Applications open for IFRA-Nigeria Research Grant

IFRA-Nigeria (French Institute for Research in Africa, based at the Institute of African Studies, University of Ibadan) is inviting applications for its 2027 Research Grants. The call supports research in the humanities and social sciences across nine West African countries, funding a limited number of projects for the period January 2027 to October 2027. The application deadline is 30 October 2026 at 23:59 West African Time (WAT). Opportunity at a Glance

- Provider: IFRA-Nigeria (French Institute for Research in Africa)

- Opportunity name: IFRA-Nigeria Research Grant 2027

- Funding type: Research grants for humanities and social sciences projects

- Funding period: January 2027 to October 2027

- Number of projects: A dozen (individual or collective projects)

- Maximum grant amount: Up to €1,000 (depending on project nature and budget)

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

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

- Application language: French or English

- Deadline: 30 October 2026, 23:59 WAT

- Notification: Applicants will be informed by email in December 2026 at the latest

- Reporting deadline (if funded): Final reports due before 15 November 2027

About the Opportunity

IFRA-Nigeria promotes and supports research on countries within its geographical mandate in the field of the humanities and social sciences. This call finances research projects that include fieldwork missions and/or stays in archives. Projects must align with IFRA-Nigeria’s regional scope (nine West African countries) and with at least one of the Institute’s research axes. The call also requires a valorisation component linked to IFRA-Nigeria’s editorial and research activities. Funding and Benefits

- Grant coverage: IFRA-Nigeria finances selected research projects for January 2027 to October 2027.

- Maximum award: Grants can reach a maximum of €1,000, depending on the nature and budget of the project.

- Payment schedule (if selected):

- Half of the grant is paid at the start of the project (by January 2027). - The second half is paid after submission of a final report.

- Final reporting requirement: Final reports must be sent before 15 November 2027.

Who Is Eligible?

Eligible applicants include:

- Second-year Master’s students - Doctoral students - Postdoctoral students - Researchers

Geographic and disciplinary eligibility:

- Research must be conducted in a country covered by IFRA-Nigeria’s mandate: Nigeria, Benin, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Côte d’Ivoire, Ghana, Niger, Chad, Togo. - The call supports humanities and social sciences only. Disciplines outside this field are not eligible.

Additional eligibility notes:

- No nationality requirements apply. - Sustainable partnerships with institutions and/or researchers in the host country are strongly encouraged. - For individual projects, the research must be undertaken personally by the applicant (not by someone else). - For collaborative projects, all participating persons and their roles must be identified and explained. Eligible Activities or Priority Areas

Projects must:

- Be aligned with the geographical area covered by IFRA-Nigeria. - Fit at least one of the following research axes:

- Axis 1: Beliefs, bodies and health

- Axis 2: Citizenship, gender and mobilisation

- Axis 3: Heritage dynamics and environment

- Transversal axis: Digital Humanities

- Include a valorisation component, such as: - Publications - Oral communications - Other valorisation activities connected to IFRA-Nigeria’s editorial and research activities The call also indicates that applicants are encouraged to consult IFRA-Nigeria’s website for context: https://ifra-nigeria.org/ Why This Opportunity Matters This grant call is designed for early-career scholars and researchers working on humanities and social sciences topics relevant to West Africa. By supporting projects that include fieldwork and/or archival stays, it enables applicants to produce research outputs that can be valorised through IFRA-Nigeria’s editorial and research activities. The requirement to align with specific research axes and include valorisation helps ensure projects contribute to IFRA-Nigeria’s thematic priorities. How to Apply - Prepare your application documents (see required documents below). - Compile all documents into a single PDF file.

- Submit via the Google Form: Submit your application through the IFRA-Nigeria Google Form.

- Ensure your submission is complete, as incomplete applications will be automatically rejected.

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

Required documents The call specifies the following documents must be provided: - Cover letter (maximum 1 page; font size Arial 12; automatic margins and default 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 amount requested to or received from other funding sources - Use of the budget template downloadable from the provided link (link not specified in the source text) - 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 - Use of the proposal template downloadable from the provided link (link not specified in the source text) Scientific integrity and AI use - The proposal cannot be written by someone other than the applicant. - The call states that it is not allowed to use artificial intelligence (AI) tools without properly disclosing and justifying its usage. - Applicants must read IFRA-Nigeria’s position on the use of artificial intelligence, available on the “calls & grants” page of the IFRA-Nigeria website. - The call warns that any infringement may lead to automa