Australian Development Research Awards for African research

The Australian Development Research Awards in African research is providing up to AU$8 million in funding for over two years.

Australia cannot help tackle global poverty without increasing our aid to Africa. The poorest continent in the world, Africa has 33 of the world’s 48 least developed countries (LDCs) and almost half the continent, more than half a billion people, lives in extreme poverty.

Australia’s increased aid to Africa is supporting efforts to achieve the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) in sectors where Australia has experience and expertise and where Australia is best able to make a difference.

The principal objectives in the Africa theme, in accordance with Looking West: Australia’s strategic approach to aid in Africa 2011-2015, are to:

  1. Promote research which addresses critical development issues, as articulated through Australia’s existing aid program in key sectors and following African agendas and priorities.
  2. Support research activities which have strong policy and user relevance, and are likely to result in demonstrable development impact.
  3. Extend knowledge in areas relevant to the effectiveness of AusAID’s existing work in Africa.
  4. Contribute to capacity building in the African research sector, and to the capacity of Australian and international researchers to work in and with Africa.

Consistent with AusAID’s development activities in Africa, research proposals will be considered in five thematic areas:

  1. Agriculture and food security
  2. Mining for development
  3. Peace, conflict and security
  4. Maternal and child health
  5. Water and sanitation

Within these themes, research proposals will need to demonstrate that they respond to African priorities and agendas, and address issues of importance to African governments, researchers and communities. Proposals that reflect partnerships between African and international researchers will be well regarded.

For more information, please see the AusAID Africa and Middle East webpage.

6 comments

  • This morning I read the article by John Hearn in the Australian Higher Education Supplement. Could you please forward the details and timeline for the research proposals to my email address?

  • Hi,
    I applaud you for this great initiative.

    My name is Elijah, I was born and raised, schooled in Kenya.

    I am currently a lecturer and PhD student at Deakin University in Geelong-Victoria.
    My research project is a collaboration between Deakin University and the University of Nairobi where we are looking at scaling mental health nursing in primary care settings through mental health literacy.
    I note that mental health is not in the list of the thematic areas you support but know well that you cannot possibly have every pressing problem on your list.
    I still think this is a great initiative and I will create awareness of this through my networks at Deakin and other Universities I affiliate with.

    Regards,

    Elijah Marangu

    • Thank you for your comment and interest in the AAUN.

      That’s a good suggestion. We are very excited about all of the possibilities that lie ahead for Africa and Australia through the Network.

  • Hello,
    I am interested in this call as I usually work with Moroccan universities.
    I was looking in the AusAID Africa and Middle East webpage, but I couldn’t find the details on eligibility criteria and and deadline for submitting proposals. Could you please send it by email or indicating where in AusAId website can I find that information? Thank you.

    Júlio Carneiro

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