AWHF Moses Mapesa Education and Research Grant

The African World Heritage Fund (AWHF) is pleased to announce the Moses Mapesa Research Grant, established to support African doctoral and master’s students conducting research in the field of natural and cultural heritage.

📖 About the AWHF Moses Mapesa Education and Research Grant

The African World Heritage Fund (AWHF) is an intergovernmental organization created in 2006 by the African Union and UNESCO to support the conservation and protection of cultural and natural heritage of Outstanding Universal Value in Africa. The AWHF aims to address challenges such as the underrepresentation of African sites on the World Heritage List and insufficient conservation and management of these sites.

The Moses Mapesa Research Grant aims to:

• Support African doctoral and master’s students conducting research on World Heritage Sites or properties on national Tentative Lists across Africa.
• Provide financial support for fieldwork-related activities.
• Strengthen academic engagement and build a new generation of African experts dedicated to the protection, conservation, and sustainable management of Africa's rich heritage.

🗓 Opportunity Details

• Date Published: June 26, 2025
• Application Deadline: July 31, 2025
• Category: Grants, Masters, Postdoctoral, Postgraduate
• Eligible Locations: Africa

💰 Benefits of the Grant

• Grant Amount: Up to USD 5,000.00.
• Duration: Fieldwork research must be conducted within 9 months (May 2026 to February 2027).
• Focus Areas: Research projects must relate to a World Heritage Site or a site on a national tentative list in Africa and address one or more of the following topics:
  1. Traditional (custodianship) management systems
  2. Heritage risk management and preparedness
  3. Heritage in conflict and post-conflict situations
  4. Heritage management and conservation
  5. Heritage and climate change
  6. Heritage presentation and interpretation
  7. Heritage and economics/entrepreneurship
  8. Heritage and sustainable development
  9. Heritage promotion and awareness
  10. Heritage, legal/police frameworks, and human rights
  11. Heritage and digital technologies/artificial intelligence
  12. Heritage and authenticity
  13. Heritage, youth, and intergenerational knowledge transmission

✅ Eligibility Criteria

The grant is open to students who meet the following requirements:

1. Enrollment: Must be currently or will be registered in 2026 in a Doctoral or Master’s program (Masters 2 for Francophone countries) at an African university. Research must focus on natural or cultural heritage at an African World Heritage Site or a site listed on a national tentative list.
2. Language Proficiency: Fluent in English, French, or Portuguese.
3. Citizenship: Must be a citizen of an African Union Member State that is a party to the 1972 World Heritage Convention.

Additional Requirements for Grant Recipients:

• Submit a detailed research description and proof of registration at the beginning of the grant.
• Submit a final report with research results or dissertation/thesis at the end of the grant, along with a financial report.
• All documents must be submitted in English, French, or Portuguese.
• Research projects must be implemented between May 2026 and February 2027.

Note: Students who fail to complete the research within the contractual timeframe will be required to reimburse the grant.

📝 Application Process

Applicants must submit the following documents:

1. Completed Application Form (co-signed by the supervisor).
2. Letter of Motivation (1 page maximum).
3. Updated Curriculum Vitae (2 pages maximum).
4. Proof of Course Registration or Letter of Acceptance from a higher learning institution or university.
5. Research Proposal (2 pages maximum), including:
   • Full name, affiliated university, country, degree level, title of research, and related World Heritage or tentative listed site.
   • Description of research (goal/objectives, research questions, relevance, significance, justification, scope, and expected outcomes).
   • Research methodology (approach, timeframe, analysis).
   • Bibliography.
   • Budget (indicating funds from all sources and specifying fieldwork items covered by the grant with justifications).

Important: Incomplete applications or those that do not fulfill all requirements will not be considered.

Submission Instructions:

1. Download and fill out the application form in your preferred language:
   • English Version
   • French Version
   • Portuguese Version
2. Submit the completed application form via the Moses Mapesa Grant 2026/27 Application Link before the deadline.

   Note: No physical copies will be accepted.

📅 Application Deadline

July 31, 2025

🌐 Additional Information

For more details, visit the AWHF Moses Mapesa Education and Research Grant page.
To apply, use the online application form.

This grant is an excellent opportunity for African students to contribute to the conservation and sustainable management of the continent's rich heritage. Don't miss the chance to apply!

• Grant amounts will vary depending on research proposals, with a maximum award of USD Five Thousand (5,000.00).
• The fieldwork research needs to be conducted in no longer than 9 months from the signature of the contract (May 2026 to February 2027).
• The award will support research projects focused on various topics related to World Heritage or tentative listed sites in Africa.