The Research Development Fellowship is run by the Africa Research Excellence Fund (AREF), a UK-based charity founded in 2015 to strengthen health research on the African continent. It supports early-career health researchers who are nationals of, and employed in, Africa and who are on the path toward becoming independent research leaders. Each fellow spends three to nine months on placement at a centre of research excellence in Africa, the UK, or elsewhere in Europe, framed by preparatory and follow-up periods at their home institution. The aim is to build advanced research skills, form new collaborations, and work toward a substantial funding proposal. The scope is human health research in infectious and non-communicable diseases significant to Africa. Since 2015 AREF has funded 161 such fellowships.
Benefits & funding
- Up to £47,000 per award, scaled to placement length: up to £25,000 (3-month placement), £37,000 (6-month), or £47,000 (9-month), inclusive of preparatory and follow-up costs
- Funding covers reasonable accommodation, travel, and training costs (it does not replace your salary, which your employer continues to pay)
- A research placement of 3 to 9 months at a host centre of excellence, within an overall fellowship of up to 15 months (1-3 month preparation + placement + 1-3 month follow-up)
- A mentorship programme and an intensive grant-writing workshop
- On completion, eligibility to compete for an AREF Seed Fund award of up to £50,000 over 12 months
- Around 15 fellowships are expected each cycle, depending on available funding
Eligibility
- A national of a country in Africa (residence outside Africa is allowed if an eligible African institution confirms local employment)
- Working at least 30% full-time in an active research role, with guaranteed African employment for the fellowship
- Focused on human health research in infectious or non-communicable diseases
- Hold a PhD or equivalent doctorate (DPhil/MD) in a health-related field; or, for clinicians, an MBBS plus a specialist clinical qualification; or an MBBS plus a research Master’s
- Typically at least 3 and normally no more than 10 years of research experience, and most fellows are within eight years of their PhD award
- Not have won research grants of £300,000 or more, and no conflicting major funding commitments during the fellowship
- Previous AREF Research Development Fellows and AREF-EDCTP Preparatory Fellows are not eligible
Can you apply?
Worth a closer look
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Eligible nationalities
Algeria · Angola · Benin · Botswana · Burkina Faso · Burundi · Cabo Verde · Cameroon · Central African Republic · Chad · Comoros · Republic of the Congo
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DR Congo · Côte d'Ivoire · Djibouti · Egypt · Equatorial Guinea · Eritrea · Eswatini · Ethiopia · Gabon · Gambia · Ghana · Guinea · Guinea-Bissau · Kenya · Lesotho · Liberia · Libya · Madagascar · Malawi · Mali · Mauritania · Mauritius · Morocco · Mozambique · Namibia · Niger · Nigeria · Rwanda · São Tomé and Príncipe · Senegal · Seychelles · Sierra Leone · Somalia · South Africa · South Sudan · Sudan · Tanzania · Togo · Tunisia · Uganda · Zambia · Zimbabwe
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Education required
Master · PhD
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Experience required
3–10 yrs
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We only check the criteria we have data for. Always confirm full eligibility on the official page before applying.
Application process
- 1Read the scheme information and the separate Guidance on Completing the Application Forms.
- 2Discuss plans early with senior leaders at your employing and host organisations, and secure their support.
- 3Register and complete the application on the AREF portal (programmes.aref-africa.org.uk); applications are accepted only online.
- 4Submit one application, with all supporting documents, before the deadline.
Program timeline
March 2026
2026/27 call opens
Recommended deadline for pre-submission queries
27 April 2026
Application deadline
08 May 2026, 13:00 GMT
Applicants notified of outcomes
December 2026
Award letters expected
March 2027
Fellowships begin
June to December 2027