The Motsepe Presidential Research Accelerator Fund for Africa is a prestigious research funding program established through a generous gift from the Motsepe Foundation. Administered by the Office of the Vice Provost for Research in partnership with the Office of the Vice Provost for International Affairs and the Harvard Center for African Studies, the Fund aims to strengthen collaborative research addressing critical challenges and opportunities across the African continent. Overview Academic Year: 2025–2026 Award Duration: One or two years Maximum Award Amount: USD 150,000 Sponsor: Harvard Center for African Studies Sponsor Deadline: December 8, 2025 The Fund supports faculty-led and student-driven research projects that advance knowledge and generate solutions to key issues affecting Africa. It provides resources to explore emerging technologies, climate resilience, health innovation, governance, and other areas that align with Africa’s development priorities. Funding Priorities The Motsepe Fund seeks to advance interdisciplinary research and collaboration that promotes sustainable progress across the continent. Areas of particular focus include: Emerging technologies and the Fourth Industrial Revolution Climate change and its impact on health, livelihoods, agriculture, water, and sanitation Renewable energy and its societal and infrastructural benefits Health systems innovation and public health resilience Aging and demographic transitions Materials science and technological innovation Governance and policy frameworks that foster entrepreneurship and inclusive growth Funding may support a variety of activities, including field research, data collection, travel to research sites, publication costs, and dissemination of research findings. Priority will be given to multidisciplinary projects that involve collaboration among Harvard faculty from multiple Schools, partnerships with Africa-based academics, and proposals that integrate arts and humanities into STEM-based initiatives (STEAM). Application Process Applicants are encouraged to coordinate with their local research administrators, as some Schools may require an internal review prior to submission. Applications must be submitted through the official portal and include the following components: Contact Information – Details for the principal investigator (PI), co-investigators, and collaborators. Project Summary – A concise overview of the proposal (maximum 150 words). Proposal Narrative – A detailed project description of up to 1,000 words outlining research goals, significance, expected impact, and planned collaborations with African partners. An optional section of up to two additional pages may include citations, images, or other supplementary material. Proposals should be written for a highly educated but non-specialist audience. Curriculum Vitae – Each PI, co-investigator, and collaborator must submit a CV (maximum 3 pages). CVs must also be provided for any postdoctoral or graduate students included in the budget. Project Budget – Budgets must use the official template and be accompanied by a budget justification form explaining each line item. Institutional Attestation – Applicants must provide written attestation from a department chair, academic dean, or administrative director confirming departmental support and agreement to manage the project if funded. If salary support is requested, attestation of approval is required. Letters of Support – Letters of collaboration or recommendation are not accepted for this competition. Unallowable and Restricted Expenses Certain costs are not eligible for funding under the Motsepe Fund, including: Student tuition fees Renovation or capital project expenses Additional budget considerations include: Applicants must disclose any additional funding sources if the total project cost exceeds the requested award. Salary support for principal investigators and co-investigators is permitted, provided it has been approved by the relevant School official. All benefits-eligible personnel must include the correct fringe benefit rates for each funding year. Direct costs only should be included; School assessments and overhead will be managed separately. Indirect costs are not permitted for U.S.-based subcontractors. For Africa-based subcontractors, indirect costs may be included up to 8% of total direct costs. Applicants conducting research in Africa are encouraged to seek budget guidance from their School or Harvard Global Support Services. All travel must comply with University and School-level travel policies. Other Support Documentation Applicants must submit a summary of active and pending research support using the designated form. This includes all sources of financial support—federal, non-federal, commercial, or institutional—that directly contribute to the investigator’s research activities. Start-up packages and tenure-transfer funding should not be included. Compliance and Oversight Award recipients are required to comply with all Harvard University research policies and applicable local institutional regulations. This includes policies on: The ethical use of animals and human subjects Safe handling of hazardous materials Export controls and data protection Before funds are released, both the principal investigator and a designated School or Department administrator must certify compliance with these requirements. Projects are subject to periodic audit and review to ensure full adherence to University standards. Selection Criteria Applications will be evaluated based on their academic merit, innovation, and potential impact on African communities and global scholarship. Reviewers will also assess the extent of cross-disciplinary collaboration and partnerships with Africa-based researchers. Proposals demonstrating capacity-building, mutual learning, and practical relevance to African development will receive special consideration. About the Fund The Motsepe Presidential Research Accelerator Fund for Africa reflects Harvard University’s growing commitment to advancing global research partnerships that address shared human challenges. By supporting collaboration between Harvard faculty, students, and African researchers, the Fund aims to catalyze transformative discoveries and solutions that contribute to sustainable development, technological advancement, and inclusive prosperity across the continent. Application Deadline All applications must be submitted by December 8, 2025. Successful applicants will receive funding beginning in the 2025–2026 academic year for a duration of one or two years, with total awards of up to USD 150,000. APPLY NOW For more opportunities such as these please follow us on Facebook, Instagram , WhatsApp, Twitter, LinkedIn and Telegram Disclaimer: Global South Opportunities (GSO) is not the awarding organization. For any inquiries, please contact the official organization directly. Please do not send your applications to GSO, as we are unable to process them. Due to the high volume of emails, we receive daily, we may not be able to respond to all inquiries. 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