AREF/EDCTP Preparatory Fellowship 2019/2020 for Early-career researchers.

Application Deadline: November 27th 2019

The Africa Research Excellence Fund (AREF) aims to bridge the critical gap early in the career path from research experience to research leadership. AREF is an independent charity established by the UK Medical Research Council and led from sub-Saharan Africa, with the support of the UK Medical Research Foundation.

Scope
The purpose of the AREF/EDCTP Preparatory Fellowship is to enhance the competitiveness of up-and-coming post-doctoral sub-Saharan African scientists and clinicians aspiring to receive international/regional/national fellowships or grant support, such as the EDCTP Career Development Fellowships. The AREF/EDCTP Preparatory Fellowship targets outstanding early-career researchers residing in or wishing to relocate to sub-Saharan Africa, who demonstrate independent scientific thinking and have potential to deliver locally relevant research with measurable impact and within the scope of the EDCTP2 programme.

The objectives of this call are:

1. Enable outstanding sub-Saharan African researchers (0 to 3-year post-PhD) to
   • further advance their research skills, through short-course(s) and hands-on training, especially using biological samples and data they or their home organisations have generated;
   • strengthen their competencies in project and proposal design;
   • enhance essential generic/transferable researcher skills that will allow them to secure research partnerships, and make effective use of fellowships;
   • contribute to creating a pool of researchers optimally equipped with the expertise and skills to address local research needs.
2. Enable individuals to deploy their own resourcefulness and research relationships to best effect in competing for early/mid-career fellowships, such as (but not limited to) the EDCTP Career Development Fellowships;
3. Enhance career development and retention of postdoctoral researchers and postgraduate medical researchers in research in and for sub-Saharan Africa;
4. To provide a firm foundation and increase the quality, efficiency and impact of fellowship projects funded by organisations such as the EDCTP Association.

The proposal for an AREF/EDCTP Fellowship Preparation Award must be submitted by the home organisation (‘the applicant legal entity’). The grants will be awarded to the home organisation with the explicit commitment that this organisation offers appropriate conditions for the fellow to direct and manage their funding for the duration of the fellowship. AREF will fund fellows employed by a research institution based in sub-Saharan Africa (the fellow’s home organisation and applicant legal entity), whereas the EDCTP2 programme will fund fellows employed by a sub-Saharan African legal entity (the fellow’s home organisation and applicant legal entity).

Eligibility
A proposal/application will only be considered eligible if:

1. its content corresponds, wholly or in part, to the topic/contest description for which it is submitted;
2. it complies with the eligibility conditions for participation set out below, depending on the type of action:
   • The applicant must be a legal entity established in sub-Saharan Africa (the applicant legal entity)*;
   • The fellow must be employed or have guaranteed employment by the applicant legal entity (the host organisation) where they intend to remain working for a minimum of two years after the expiration of the grant.
   • The applying fellow must:
     • be a post-doctoral scientist;
     • have been awarded their doctorate within 3 years before the submission deadline of the AREF-EDCTP Preparatory Fellowship application;
     • have been either a PhD student or MD, who have been active researchers for up to three years following award of their doctorate;
     • be a resident of or be willing to relocate to a sub-Saharan African country;
     • not have been funded under this fellowship scheme before**.
   • The requested EDCTP2 contribution per action shall not exceed EUR 70,000;
   • Placements sought shall be for a period of at least 3 and up to 9 months, following which there will be a re-integration period of up to 3 months. The maximum fellowship duration shall be 12 months.

For More Information:

Visit the Official Webpage of the AREF/EDCTP Preparatory Fellowship 2019/2020