Deadline: March 21, 2025
The Mastercard Foundation and University of Cambridge Climate Resilience and Sustainability Research Fund aims to catalyse new and strengthen existing collaborations between researchers in Africa and Cambridge and support high quality training activities. The focus of the scheme is research on climate resilience and sustainability. This focus is interpreted broadly so long as the linkage of the research to these areas can be justified in the application for the award. Awards are made to pairs of researchers (post-doctoral and above although due consideration will be given for equivalent experience), one from an African university or research institution and one from the University of Cambridge. They encourage applications from across the sciences, social sciences, humanities and arts and from all academic subject areas. They particularly encourage innovative research. Multi-disciplinary and inter-disciplinary research proposals and research related training activities are welcomed.
Awards available
- Research Catalyst Grants
The aim of the Catalyst Research Grant is to act as a seed fund/catalyst to enable the development
of new research activity. Priority will be given to applications that build new partnerships (or expand
existing ones) with the potential for long-term collaboration. Applications should clearly articulate
how the collaboration adds value beyond that which could be provided by the individual
groups/organisations and describe how the collaboration will operate. The funding is for research
projects relevant to Climate Resilience and Sustainability. There is a broad interpretation of relevant
research but within the application, justification will need to make to the relevance of the research.
Applications may include equipment that is to be used in Climate Resilience and Sustainability
research. Only one application will be considered per collaboration. Multi-disciplinary and inter
disciplinary approaches are encouraged with the same funding limits regardless of the disciplines
involved. We anticipate that research catalyst grants may lead to further joint applications.
- Workshop Grants
The aim of the Workshop Grant is to support high-quality workshops delivered in Africa in
collaboration between African universities/institutes and the University of Cambridge. The
workshops should focus on developing skills and knowledge relevant to research on climate
resilience and sustainability with a particular emphasis on early career researchers. The workshops
will be co-created by researchers in African institutions and Cambridge, with the expectation that
workshops will be delivered in Africa. Furthermore, this grant aims to build the capacity of
participants by providing access to resources, mentorship, and networking opportunities that can
contribute to their professional development and career advancement.
Grants
Applications can be made for a Research Catalyst Grant for up to £20,000 or a Workshop Grant for up to £50,000.
Eligibility
- The purpose of the Mastercard Foundation and University of Cambridge Climate Resilience and
Sustainability Research Fund (CReSus RF) is to develop innovative, integrated and interdisciplinary responses to sustainability and climate challenges, and shape the African continent’s responses to these challenges through research, innovation and skills for the next generation. Applicants from Cambridge apply jointly with applicants from universities/ institutes in Africa and co-create the projects. It is important that the funding is not simply used to provide services that will be carried out at one institution on behalf of the other, and that true collaboration is demonstrated in the application. - All applications must justify how the research is relevant to climate resilience and sustainability.
This may be broadly interpreted. Funding is not restricted to science departments but is open to all disciplines and departments. Multi-disciplinary and inter- disciplinary applications are particularly welcomed as are innovative approaches. - Research proposals that engage with young people on the African continent (aged <36 years) and
/or are of benefit to young people will be prioritised. Principal Investigators (PIs) are encouraged to consider how young people might be involved in the research team in Africa. Workshop proposals should be designed to enhance the skills of young people in Africa. - Both applicants should be at post-doctoral level or above although due consideration will be given
for equivalent experience. Contact them if one of the applicants does not have a PhD. - By completing an application, it is understood that both applicants are doing so with support from
their Head of Department or equivalent. Both applicants should have a formal link to research
group/department/faculty in their home institution. It is also expected that both applicants remain employed beyond the end date of the awards. The awards are not intended to support post
graduate students, however, limited support for students (e.g. as part of a research project or
internship) is encouraged. - The Cambridge- based applicant must be working at the University of Cambridge. The Cambridge
applicants will act as the lead applicants, for administrative purposes, as the awards will be
managed by their Cambridge Departments/Faculties/Institutes. - The Africa-based applicant must be in a Research Institution or University on the African continent.
Application
The Cambridge-based Principal Investigator must register and complete a saveable online
application form, available on the Cambridge-Africa website. Final submissions should include the
following documents:
- Case for support
- An itemised budget (template provided)
- A lay summary
- A letter of support from the department/faculty of the Cambridge-based PI. (For the Department
of Engineering, a letter of support from the Head of Division is needed). An email from an
institutional email account is also acceptable. - A letter of support from the department/institution of the Africa-based PI. An email from an
institutional email account is also acceptable. - CVs (maximum 2 pages) for both the Cambridge-based and Africa-based PI.
The details of two suggested referees are also required; these should be individuals who have no
conflicts of interest with the applicants (e.g. they should not be from the same Department).
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