School Leadership Grants Africa: Apply for Up to $35,000 in Research Funding
Are you an African education researcher looking for funding opportunities that can influence policy and strengthen education systems? School Leadership Grants Africa are now open, offering up to $15,000 for Descriptive Action Research and $35,000 for Comparative Action Research focused on improving school leadership across the continent.
This funding opportunity supports African-led, context-specific research that promotes educational quality, equity, and system resilience in eligible African countries.
About the School Leadership Grants Africa Initiative
The School Leadership Grants Africa initiative is led by Education Sub Saharan Africa (ESSA) in partnership with VVOB – Education for Development and the Association for the Development of Education in Africa (ADEA). The programme operates under the African Centre for School Leadership (ACSL) and is funded by the Mastercard Foundation.
The goal is to strengthen school leadership research by empowering African researchers to generate high-quality, policy-relevant evidence that directly informs education reforms and leadership practices.
Grant Overview and Key Dates
Application Deadline
- Sunday, 11 January 2026 at 11:59 PM (GMT)
Research Duration
- Descriptive Action Research: 12 months
- Comparative Action Research: 24 months
Eligible Countries
- Tanzania (Tanzania mainland and Zanzibar)
- Other eligible African countries
Grant Amounts Under School Leadership Grants Africa
Tanzania (Mainland and Zanzibar)
- 10 Descriptive Action Research Grants – up to $15,000 each
- 4 Comparative Action Research Grants – up to $35,000 each
Other African Countries
- 15 Descriptive Action Research Grants – up to $15,000 each
- 10 Comparative Action Research Grants – up to $35,000 each
Read FAQs for Other African Countries
Why School Leadership Grants Africa Matter
Evidence reviewed by ACSL highlights a major research gap in school leadership across Africa. Existing studies are often fragmented, limited in scope, and weakly linked to education policy reforms.
This lack of cohesive evidence makes it difficult to design leadership strategies that respond to system priorities. Additionally, many African researchers face limited access to research funding, often relying on personal resources to conduct meaningful studies.
School Leadership Grants Africa directly address these challenges by funding African researchers to produce locally grounded, actionable research.
Why Fund African Education Researchers
This initiative aims to build sustainable research capacity across Africa by enabling researchers to:
- Produce context-specific evidence on school leadership
- Influence education policy and reform
- Strengthen school leadership practice
- Support advocacy and system improvement across countries
By prioritising African-led research, the programme ensures that solutions reflect lived realities within African education systems.
Who Is Eligible to Apply
The School Leadership Grants Africa are open to:
- African researchers based in Africa
- Researchers with a PhD affiliated with an African university, research institution, government ministry, or recognised knowledge organisation
- Experienced researchers without a PhD who demonstrate a strong research track record
Strongly Encouraged Applications
Proposals that include:
- Early-career researchers
- Women researchers
- Practitioners such as head teachers or middle-tier education leaders
- Geographical diversity
All proposals must align with priority school leadership themes outlined in the official concept note.
How to Apply for School Leadership Grants Africa
Submit your application using the official form:
👉 Apply here
H3: Learn More via Webinar
A detailed webinar explaining the grant was hosted on 2 December 2025.
🎥 Watch the webinar
Apply today and join a growing community of researchers shaping the future of school leadership in Africa.