaranteeing protected research time.
• The proposed project must align with at least one SHARPER scientific priority area.
• The requested budget must not exceed US$40,000.
• The proposed research period must not exceed six months.
• Fellowship stipend and personnel costs may account for up to 45% of the budget.
• Research consumables and laboratory costs may account for up to 30% of the budget.
• Fieldwork and primary data collection may account for up to 25% of the budget.
• Scientific dissemination and travel may account for up to 15% of the budget.
• Institutional indirect costs may not exceed 10% of the budget.
• The application must include a Fellowship Research Proposal in PDF format.
• The application must include an itemized budget and narrative in XLSX format.
• An Institutional Endorsement Letter is required.
• Principal Fellow and Mentor CVs must be provided and must not exceed three pages each.
• An Ethical Approval or Exemption Plan must be included.

Application steps

• Review the official SHARPER Research & Innovation Fellowship Grants 2026 call.
• Confirm eligibility and secure support from an eligible African host institution.
• Identify a suitable scientific mentor.
• Develop the Fellowship Research Proposal using the required format.
• Prepare the itemized project budget and narrative.
• Obtain the Institutional Endorsement Letter guaranteeing protected research time.
• Prepare the Principal Fellow and Mentor CVs, each not exceeding three pages.
• Prepare the Ethical Approval or Exemption Plan.
• Create or log into the SHARPER application portal.
• Upload all required documents.
• Review the application carefully before final submission.
• Submit the complete application by 30 September 2026 at 23:59 GMT.