Launched as the first pilot call under UNESCO’s Science for Crisis Response and Solutions Programme, this small-grants initiative aims to help researchers based at recognized African universities and research institutes continue or complete a clearly defined component of research affected by a crisis. The initiative recognizes that conflict, environmental disasters, and biological hazards can disrupt laboratories, fieldwork, access to equipment, data collection, and other essential research activities.
For the 2026 pilot call, UNESCO plans to provide six institutional grants worth up to US$2,000 each. The funding is intended for targeted research activities that can be completed within six months and directly address the effects of an interruption. Eligible researchers must meet the nationality, academic qualification, institutional affiliation, and crisis-related research requirements outlined in the call.
Applications are open to eligible researchers from African countries, with particular encouragement for women scientists, researchers under 40, researchers from least developed countries, and researchers from African Small Island Developing States.
Application deadline: 15 November 2026 at 23:59 Paris time.
Overview of the UNESCO SCRS Research Continuity Grants for Africa 2026
The Research Continuity Grants for Africa are designed to respond to a specific challenge facing researchers in crisis-affected settings: the loss of research time, resources, access, and scientific progress when emergencies interrupt ongoing work.
Research projects can be affected by armed conflict, natural hazards, or biological hazards in numerous ways. Researchers may lose access to laboratories, experience disruptions to fieldwork, face difficulties collecting or storing data, or be unable to use essential scientific equipment and facilities. Such interruptions can threaten not only individual projects but also the broader scientific capacity of universities, research institutions, and local research communities.
Through this pilot initiative, UNESCO seeks to provide targeted financial support that enables eligible researchers to address a practical obstacle preventing their work from continuing.
The grants are not intended to finance an entire research programme or replace long-term research funding. Instead, they focus on supporting a clearly defined part of interrupted research that can realistically be resumed, completed, or safeguarded within six months.
The programme also aims to preserve scientific knowledge and strengthen the resilience of research systems in crisis-affected African settings. By helping researchers maintain continuity in their work, the initiative can contribute to protecting data, retaining scientific expertise, and supporting the long-term recovery of research activities.
Key details of the grant opportunity
- Opportunity name: UNESCO Science for Crisis Response and Solutions Research Continuity Grants for Africa 2026.
- Programme: Science for Crisis Response and Solutions (SCRS).
- Organizing institution: United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).
- Geographical focus: African countries.
- Number of grants: Six institutional grants in the first pilot call.
- Maximum grant amount: US$2,000 per grant.
- Funding purpose: To resume, complete, or safeguard a clearly defined component of natural-science research interrupted by a crisis.
- Eligible research areas: Natural sciences, including interdisciplinary research with a substantial natural-science component.
- Implementation period: Proposed activities must be completed within six months.
- Institutional requirement: Applicants must be based at a recognized university or research institute in an African country.
- Application deadline: 15 November 2026 at 23:59 Paris time.
- Application languages: English and French.
- Application method: Online submission using the designated application form.
What Is the UNESCO Science for Crisis Response and Solutions Programme?
The Science for Crisis Response and Solutions Programme is a UNESCO initiative concerned with the role of science in addressing crises and supporting solutions. The Research Continuity Grants for Africa represent the first pilot call under this programme.
Scientific research is essential for understanding environmental change, public health threats, natural hazards, and other challenges affecting communities. However, crises can undermine the institutions, facilities, infrastructure, and working conditions required to carry out research.
When a research project is interrupted, the consequences can extend beyond missed deadlines. Field observations may be lost, samples may become inaccessible, data may be placed at risk, and researchers may lose access to equipment or facilities needed to complete their work. In some circumstances, prolonged interruptions can damage research capacity and make it more difficult for institutions to recover.
The SCRS Research Continuity Grants seek to address some of these challenges through small, focused grants. Rather than supporting unrestricted research expenditure, the initiative prioritizes practical activities directly connected to research that has already been disrupted by a qualifying crisis.
The first pilot call is therefore particularly relevant to researchers who can identify a specific interruption, explain how it has affected their work, and present a realistic plan for continuing or completing a defined part of their research.
Objectives of the UNESCO Research Continuity Grants for Africa
The grant initiative has several important objectives.
