Are you a researcher passionate about solving the climate crisis? The Mastercard Foundation and the University of Cambridge have joined forces to offer a significant funding opportunity aimed at tackling one of the world's most pressing challenges.
The Climate Resilience and Sustainability Research Fund is now accepting applications for its 2026 cycle. This initiative is designed to build powerful bridges between researchers in Africa and the University of Cambridge, fostering collaborations that can lead to real-world impact in climate resilience and sustainability.
If you are looking for funding to kickstart a new project or host a high-impact workshop, read on to see how you can secure up to £50,000 for your work.
About the Fund
The primary goal of this scheme is to catalyze new collaborations and strengthen existing ones between researchers based in African institutions and those at the University of Cambridge.
While the core focus is Climate Resilience and Sustainability, the fund interprets this broadly. As long as your research linkage to these areas can be justified, you are encouraged to apply. This is a fantastic opportunity to support high-quality training activities and research that addresses the unique climate challenges faced by the African continent.
Funding Categories: What is Available?
For this round, applicants can apply for one of two specific grant types:
Research Catalyst Grant:
- Value: Up to £20,000
- Best for: Initial research collaboration, data gathering, or proof-of-concept studies.
Workshop Grant:
- Value: Up to £50,000
- Best for: Organizing training sessions, knowledge-exchange workshops, or collaborative seminars.
Important Note: The fund does not cover salaries for Principal Investigators (PIs), institutional overheads, or grant administration costs. The budget is strictly for direct research or workshop activities.
Eligibility Criteria
To be eligible for this award, applications must be submitted by a pair of researchers:
- Partner 1: Must be a researcher from a University or Research Institution in Africa.
- Partner 2: Must be a researcher from the University of Cambridge.
- Qualification Level: Both researchers should be at the Post-doctoral level or above. However, applicants with equivalent research experience will also be given due consideration.
Application Requirements
Success in securing this grant relies on a strong, collaborative proposal. The Cambridge-based Principal Investigator (PI) is responsible for registering and completing the online application form on the Cambridge-Africa website.
Required Documents Checklist:
- Case for Support: Detailed explanation of the project and how the collaboration will function.
- Itemized Budget: Using the provided template.
- Lay Summary: A simple summary of the project for non-experts.
Letters of Support:
- One from the Cambridge PI’s department/faculty.
- One from the African PI’s department/institution.
- CVs: Maximum 2 pages for both the Cambridge and African PIs.
How to Apply
Ready to apply? The clock is ticking!
- Application Deadline: 15 January 2026
- Submission Portal: The Cambridge-based PI must submit the application via the Cambridge-Africa website.
Click here to visit the Official Webpage and Apply.