Mastercard Foundation & University of Cambridge Climate Resilience and Sustainability Research Fund 2025 (up to £50,000) Deadline: 21 March, 2025

Applications are open for the Mastercard Foundation & University of Cambridge Climate Resilience and Sustainability Research Fund 2025. The 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.

Available Grants

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 made 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. Multidisciplinary and interdisciplinary approaches are encouraged with the same funding limits regardless of the disciplines involved. They 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 most 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.

Grant

• In this round, applications can be made for a Research Catalyst Grant for up to £20,000 or a Workshop Grant for up to £50,000.

Eligibility

• 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 organisers 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 a 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 postgraduate 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 savable 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 deadline for submission is March 21, 2025 and applications can be submitted at any time before this. Any queries should be sent to [email protected]

For more information, visit Climate Resilience and Sustainability Research Fund.