This three-month fellowship supports recent postdoctoral scholars to produce publication-ready research articles within the humanities and social sciences, focused on Eastern Africa. Articles should be based on PhD research completed within the last two years, at the time of application, and prepared for submission to either Azania: Archaeological Research in Africa or the Journal of Eastern African Studies. Fellows will work independently to complete the article by the end of the fellowship agreement and may be based at home, their own institution, or use BIEA library in Nairobi. The fellowship provides a stipend of £1,200 per month for three months, at the end of which the article must be submitted to the relevant journal.

Applicants must confirm that they will not undertake more than 15 hours per week of other employment during the period covered by the writing grant. Fellowships can be commenced at a convenient time for the successful applicants, providing that the contract is completed by 31 January 2027. BIEA does not provide production, proofreading or language checking support; these will remain the responsibility of the authors. In addition to the article, fellows must supply a blog/ short report for BIEA’s Annual Review (with photo); make a post on LinkedIn; and acknowledge BIEA support in the publication. They must also be prepared to give a public presentation at the BIEA (either in person, or online), upon request, at a mutually convenient time.

This grant supports original research projects in or about Eastern Africa from any discipline in the humanities and social sciences. Applications are welcome from postgraduate students; researchers who have not followed conventional academic careers, but whose local knowledge or contacts enable them to conduct high quality research; and collaborative projects involving established scholars, where resources are ring-fenced for early career or Africa-based project partners. The grants may be used to catalyse new research agendas, provide seed funding for small projects that lay the groundwork for larger projects, or build on existing research. Priority is given to researchers based in the UK or Eastern Africa (defined broadly), and to excellent proposals from researchers or research teams who have limited access to other sources of funds. All funds must be used directly to support research. Research projects must engage with one or more of the BIEA research themes Africa in the World; Retelling the Past; Changing Environments; Urban Lives; Technologies of Knowledge; Next Generations (further information on these themes is available here). Grants are normally between £500 and £1,000, but up to £1,500 may be awarded.

Successful applicants will be expected to complete the research by 31 January 2027. They must supply a blog/ short report for BIEA’s Annual Review (with photo); make a post on LinkedIn; and acknowledge BIEA support in any outputs.

This grant offers postdoctoral researchers in the humanities and social sciences an opportunity to ‘bring research home’ to any research site in Eastern Africa. It supports scholars to return to the location of their PhD research up to three years after the successful completion of their doctorate. The aim is to enable postdoctoral scholars to share their findings with research participants and stakeholders, while exploring potential future research, collaboration, policy engagement or practice-based agendas. The maximum grant available is £3,000 per scholar.

Successful applicants will be expected to complete the dissemination by 31 January 2027. They must supply a blog/ short report for BIEA’s Annual Review (with photo); make a post on LinkedIn; and acknowledge BIEA support in any outputs. 

This grant supports international research workshops for humanities or social sciences scholars working in or on Eastern Africa. All workshops should include academics from both Africa and the UK, coming together for a minimum of one day. Workshop grants can be used to facilitate participation either by covering the cost of travel for participants or contributing towards event space hire costs. Suitable outputs include a funding application for collaborative research, a collaborative publication, a journal special issue or similar.

The maximum amount available is £2000, with up to £4,000 per workshop available in exceptional circumstances, requiring specific justification. Applicants may either hold the event at the BIEA in Nairobi or make appropriate alternative arrangements. The workshop must be completed by 31 January 2027. They must supply a blog/ short report for BIEA’s Annual Review (with photo); make a post on LinkedIn; and acknowledge BIEA support in any outputs. 

Impact grants support scholars at any stage of their postdoctoral career to translate academic research findings into policies or practices that benefit people and places in Eastern Africa. Applicants should submit a proposal rooted in previous or ongoing research in the humanities and social sciences and clearly designed to achieve impact – creating positive change in society, culture, the environment, or the economy. Standard grants are available up to £2000; if an exceptionally strong case is made, we may award up to £4000.

Proposals must demonstrate:

• Viable collaboration with partners in the Eastern African beyond academia, for instance with policymakers, civil society organisations, activists, artists, museums, cultural institutions or enterprises.
• Clear pathways to impact and methods for evaluating outcomes.
• Alignment with the BIEA mission and research themes.
• Contributions to global or regional policy agendas to promote sustainable development, peacebuilding, human rights, justice, cultural heritage or historical understanding.

Successful applicants will be expected to complete the impact activity by 31 January 2027. They must supply a blog/ short report for BIEA’s Annual Review (with photo); make a post on LinkedIn; and acknowledge BIEA support in any outputs.

