With the support of the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF), UNESCO-TWAS has launched a new program to strengthen the capacity of lagging African countries in science and technology. The program is aimed at young scientists who are establishing themselves in their home country or who are about to return to an academic position. Grants are awarded to promising high-level research projects in Agriculture, Biology, Chemistry, Earth Sciences, Engineering, Technology, Computer Science, Mathematics, Medical Sciences and Physics carried out in lagging African countries identified by TWAS.

VALUE

• SG-NAPI grants are awarded to promising high-level research projects in Agriculture, Biology, Chemistry, Earth Sciences, Engineering, Technology, Computer Science, Mathematics, Medical Sciences and Physics carried out by Principal Investigators (PIs) in African countries lagging in science and technology identified by TWAS.
• Research grants for research units amount to a maximum of USD 67,700.
• The grants, which are normally awarded for a period of 24 months, may be used for the acquisition of scientific equipment, consumables, which may partially include fieldwork and equipment maintenance, and specialized literature (textbooks and proceedings only). The grant does not cover the Principal Investigator's salary or travel expenses, unless they are clearly related to one of the conference and/or mobility components mentioned below. Note that the purchase of fuel, expert or consultant fees, laptops, tablets, drones, and laboratory animals is not covered.
• Awarded PIs may also support MSc students as part of the project, apply for funding for international conference grants, industry linkage grants, mobility grants, and open access publication grants. Full details of each component are set out in the guidelines.
• The program has an additional component that seeks to increase the productivity of female scientists returning to academia after maternity leave, the scientist-child grant. Full details on this component can be found in the guidelines.

ELIGIBILITY

• The Principal Investigator candidates must be nationals of an eligible country, hold a doctoral degree, and have significant research experience. The fellowship must be based at a university or research institution in one of the African countries lagging behind in science and technology.
• The Principal Investigator must be 40 years of age or younger. Any candidate who turns 41 in the year of application is ineligible.
• The researcher must have obtained their doctorate within the last 5 years in a country other than their country of origin.
• The IP address must have returned to its country of origin (see the list in the guidelines) within the last 36 months or will return to its country before the end of 2023.
• The IP must hold, be offered, or be in the process of accepting a position at an academic and/or research institution (including international research centers) in their country of origin.
• The IP must be from a national country that is eligible and lagging behind in science and technology (see the list in the guidelines).
• At the time of application, you MUST NOT have an active research grant with TWAS or an OWSD Early Career Women Scientists (ECWS) Fellowship.
• Applications from women scientists and women working in Least Developed Countries are especially encouraged.
• Applicants must submit a strong research proposal; more information on how to write a strong proposal can be found by visiting AuthorAID.
• Please note that applicants may only apply to one program per calendar year within the TWAS and OWSD portfolio. Applicants will not be eligible to visit another institution that year under the TWAS Visiting Scientists or Visiting Professor programs. One exception: The head of an institution that invites an external academic to share their knowledge within the TWAS Visiting Professor or TWAS Visiting Expert programs may also apply to another program.

To apply and for more information, visit here.