1. Help researchers resume interrupted scientific work
One of the central aims is to help researchers overcome practical obstacles that have prevented them from continuing their projects. This may involve replacing essential consumables, restoring access to equipment, conducting necessary fieldwork, or completing a limited stage of data collection or analysis.
The proposed activities must be directly related to the interrupted research and achievable within the grant’s financial and time limits.
2. Preserve valuable scientific data
Research data can be difficult, expensive, or impossible to reproduce, particularly when it comes from field observations, environmental sampling, or studies conducted under unusual conditions.
The grants may support activities involving data collection, processing, and secure storage. Such support can help researchers protect existing scientific information and continue working with data affected by the crisis.
3. Protect scientific expertise and research capacity
Universities and research institutes play an important role in developing scientific knowledge and training researchers. When crises interrupt their work, the effects may extend to students, research teams, institutions, and the communities that benefit from scientific findings.
By helping researchers continue their projects, the grants aim to preserve scientific capacity and support the resilience of research systems in affected settings.
4. Support focused and achievable research recovery
The programme emphasizes clearly defined activities rather than broad funding requests. Applicants should identify the specific research component affected by the crisis, explain what needs to be done, and demonstrate how the proposed work can be completed within six months.
The maximum grant of US$2,000 means applicants should prioritize essential, cost-effective activities that can make a meaningful contribution to research continuity.
5. Encourage inclusive participation in scientific recovery
Although researchers meeting the eligibility criteria from all qualifying African countries are welcome to apply, UNESCO particularly encourages applications from women scientists, researchers under 40, and researchers based in least developed countries and Small Island Developing States in Africa.
This emphasis helps bring attention to researchers and research environments that may face additional barriers to maintaining scientific work during and after a crisis.
Who Can Apply for the UNESCO SCRS Research Continuity Grants for Africa 2026?
The call is intended for researchers who meet specific nationality, academic, institutional, disciplinary, and crisis-related criteria. Applicants should review each requirement carefully before preparing their submissions.
1. African nationality and institutional affiliation
Applicants must be African nationals based at a recognized university or research institute in an African country.
This means that the applicant must meet both the nationality and institutional affiliation requirements. Merely conducting research about Africa, having African collaborators, or working on a project relevant to the continent does not, by itself, establish eligibility under the stated criteria.
Researchers should ensure that their host institution qualifies as a recognized university or research institute and that their current research position satisfies the call’s requirements.
2. Relevant academic qualifications
Applicants must hold at least a Master’s degree or an equivalent recognized research qualification in a relevant field.
The qualification should relate to the proposed research or its disciplinary area. Applicants should be prepared to provide proof of their highest relevant academic qualification as part of the application.
Researchers who hold doctoral degrees or other higher qualifications may meet the minimum academic requirement, provided they also satisfy the remaining eligibility conditions.
3. Natural-science research background
The grants support research in the natural sciences. Interdisciplinary projects may also qualify, provided they contain a substantial natural-science component.
Applicants should demonstrate that their research falls within the scope of the call. They should also explain the scientific purpose of the work and identify the specific research activities that were interrupted.
The call is not intended to provide general financial assistance for activities unrelated to natural-science research.
4. Evidence of interruption caused by a crisis
Applicants must demonstrate that their research was interrupted by an armed conflict, natural hazard, or biological hazard within the previous three years, or that their work continues to be materially affected by the consequences of such an event.
This is a central eligibility requirement. Applicants must explain the nature of the crisis, how it affected their research, and why financial support is needed to resume or complete the proposed activities.
Depending on the circumstances, relevant explanations may address disruptions to fieldwork, laboratory access, scientific equipment, data collection, research facilities, or other essential parts of the project.
The application should establish a clear connection between the crisis and the requested expenditure. Applicants should not assume that ordinary research delays or unrelated funding shortages automatically qualify as crisis-related interruptions.
5. A realistic six-month work plan
The proposed activities must be achievable within six months and within the maximum grant amount of US$2,000.
Applicants should therefore develop a focused plan with a clear objective, a manageable scope, and a realistic schedule. The plan should show what the grant will pay for and how the proposed expenditure will help restore research continuity.
Projects requiring substantial infrastructure, extensive long-term funding, or activities that cannot reasonably be completed within six months may not fit the purpose of this call.
6. Institutional support letter
Applicants must provide a signed support letter from an authorized representative of their host institution.
