The African Research Network for Neglected Tropical Diseases is offering up to $30,000 (early-career) and $65,000 (mid-career) research grants for African scientists working on NTDs. Deadline: August 24, 2026. Open now.
Overview
This one is for African scientists and public health researchers working on neglected tropical diseases — one of the most underfunded but impactful areas of global health research.
The African Researchers’ Small Grants Program VIII (SGP VIII), run by the African Research Network for Neglected Tropical Diseases (ARNTD) in partnership with COR-NTD, offers two streams of research funding for African researchers working on implementation research for NTDs:
- Early-Career Grant: Up to $30,000 — 4 awards available
- Mid-Career Grant: Up to $65,000 — 2 awards available
Both streams are funded by the UK Government’s FCDO through its Global Research and Technology Development portfolio, and both align with the WHO 2030 NTD Roadmap.
Call opens: July 24, 2026
Deadline: August 24, 2026 at 17:00 GMT
Award announcement: November 15, 2026
Applications are accepted in English, French, and Portuguese — though shortlisted applicants must submit full proposals in English.
Target Diseases
Both grant streams focus primarily on:
Trachoma · Onchocerciasis · Schistosomiasis · Leprosy · Lymphatic Filariasis · Visceral Leishmaniasis
What Research Is In Scope?
Eligible proposals across both streams may address:
- Equitable delivery of NTD programme interventions to vulnerable groups — migrants, mobile populations, never-treated communities
- Addressing the unique needs of women and girls within NTD programmes
- NTD integration into Universal Health Coverage and Health Systems Strengthening
- Morbidity Management and Disability Prevention (MMDP/DMDI)
- Integration of NTDs into other sectors — One Health, education, climate health
- Identifying ways to improve uptake and adoption of evidence-based strategies to achieve elimination and control targets
Research must be informed by existing evidence and identified knowledge gaps, and must demonstrate significant potential to generate further research activities. Projects must be completed within 10 months.
What Is NOT Funded
SGP VIII funding cannot cover:
- Salaries
- Meeting or conference participation
- Tuition or course fees
- Restricted commodities (pharmaceuticals, vehicles, pesticides, etc.)
- Existing programmatic M&E activities, including mapping, MDA, TAS, Kato-Katz impact evaluations, KAP surveys, coverage surveys, trachoma surveillance, onchocerciasis Stop MDA surveys, and data quality assessments
STREAM 1: Early-Career Grant
Up to $30,000 | 4 awards | For early-career researchers and PhD students
Who Can Apply?
All four criteria must be met:
1. Be an early-career researcher — a basic biomedical scientist, clinically qualified investigator, or public health researcher — who has not previously successfully completed an SGP grant as principal investigator or won a research grant worth at least $100,000
2. Must hold one of the following:
- A Master’s degree with demonstrated research experience
- Currently enrolled in a PhD programme
- A doctoral degree (PhD, Doctor of Public Health, Doctor of Sciences) graduated within the last 5 years
- A clinician (MBBS, MBChB, MD, DVM) with specialist training (Membership or Fellowship) or demonstrated research training and experience
Career breaks due to health or family responsibilities are taken into account when assessing the 5-year eligibility window.
3. Must not currently hold the rank of Associate Professor or higher
4. Must provide written evidence of mentorship commitment from a senior NTD researcher with a proven track record
Female applicants and those new to NTD research are particularly encouraged to apply.
STREAM 2: Mid-Career Grant
Up to $65,000 | 2 awards | For previous SGP grantees (SGP I–VI)
Who Can Apply?
All criteria must be met:
1. Must be a mid-career researcher who has completed a previous SGP research grant (SGP I–VI) as principal investigator
2. Must hold a doctoral degree (PhD, DrPH, Doctor of Sciences). Clinicians without a PhD must have completed specialist training (Fellowship) or relevant research training plus research experience. In all cases, applicants must be no more than 15 years from their highest academic qualification.
3. The proposed project must be a clearly defined aspect of ongoing research or aimed at answering a new question linked to ongoing research
4. Applicants may pursue a different disease, research question, or discipline from their previous SGP award — as long as it falls within the scope of this call
Career breaks due to health or family demands are taken into account.
Comparison Table
| Feature | Early-Career Grant | Mid-Career Grant |
|---|---|---|
| Maximum award | $30,000 | $65,000 |
| Number of awards | 4 | 2 |
| Target group | PhD students, early-career researchers | Previous SGP I–VI grantees |
| Prior SGP grant required | No | Yes |
| Academic level | Below Associate Professor | Doctoral degree (or clinician equivalent) |
| Within 5 years of PhD | Required (doctoral holders) | N/A (15-year rule applies) |
| Mentor/supervisor letter | Required | Required (research quality guarantor) |
| Project duration | 10 months | 10 months |
How to Apply
Applications are submitted online. Three language-specific forms are available:
- English: forms.gle/KfJoZ4iSBeB7K6u39
- French: forms.gle/xmnhaUonmPej2hrp8
- Portuguese: forms.gle/ZV3dps5FSQgim6AK6
For more information, visit the official website of the ARNTD Small Grants Program VIII 2026
You must also submit a budget using the prescribed ARNTD budget template. Applications submitted without the budget template will be automatically rejected; no exceptions.
Download the budget template from within the application form, complete all required sections per the Review Guide and Instructions page, and upload it during your application submission.
