Is your natural-science research at an African university or research institute still affected by a conflict, disaster or biological hazard? UNESCO’s Science for Crisis Response and Solutions (SCRS) pilot is inviting eligible African researchers to apply for small institutional research-continuity grants.
Grant amount and deadline
The 2026 call provides six awards of up to US$2,000 each. Applications close 15 November 2026 at 23:59 Paris time. Funded activities must be completed within six months, and the grant is meant to resume or complete a defined portion of research interrupted by crisis.
Who is eligible?
Applicants must be African nationals based at recognised universities or research institutes in Africa, hold at least a Master’s degree or equivalent research qualification, and work in natural sciences or an interdisciplinary field with a substantial natural-science component. The research must have been interrupted by armed conflict, natural disaster or a biological hazard within the preceding three years, or remain materially affected by such disruption. A signed institutional support letter is required.
What the grant can cover
Eligible activities include small research supplies and consumables, local fieldwork and research travel, data collection and secure storage, essential small equipment repair, short-term facility access, and laboratory or publication costs directly linked to interrupted work.
What it does not fund
UNESCO excludes salary replacement, personal allowances, relocation, long-term subsistence, major equipment, construction, general institutional overheads and unrelated activities. This is not an unrestricted institutional grant for an NGO or a conventional doctoral scholarship.
Application checklist
Read the funder’s terms of reference and concept note. Prepare the signed English or French application, current CV, highest relevant academic qualification, signed host-institution support letter and applicable research ethics approvals. Explain why the crisis interrupted the work, what exactly the grant will restore, realistic costs, expected outputs and how completion within six months is feasible.
Official documents and submission
Consult the official UN Science Decade/UNESCO programme announcement for application forms, terms of reference, concept note and the current online submission link. Submit through the specified online application form before the Paris-time deadline.
Frequently asked questions
Can an African NGO apply for general community programming?
No. This grant is for eligible natural-science researchers based at recognised African research institutions, with institutional oversight.
What is the maximum award?
US$2,000; six institutional awards are planned.
What counts as eligible disruption?
A conflict, natural disaster or biological hazard that interrupted the research within the previous three years or has continuing substantial consequences.
Is a host institution letter required?
Yes. An authorised representative of the host institution must sign the support letter.
When must funded work be completed?
The proposed work must be achievable within six months.
Prepare before applying
The Africads Funding Readiness Toolkit can help assess documentation, evidence and budget assumptions. Subscribe to grant opportunities for future funding notices.