This requirement confirms institutional support for the proposed research activities. Applicants should contact the appropriate university or research institute representative early enough to obtain the signed letter before the application deadline.
The letter should follow any requirements specified in the official call documents.
7. No duplicate funding for the same costs
Applicants must confirm that the same costs are not being funded by another source.
This requirement is important for transparent use of the grant. If another funder already covers a particular expense, applicants should not request SCRS funding for that same cost.
A carefully prepared budget should clearly identify the expenses for which support is being requested and distinguish them from costs covered by other grants or institutional resources.
Who Is Particularly Encouraged to Apply?
UNESCO welcomes eligible applicants from African countries that meet the call’s crisis-related criteria. However, the announcement specifically encourages applications from the following groups:
- Women scientists: Female researchers working in eligible natural-science or interdisciplinary fields are particularly encouraged to apply.
- Researchers under 40: Early-career and younger researchers who meet all other requirements are encouraged to submit applications.
- Researchers from least developed countries: Scientists based in eligible African least developed countries are specifically encouraged to participate.
- Researchers from African Small Island Developing States: Eligible researchers working in African Small Island Developing States are also encouraged to apply.
These are priority groups identified by the call. Applicants should still meet the mandatory eligibility requirements concerning nationality, academic qualifications, institutional affiliation, research discipline, crisis-related interruption, implementation period, institutional support, and funding.
The announcement does not specify a race or ethnicity requirement. Eligibility is framed around African nationality, research qualifications, institutional affiliation, and the other stated criteria rather than race.
What Can the UNESCO Research Continuity Grant Fund?
Each successful applicant can receive a grant of up to US$2,000. Funding is intended to cover targeted expenses directly connected to the interrupted research.
Because the amount is limited, applicants should prioritize activities that are essential to resuming or completing their proposed research component.
Eligible research expenses
The call identifies the following types of expenditure as potentially eligible:
1. Consumables and small research supplies
Funding may be used to purchase consumables and small supplies required to carry out the proposed research activities.
These expenses should be clearly linked to the interrupted work. Applicants should explain why the supplies are necessary and how they will contribute to completing the relevant research component.
2. Local fieldwork and research travel
The grant may support local fieldwork and research-related travel.
This can be relevant when a project requires researchers to return to a study site, collect additional observations, conduct necessary field activities, or travel locally to continue work that was interrupted by a crisis.
The proposed travel must directly support the research objective and fit within the grant ceiling and six-month implementation period.
3. Data collection, processing, and secure storage
Research continuity may depend on collecting missing information, processing existing datasets, or protecting valuable data.
The grant may therefore support eligible activities related to data collection, processing, or secure storage. Applicants should explain what data-related problem the proposed expenditure will address and why it is important to the interrupted research.
4. Minor equipment repair and short-term access to facilities
Researchers may need functioning equipment or access to specialist facilities to resume their work. The grant can support minor equipment repairs or essential short-term access to equipment and facilities.
These expenses should be limited to what is necessary for the defined research activity. The grant is not intended to finance major equipment purchases or large-scale infrastructure projects.
5. Laboratory, publication, and open-access costs
The funding may support eligible laboratory expenses, publication costs, and open-access charges directly related to the interrupted research.
Applicants should explain how the requested costs contribute to completing the research or making its results available. All expenditure should remain consistent with the official call documents and the proposed project budget.
Expenses that are not covered
The grant has specific limitations. According to the announcement, it does not cover:
- Salary replacement.
- Honoraria or personal allowances.
- International relocation.
- Long-term subsistence costs.
- Major equipment purchases.
- Construction activities.
- Institutional overheads.
- Activities unrelated to the interrupted research.
Applicants should avoid including these expenses in their requested budgets. A proposal that focuses on eligible, research-specific costs is more closely aligned with the purpose of the initiative.
Before submitting, applicants should consult the official Call for Applications, Terms of Reference, and Concept Note to confirm any detailed financial rules, supporting documentation requirements, and conditions governing the use of funds.
How Much Funding Is Available?
The first pilot call will provide six grants of up to US$2,000 each.
The maximum award is designed to support a targeted research recovery activity rather than a complete research programme. Applicants should therefore prepare a realistic budget that demonstrates how the requested funding will address a specific interruption.
