Written by The Center for Effective Global Action (CEGA) at the University of California, Berkeley, has opened applications for its 2026 Global Networks Research Grant Competition, offering up to US$67,000 per project to support research addressing development challenges across 19 African countries.
The competition is expected to fund three to four research projects that generate evidence to inform development policies, programmes and decision-making. Selected projects will run from May 15, 2027, to October 1, 2028.
Funding and research priorities
Successful applicants can receive grants of up to US$67,000 per project. Proposals must use rigorous impact evaluation methods capable of identifying causal effects. Purely descriptive or qualitative studies will not be considered.
The competition will support research covering poverty reduction, economic development, education and human capital, agriculture and rural development, health and social protection, employment and livelihoods, governance and public policy, and development programme effectiveness.
Who can apply?
Applications must involve research teams comprising at least one CEGA Fellow and one CEGA Affiliate. Eligible University of California, Berkeley, PhD students sponsored by a CEGA Affiliate can also participate.
Non-governmental organisations, government agencies and implementing organisations are encouraged to collaborate with eligible research teams.
However, independent NGOs and researchers who do not have the required CEGA collaboration are not eligible to apply directly.
Eligible countries
Research proposals may focus on any of the following 19 African countries: Benin, Burundi, Côte d’Ivoire, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ethiopia, Ghana, Kenya, Madagascar, Malawi, Mali, Nigeria, Rwanda, Sierra Leone, Tanzania, The Gambia, Togo, Uganda, Zambia and Zimbabwe.
Application requirements
Applicants are required to submit a research proposal of no more than seven pages, a detailed research budget, a budget narrative, evidence of eligible research collaboration, and a clear research design and implementation plan.
All applications must be submitted in English.
How to apply
Eligible research teams should review the official competition guidelines and submit their proposals through the CEGA application portal.
Applications close on November 15, 2026, while successful applicants are expected to receive award notifications on January 19, 2027.
Research implementation is scheduled to begin on May 15, 2027, and end on October 1, 2028.
Application link: https://cega.submittable.com/submit