IFRA-Nigeria Research Grant

IFRA-Nigeria Research Grant

You will receive up to 1,000 EUR for a research project running from January to October. The funding covers fieldwork trips and visits to archives in West Africa. IFRA-Nigeria will pay half of the amount at the start and the remainder once you have submitted your final report. The grant is awarded by IFRA-Nigeria, a French public research institute based at the University of Ibadan in Nigeria. Each year, it supports around ten projects in the humanities and social sciences.

Who can apply

• Level: You are a second-year Master’s student, a PhD student, a postdoctoral researcher or a research assistant.
• Field of study: Your project falls within the field of the humanities or social sciences. Projects in other subject areas are not eligible for funding.
• Topic: Your project fits into one of the following four thematic areas: worldviews, body and health; citizenship, gender and mobilisation; dynamics of cultural heritage and the environment; or digital humanities.
• Where you research: Your work relates to one of the following ten West African countries: Nigeria, Benin, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, The Gambia, Ghana, Liberia, Niger, Chad or Togo.
• Nationality: Applicants of any nationality are welcome to apply. You may submit your application in English or French.
• Partnerships: Having an ongoing connection with institutions or researchers in the country where you are studying is an advantage, but not a requirement.

How to apply

You submit a PDF file via an online form. This should include a covering letter, a CV, a financial plan and a project description. The application deadline is 30 November. If you are selected, you will be notified by email in December.

How realistic are your chances?

This funding scheme is very narrowly defined. Your project must fall within the field of the humanities or social sciences, relate to one of the four specified topics, and focus on a specific West African country. As a result, the pool of eligible applicants is small. As only around ten projects are funded and the grant amounts are modest in each case, a clear, well-thought-out application that clearly fits one of the themes has good prospects. A concrete work plan and a genuine local partnership will set a strong application apart from the rest.