TWAS SG-NAPI — Seed Grant for New African Principal Investigators

SG-NAPI supports early-career scientists who have recently returned to an academic post in Sub-Saharan Africa (including LDCs) after completing a PhD abroad. Grants fund equipment and consumables to enable productive research in Agriculture, Biology, Chemistry, Earth Sciences, Engineering, ICT, Mathematics, Medical Sciences, or Physics. Additional components include MSc student support, an international conference grant, an industrial link grant with German partners, a collaborative mobility grant in Germany, an open access publication grant, and a scientist-after-child grant for women returning after maternity leave.

PI must be a national of an eligible African LDC country (Malawi qualifies); ≤40 years old; PhD obtained abroad within last 5 years; returned to home country within last 36 months (or returning before end of 2026); hold a position at a UNIMA department or research institute. Cannot hold other active TWAS grants simultaneously. Funded costs: Scientific equipment, consumables, limited fieldwork, literature; MSc student stipend component; conference, mobility, and open access components.

Agriculture, Biology, Chemistry, Earth Sciences, Engineering, Information Computer Technology, Mathematics, Medical Sciences and Physics

Equipment, consumables, limited fieldwork, literature

Apply via the TWAS online portal (link active on the SG-NAPI page). Read the guidelines PDF carefully before applying. One application per calendar year in the TWAS/OWSD portfolio.