CODESRIA — Research Grants on University Ecosystems

CODESRIA, with Carnegie support, invites researchers at African universities and research institutions to study the higher-education landscape through two linked lenses: gender and associational life on campus, and academic and intellectual freedom. Funded projects are expected to produce publishable scholarship and policy-relevant evidence on equity, governance and institutional culture in African universities. Grantees receive 15 months of support and join knowledge-exchange workshops and peer-learning forums.

Applicants must be affiliated with a recognised African higher-education or research institution. Proposals may come from a single researcher or from a team of 3–5 members; interdisciplinary, inter-institutional and multi-country teams are strongly encouraged. African scholars in the diaspora may collaborate with colleagues at an Africa-based institution. Women scholars, early-career academics and staff of less well-resourced universities are particularly encouraged. Applicants with outstanding or pending deliverables from earlier CODESRIA-funded projects are discouraged from applying.

Two interrelated themes:

1. Gender and associational life in African universities: gendered experiences of students, faculty and staff; institutional cultures and governance through a gender lens; barriers to women's participation, leadership and progression; gender-based violence, safety and wellbeing on campus; and

2. Academic and intellectual freedom: threats to it, the levels at which they are felt, and links between academic freedom, associational life and the civic role of universities. Priority sub-themes include university governance, autonomy and accountability; funding models and equity; digital transitions, AI and pedagogy; research ecosystems and epistemic justice; minority inclusion and social justice; neoliberalism and institutional autonomy; private universities and TVETs; university missions, the SDGs and Agenda 2063; graduate outcomes and the labour market; and university–community, state, industry and civil-society partnerships.

Submit online through the CODESRIA application portal.

The package comprises:

• a recent CV for the principal investigator, and for every member of the team;
• a proposal synopsis of no more than 4,000 words setting out the research question, a review of recent literature, the conceptual or theoretical framework, methodology and work plan with timelines, a draft budget, and a list of scholarly and non-scholarly outputs;
• a draft budget of USD 5,000–15,000; and
• a formal letter of affiliation or endorsement from the applicant's institution.

Questions: tgf@codesria.org.