Education Sub-Subharan Africa Research Grants on Foundational Learning

📖 About the Opportunity

Foundational learning is crucial for the lifelong success of children, as it is during this stage that they acquire basic literacy, numeracy, and socio-emotional skills. Unfortunately, many children in Sub-Saharan Africa are missing out on these essential skills:

• In Ghana, approximately 80% of children do not attain fundamental literacy and numeracy skills by the end of primary school (UNESCO, 2022).
• In Kenya, less than 50% of Grade 3 learners meet expectations in reading English text (USAWA Agenda).
• In Senegal and Zambia, high levels of learning poverty persist despite increased school enrollment.

This grant program aims to invest in solutions that work in local contexts and are led by local researchers to ensure every child builds a strong foundation for lifelong success.

🗓 Opportunity Details

• Date Published: September 17, 2025
• Application Deadline: October 31, 2025
• Category: Postgraduate, PhD, Postdoctoral
• Opportunity Locations: Ghana, Kenya, Senegal, Zambia
• Eligible Locations: Africa

🎁 Benefits

• Up to four grants per country will be awarded to individual researchers or groups of researchers.
• Each grant is valued at up to $15,000 and covers:
  • Direct research expenses (e.g., researcher time)
  • Research materials
  • Data collection
  • Designing of reports
  • Travel for collaboration meetings
  • Dissemination efforts

✅ Eligibility Criteria

Applicants must meet the following requirements:

• Be citizens of Ghana, Kenya, Senegal, or Zambia, and currently based in their respective countries.
• The lead applicant must:
  • Hold a PhD.
  • Be working in a university, research institution, or government department/ministry in Ghana, Kenya, Senegal, or Zambia.
• Proposed research must focus on areas identified in the individual country calls.
• Applications and research reports must be submitted in English or French (for Senegal).

📅 Application Process

To apply for the Education Sub-Saharan Africa Research Grants on Foundational Learning, visit the application portal.

📌 Application Deadline

• October 31, 2025

🌟 Sponsor Organization

• Education Sub-Saharan Africa (ESSA)

This grant program is a vital step toward addressing learning poverty and ensuring foundational learning for children in Sub-Saharan Africa. Apply now to contribute to impactful research in your local context!

• Up to four grants will be awarded per country to individual researchers or groups of researchers, valued at up to $15,000.
• These grants will cover direct research expenses (e.g. researcher time), research materials, data collection, designing of reports, travel for collaboration meetings and dissemination efforts.