Afghanistan Research Initiative 2027/28: Research Grants

Deadline: 01-Oct-2026

The Afghanistan Research Initiative (ARI) is inviting applications from PhD holders affiliated with universities or research institutions worldwide to conduct original research addressing Afghanistan’s development and future. Grants of up to US$20,000 are available for projects lasting up to 12 months. What Is the Afghanistan Research Initiative Research Grant? The ARI Research Grant supports high-quality, original research that can contribute to understanding Afghanistan’s development challenges and opportunities. The programme particularly values research that can generate useful evidence, strengthen knowledge exchange, and contribute to policy and practice. ARI also strongly encourages collaborative research connecting researchers in Afghanistan with researchers and institutions internationally. Research Areas Proposals may address a broad range of themes relevant to Afghanistan, including: - Economic development and economic resilience. - Livelihoods, poverty and labour markets. - Private-sector development and entrepreneurship. - Finance and financial inclusion. - Regional integration and sustainable trade. - Climate change and environmental sustainability. - Agriculture and water. - Energy and mining. - Natural resources and biodiversity. - Climate adaptation and disaster risk reduction. - Governance and public policy. - Public administration and institutions. - Service delivery and accountability. - Peacebuilding and state-society relations. - Migration and displacement. - Education and health. - Gender and social inclusion. - Demographic change. - Culture, history and heritage. How Much Funding Is Available? Successful applicants can receive up to US$20,000 per grant. The funding period is 12 months. Grants are disbursed in instalments linked to agreed milestones and satisfactory progress against approved research activities and deliverables. Who Can Apply?

Applicants must:

- Hold a PhD in a relevant discipline. - Be affiliated with a recognized university or research institution anywhere in the world. - Be based outside Afghanistan for the duration of the grant if serving as the Principal Investigator. - Propose an original research project relevant to ARI’s thematic priorities. - Demonstrate the ability to complete the proposed research within 12 months. Afghan citizenship is not required. Researchers of all nationalities can apply if they meet the eligibility requirements. Collaborative Research ARI places strong emphasis on research collaboration and knowledge exchange. Applicants are encouraged to develop partnerships that connect: - Researchers based in Afghanistan. - Afghan researchers in the diaspora. - International researchers. - Universities. - Research institutions. - Other relevant research partners. Collaborative approaches should demonstrate how the partnership will strengthen research capacity and improve knowledge exchange. What Should the Research Proposal Demonstrate?

A strong proposal should clearly explain:

- The research problem and its relevance to Afghanistan. - The research questions or objectives. - Why the proposed research is important. - The methodology and approach. - Expected findings or contribution to knowledge. - Relevance to Afghanistan’s development and future. - How the research could contribute to policy or practice. - The feasibility of completing the research within 12 months. - Any planned collaboration with researchers or institutions. Required Application Documents

Applicants must submit:

- Completed online application form. - Curriculum vitae. - Research proposal of no more than 1,500 words. - Proposed 12-month workplan. - Detailed project budget using the ARI template. - Budget narrative. - Brief description of collaborating researchers or partner institutions, where applicable. Application Deadline

The application deadline is:

1 October 2026 Applicants should allow sufficient time to prepare the research proposal, workplan, budget and supporting documentation before submission. Key Facts

- Programme: Afghanistan Research Initiative Research Grants.

- Country focus: Afghanistan.

- Maximum grant: US$20,000.

- Duration: 12 months.

- Eligible applicants: PhD holders affiliated with recognized universities or research institutions.

- Nationality: All nationalities eligible.

- Principal Investigator: Must be based outside Afghanistan during the grant.

- Research focus: Afghanistan’s development and future.

- Collaboration: International and Afghanistan-based research collaboration encouraged.

- Proposal limit: 1,500 words.

- Deadline: 1 October 2026.

Frequently Asked Questions Who is eligible for the ARI Research Grant? PhD holders affiliated with recognized universities or research institutions worldwide can apply, provided they meet the programme requirements and are based outside Afghanistan as Principal Investigator during the grant period. Do applicants need to be Afghan citizens? No. Citizenship of Afghanistan is not required, and researchers of all nationalities are eligible. How much funding does ARI provide? The grant provides up to US$20,000 for a 12-month research project. Can the research involve researchers in Afghanistan? Yes. ARI strongly encourages collaborative research connecting researchers based in Afghanistan with researchers working internationally. What subjects can researchers study? Research can cover economic development, agriculture, climate change, governance, migration, education, health, gender, social inclusion, peacebuilding, culture, heritage and many other themes related to Afghanistan’s development. What is the application deadline? Applications must be submitted by 1 October 2026. Conclusion The Afghanistan Research Initiative Research Grant provides up to US$20,000 for PhD-level researchers to undertake original, policy-relevant research on Afghanistan over 12 months. The programme is particularly valuable for researchers developing evidence-based work on Afghanistan’s economic, env