RFPs: Afghanistan Research Initiative PhD Support Grant Program

Deadline: 01-Oct-2026

The Afghanistan Research Initiative (ARI) PhD Support Grant Program provides up to USD 10,000 to Afghan nationals in the final or penultimate year of a PhD to support the completion of original research relevant to Afghanistan’s development. The 12-month grant supports doctoral research across areas such as economic development, climate change, governance, social inclusion, culture, history, and heritage, with applications particularly encouraged from women and historically underrepresented researchers. What Is the Afghanistan Research Initiative PhD Support Grant? The Afghanistan Research Initiative PhD Support Grant Program supports Afghan doctoral researchers who are approaching the final stages of their PhD. The program is designed to help researchers complete rigorous and original doctoral research while contributing to broader understanding of Afghanistan’s development challenges and future. Supported research should have a clear connection to Afghanistan and fall within one or more of ARI’s priority thematic areas. The program also provides recipients with opportunities to engage with an international research network and contribute to research dissemination and public engagement. How Much Funding Is Available? Successful applicants can receive up to USD 10,000. The grant supports a period of 12 months. Funding is disbursed in instalments based on: Agreed research milestones Satisfactory progress Approved doctoral research activities Completion of agreed deliverables Applicants must therefore provide a realistic workplan and detailed budget showing how the funding will help them complete their doctoral research. What Research Areas Does the Grant Support? Proposals should address issues that are relevant to Afghanistan’s development and future. Applicants must meet the core eligibility requirements.

Eligible applicants must:

Be Afghan nationals. Be enrolled in a recognized university anywhere in the world. Be pursuing a PhD. Be in the penultimate or final year of their doctoral studies. Have doctoral research aligned with ARI’s thematic priorities. Demonstrate satisfactory academic and research progress. Be able to conduct the proposed research successfully within the grant period. Demonstrate proficiency in English. The program particularly encourages applications from women and researchers from historically underrepresented communities. What Does “Penultimate or Final Year” Mean? The grant is specifically intended for researchers who are approaching completion of their doctorate. The penultimate year is the academic year immediately before the final year. The final year is the period in which the candidate is expected to complete and submit their doctoral research and thesis. Therefore, applicants should be sufficiently advanced in their PhD to demonstrate that the grant can realistically contribute to completion within the 12-month funding period. Why Does the PhD Support Grant Matter? Completing doctoral research can require significant financial and research resources, particularly during the final stages of a PhD.

This grant can help Afghan researchers:

Complete original doctoral research Conduct remaining research activities Meet important research milestones Strengthen academic outputs Contribute to Afghanistan-focused scholarship Connect with international researchers Translate academic findings into accessible knowledge

Participate in public research dissemination

The program therefore combines doctoral completion support with knowledge-sharing and research engagement. What Are Successful Recipients Expected to Do? Recipients have academic and dissemination responsibilities during the grant period. Prepare a non-technical knowledge brief or policy note.

Participate in ARI research dissemination activities

Contribute to public engagement activities. The knowledge brief or policy note is particularly important because it allows research findings to be communicated beyond academic audiences. How to Apply for the ARI PhD Support Grant Applicants should prepare all required materials before submitting the online application.

Step 1: Confirm Your PhD Status

Verify that you are an Afghan national enrolled in a recognized university and are currently in the penultimate or final year of your doctoral program. You should also have evidence of your expected PhD completion date.

Step 2: Check Research Alignment

Review your doctoral research and determine how it connects to ARI’s thematic priorities. Your proposal should clearly demonstrate relevance to Afghanistan.

Step 3: Prepare the Research Proposal

Develop a concise research proposal or extended summary explaining: Research problem Research objectives Research questions Methodology Relevance to Afghanistan Expected contribution Current progress Remaining activities Expected results

Step 4: Develop a 12-Month Workplan

The workplan should show how you will complete the remaining doctoral research during the grant period.

Include:

Research activities Milestones Expected outputs Timeline Thesis completion activities The proposed schedule should be realistic and consistent with your current PhD stage.

Step 5: Prepare the Budget

Applicants must use the ARI budget template to prepare a detailed budget.

The budget should clearly explain:

Planned expenditure Amount requested Purpose of each cost Relationship between costs and research activities A separate budget narrative should explain why the proposed costs are necessary.

Step 6: Obtain Supervisor Support

Applicants must provide a letter of support from their PhD supervisor. The letter should help establish the applicant’s academic status, research progress, and ability to complete the proposed work.

Step 7: Submit the Online Application

The completed application and supporting documents should be submitted through the designated online application system. Applicants should check that all required documents are included before submission. Application Documents C