For example, a researcher might propose eligible expenditure for essential laboratory consumables, local fieldwork, data processing, minor equipment repair, or short-term access to a research facility. These are illustrative possibilities based on the expenditure categories identified in the announcement, not guaranteed funding decisions.
A strong budget should:
- Identify each requested expense.
- Explain why the expense is necessary.
- Link each cost directly to the interrupted research.
- Remain within the maximum funding limit.
- Exclude expenses expressly prohibited by the call.
- Avoid requesting funding for costs already covered by another source.
The official announcement does not provide a guaranteed award amount for every successful applicant beyond the maximum of US$2,000 per grant. Applicants should consult the official documents for any additional budget rules.
How to Apply for the UNESCO SCRS Research Continuity Grants for Africa 2026
Eligible researchers should prepare their applications carefully and submit all required documents before the deadline. The application process outlined in the announcement involves the following steps.
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Step 1: Read the official application documents
Before beginning the application, review the official Call for Applications, Terms of Reference, and Concept Note.
These documents should be used to confirm the full eligibility conditions, the scope of eligible activities, the required application information, and any additional rules that may apply.
Applicants should make sure that their proposed work directly addresses an interruption caused by a qualifying crisis and falls within the natural-science focus of the initiative.
Step 2: Complete the online application form
Applicants must complete and sign the designated application form in either English or French.
Use the appropriate application link:
- English application form: https://forms.cloud.microsoft/e/ZPZXMxni9A
- French application form: https://forms.cloud.microsoft/pages/responsepage.aspx?id=Uq5PHbM5-kuwswIpVrERlHW37JkE9FhGtSeaOfqLz29UMDdDUEZZMTIyVE5RRU1VUE83SVJGWURJSi4u
Applicants should provide accurate and complete information and ensure that the application is signed as required.
Step 3: Prepare and attach your CV
Applicants must include a curriculum vitae (CV).
The CV should clearly present relevant academic qualifications, research experience, institutional affiliation, and other professional information requested by the application form. It should help establish the applicant’s background and suitability for the proposed research activity.
Applicants should ensure that the information in their CV is consistent with the details provided elsewhere in the application.
Step 4: Provide proof of your highest relevant qualification
Applicants must attach evidence of their highest relevant academic qualification.
This may be the relevant degree certificate or other accepted proof of qualification, subject to the official application requirements. The call specifies a minimum of a Master’s degree or an equivalent recognized research qualification in a relevant field.
Applicants should check that the document they provide adequately demonstrates the qualification they claim.
Step 5: Obtain a signed institutional support letter
A signed support letter from an authorized representative of the host institution is mandatory.
Researchers should request this letter in advance rather than waiting until the final days before submission. They should also ensure that the letter is signed by an individual authorized to represent the institution and meets any specifications in the official documents.
Step 6: Obtain any required ethics or research authorizations
Applicants must provide any ethics, research, or fieldwork authorization required for the proposed activities.
The documents needed will depend on the nature of the research and the activities proposed. Applicants should determine which permissions apply to their project and ensure that the relevant documentation is available for submission.
If a proposed activity involves fieldwork or other work requiring institutional or regulatory authorization, the applicant should address this requirement before submitting the application.
Step 7: Explain the crisis-related interruption and proposed response
The proposal should clearly explain how an armed conflict, natural hazard, or biological hazard has interrupted the research or continues to materially affect it.
Applicants should identify the research component that needs support, describe the practical challenge, and explain how the requested funding will help address it.
A clear proposal should also demonstrate that the activities can be completed within six months and within the US$2,000 funding ceiling.
Step 8: Check the budget and funding declarations
Before submitting, ensure that the budget contains only eligible expenses and that the same costs are not being funded by another source.
Check all figures and explanations for accuracy. The proposed budget should make it easy to understand how each requested expense supports research continuity.
Step 9: Submit the application before the deadline
Submit the completed application and all required attachments using the appropriate online form.
The deadline is 15 November 2026 at 23:59 Paris time. Applicants should not wait until the final hours to submit, particularly if they need to obtain institutional letters, verify documents, or resolve technical issues.
After submission, retain any confirmation or reference information provided by the application system.
Tips for Preparing a Strong Research Continuity Grant Application
Although the grant amount is relatively small, applicants should treat the application as a focused research proposal. The central task is to demonstrate a clear relationship between the crisis, the interruption, the requested funding, and the results expected within six months.
