Applications open for IFRA-Nigeria Research Grant

Deadline: 30-Oct-2026

IFRA-Nigeria is inviting applications for its Research Grants 2027 to support humanities and social sciences research across nine West African countries. The call is open to second-year master’s students, doctoral and postdoctoral students, and researchers, with applications accepted in French or English. The application deadline is 30 October 2026, 23:59 WAT. Opportunity at a Glance

- Funding organization: IFRA-Nigeria

- Opportunity type: Grant

- Grant size: $1,000 to $10,000 (source text states €1,000 maximum; see “Funding and Benefits” for details)

- Eligible countries (IFRA-Nigeria mandate): - Nigeria, Benin, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Cote d’Ivoire (Ivory Coast), Ghana, Niger, Chad, Togo

- Eligible applicants: Second-year master’s students, doctoral students, postdoctoral students, and researchers

- Language of application: French or English

- Project period: January 2027 to October 2027

- Application deadline: 30 October 2026, 23:59 WAT

- Submission method: Upload a single PDF via the Google Form application link (see “How to Apply”)

About the Opportunity

IFRA-Nigeria (the French Institute for Research in Africa, located within the Institute of African Studies, University of Ibadan) has a regional research mandate covering nine West African countries. This call supports research in the humanities and social sciences and is designed to finance projects that may include fieldwork missions and/or stays in archives. IFRA-Nigeria plans to finance a dozen research projects for the period January 2027 to October 2027, either individual or collective. Funding and Benefits

- Number of projects: Approximately a dozen research projects will be financed.

- Funding limit: The source states that IFRA-Nigeria grants can reach a maximum of €1,000, depending on the nature and budget of the project.

- Project duration supported: January 2027 to October 2027.

- Valorisation requirement: All projects must include a valorisation component (for example, publications and/or oral communications) linked to IFRA-Nigeria’s editorial and research activities.

- Payment schedule (if selected):

- Half of the grant is paid at the start of the project (January 2027). - The second half is paid after submission of a final report. - Final reports must be sent before 15 November 2027. Note on grant size: The verified editorial record lists $1,000 to $10,000, while the opportunity text specifies a maximum of €1,000. The application should follow the official call text; the source does not provide a conversion or a per-recipient range beyond the €1,000 maximum. Who Is Eligible?

Eligible applicants include:

- Second-year master’s students - Doctoral students - Postdoctoral students - Researchers working in the relevant fields

Eligible research scope:

- Projects must be in humanities and social sciences. - Projects must be conducted in at least one of the countries covered by IFRA-Nigeria’s geographical mandate: Nigeria, Benin, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Cote d’Ivoire, Ghana, Niger, Chad, Togo. - Projects must align with at least one of IFRA-Nigeria’s research axes:

- Axis 1: Beliefs, bodies and health

- Axis 2: Citizenship, gender and mobilisation

- Axis 3: Heritage dynamics and environment

- Transversal axis: Digital Humanities

Other eligibility notes:

- No nationality requirements apply. - Sustainable partnerships with institutions and/or researchers in the host country are strongly encouraged. - Disciplines outside humanities and social sciences are not eligible.

- Individual projects: the research must be undertaken personally by the applicant (not by someone else).

- Collaborative projects: all involved persons and their roles must be identified and explained.

Eligible Activities or Priority Areas This call supports research projects that: - Include fieldwork missions and/or stays in archives (as applicable). - Fit within IFRA-Nigeria’s geographical mandate (nine West African countries listed above). - Align with at least one of the four research axes (Axis 1, Axis 2, Axis 3, or the transversal axis on Digital Humanities). - Include a valorisation component connected to IFRA-Nigeria’s editorial and research activities (e.g., publications and oral communications). Why This Opportunity Matters This grant call is specifically structured for humanities and social sciences researchers and advanced students working in West Africa under IFRA-Nigeria’s mandate. It supports research that may require on-the-ground fieldwork and/or archival research, and it requires applicants to plan for knowledge valorisation through outputs such as publications and communications. How to Apply - Prepare your application documents (see the required documents list below). - Compile all required documents into a single PDF. - Submit via the Google Form (single PDF upload): - Ensure completeness before submission, as incomplete applications are automatically rejected.

- Meet the deadline: 30 October 2026, 23:59 WAT.

Required documents (uploaded in one PDF) - Cover letter (maximum 1 page; font size Arial 12; automatic margins and paragraph size) - CV (maximum 3 pages)

- Budget including:

- total project cost - detailed explanation of the intended use of funds requested from IFRA-Nigeria - any other amounts requested to or received from other funding sources - (budget template is referenced as downloadable from the provided link; the source does not include the template URL) - Detailed research project description (maximum 4 pages, excluding bibliography and budget) including: - scientific project - detailed work plan (dates, itinerary, objectives, etc.) - list of institutional partnerships - valorisation perspectives - bibliography - (proposal template is referenced as downloadable from the provided link; the source does not include the template URL) Scientific integrity / AI use requirement - The proposal cannot be written by someone other than the applicant. - The source states that using artificial intelligence (AI) tools is n