Clearly identify the interrupted research
Explain what research was being conducted, what stage it had reached, and what happened to interrupt it. Avoid describing the crisis in general terms without showing its specific effect on the project.
Define a manageable research objective
A proposal should focus on a clearly defined component of the research rather than attempting to finance an entire project.
The objective should be achievable within the grant’s time and funding limits.
Explain why the requested expenses are necessary
For every proposed cost, explain how it will help resume or complete the research. Expenses should be directly connected to the activities described in the proposal.
Demonstrate feasibility within six months
Provide a realistic sequence of activities and show how the work can be completed within the permitted implementation period.
Applicants should consider practical constraints, such as access to facilities, availability of supplies, fieldwork conditions, and the time needed to process data.
Show how the grant will protect research outputs
Where relevant, explain how the proposed activities will help preserve data, complete analyses, restore access to research materials, or safeguard scientific knowledge that might otherwise be lost or delayed.
Verify institutional and documentary requirements
Check that the CV, qualification evidence, institutional support letter, and any required ethics or research authorizations are complete and consistent with the application.
Confirm that the proposed costs are not funded elsewhere
Review existing grants and institutional support to ensure that the requested expenses are not duplicated. The application must confirm that the same costs are not funded from another source.
Follow the official instructions
The announcement provides a summary of the requirements, but applicants should rely on the official call documents for the full rules. Do not assume that an expense, document, or activity is acceptable unless it is consistent with those instructions.
CLICK HERE for more information on the UNESCO Science for Crisis Response and Solutions Research Continuity Grants for Africa 2026
Why the UNESCO SCRS Research Continuity Grants Matter for African Researchers
Research continuity is an important part of scientific resilience. When crises interrupt scientific work, the resulting damage can affect individual researchers, universities, research institutes, and the wider communities that depend on scientific evidence.
A small, targeted grant may help resolve a practical obstacle that would otherwise delay or prevent the completion of an important research task. Support for essential supplies, local fieldwork, data processing, minor repairs, or short-term facility access can help researchers make progress without requiring a large new research award.
The initiative is particularly relevant in settings where a crisis has already disrupted scientific work and the researcher needs limited, focused support to continue. It recognizes that preserving scientific capacity can require timely assistance for researchers who are already conducting research but cannot move forward because of circumstances beyond their control.
The programme’s emphasis on African researchers, alongside its encouragement for women scientists, researchers under 40, least developed countries, and African Small Island Developing States, also draws attention to the importance of inclusive research recovery.
For eligible applicants, the most important consideration is whether a well-defined research activity can be completed with a grant of up to US$2,000 within six months. Researchers who can demonstrate that connection may find this pilot call relevant to their work.
Important Application Deadline
The deadline for the UNESCO Science for Crisis Response and Solutions Research Continuity Grants for Africa 2026 is:
15 November 2026 at 23:59 Paris time.
Applicants should complete the online application and prepare all required supporting documents before the deadline. Because the application requires a signed institutional support letter, proof of academic qualifications, a CV, and any applicable ethics, research, or fieldwork authorizations, early preparation is advisable.
Researchers should use the official English or French application form and review the Call for Applications, Terms of Reference, and Concept Note before submission.
Conclusion
The UNESCO Science for Crisis Response and Solutions Research Continuity Grants for Africa 2026 provide a targeted funding opportunity for African researchers whose natural-science research has been interrupted by armed conflict, natural hazards, or biological hazards. Through six institutional grants of up to US$2,000 each, the first pilot call aims to help eligible researchers resume or complete a defined part of their work, protect scientific data, and preserve research capacity in crisis-affected environments.
The opportunity is intended for African nationals based at recognized universities or research institutes in African countries who hold at least a Master’s degree or an equivalent recognized research qualification, conduct eligible natural-science research, and can demonstrate a qualifying crisis-related interruption. Applicants must also submit a realistic six-month work plan, a signed institutional support letter, and the required supporting documents.
Women scientists, researchers under 40, and researchers from least developed countries and African Small Island Developing States are particularly encouraged to apply. Those who meet the eligibility criteria should review the official application documents, prepare a focused proposal, and ensure that all requested expenses are directly related to the interrupted research.
With the application deadline set for 15 November 2026 at 23:59 Paris time, eligible researchers should begin preparing their documents and submit their applications well before the closing date.
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