This funding opportunity is open to UK-based postdoctoral researchers in archaeology or history (at any career stage) to undertake research on cultural heritage threatened by climate change, conflict, urbanization or neglect – including archaeological sites, monuments, memorials, endangered crafts or oral traditions. Applicants must have proven experience of research in Eastern Africa and demonstrate an active collaboration with at least one institutional partner or co-investigator based in any of the eighteen countries spanning Sudan to Mozambique. Proposals should include innovative research questions and/or methodologies; provide a clear justification for the selected heritage focus; and outline a budget of up to £8000.

The successful candidate will be expected to undertake field research. They will demonstrate how their findings address a critical knowledge gap on endangered cultural heritage in Eastern Africa, and how they will contribute to a peer-reviewed publication. The proposal will indicate the potential to generate at least one policy recommendation either for relevant national or international authority/ies in the research area. It will also explain how the grant will serve as seed funding to develop future collaborative research bids.

Successful applicants will be expected to complete the research by 28 February 2027. They must supply a blog/ short report for BIEA’s Annual Review (with photo); make/provide text for a post on LinkedIn; and acknowledge BIEA support in any outputs. Apply by 5 pm BST / 7pm EAT, Friday 8 May 2026.

See www.biea.ac.uk/forms & policies for more details.

This grant provides an opportunity for UK-based researchers who have already made an excellent contribution to research in or about Eastern Africa, from any discipline in the humanities and social sciences. It is intended to support researchers to explore new ideas or to build on their existing research agenda with the aims of publication and future collaborative grant applications involving researchers based in Eastern Africa. Awards will be evaluated based on (i) an established record of excellent research (ii) the originality of the research proposed and (iii) the specification of a clear pathway towards publication and a grant bid.  Up to £5000 may be awarded, and applications that show good value for money will be viewed favourably.

Successful applicants will be expected to complete the research by 28 February 2027. They should be between five and fifteen years from the award of their doctorate, with allowance for applicants who have had career breaks and researchers with equivalent experience and an academic appointment, but without doctorates.  They must supply a blog/ short report for BIEA’s Annual Review (with photo); make/provide text for a post on LinkedIn; and acknowledge BIEA support in any outputs. Apply by 5pm BST / 7pm EAT, Friday 8 May 2026.

See biea.ac.uk/forms  & policies for more details.

We charge student researchers KES10,000 and postdoctoral researchers KES20,000. The following documents are needed to begin the affiliation process.

• Letter of Introduction from your department
• Letter of Ethical Clearance
• Research Proposal
• A Risk Assessment Form filled by you/ letter from your University
• A  Data Protection Form filled by you/ letter from your University

Send your queries on affiliation to [email protected]

Applications should include:

1. Cover letter including details of any experience of Kiswahili you currently have, your plans to use your new language skills should you be awarded a place on the course, and how Kiswahili language skills would contribute to your career development (2 pages) 
2. Curriculum Vitae (2 pages) 
3. Letter of support (from your supervisor if a postgraduate student) 

For information about upcoming Kiswahili language courses please see here.

a) What is BIEA Graduate Forum?

It is an active network of graduate students in the Humanities and Social Sciences designed to provide support through sharing research knowledge, ideas, and experiences to ease the isolation that is often related to graduate studies.

b) What we do?

We offer helpful platforms and events to develop networks between graduate students and established researchers from different universities, countries and academic disciplines to promote innovative research in Africa.

c) Who can join?

Graduate students whose research is in line with the BIEA thematic areas or related disciplines in Africa’s Humanities and social sciences.

d) When do we meet?

Our meetings take place on the second and fourth Thursday of every month.

e) What time do we meet?

We meet from 5:00 – 6:30 p.m. EAT.

f) Where do we meet?

Our meetings take place in the BIEA seminar room, Nairobi. However, due to potential disruption from Covid-19, the event may assume a hybrid or online-only format.

g) Our activities?

Panel discussions, cocktail events, workshops, training, and Work in progress sessions.

Join the BIEA Graduate Forum by emailing to [email protected]

Graduate attachments offer recent graduates with an interest in further studies in any discipline in the humanities and social sciences in Africa, the opportunity to gain practical research experience and develop their networks in a three-month enrolment at the BIEA in Nairobi, Kenya.  BIEA graduate attachés will:Develop their research interests in the region using our well-stocked library to work on a literature review.

• Gain practical experience of conducting research in Eastern Africa, including using archives, visiting potential research sites, and working as a research assistant for innovative historical, archaeological, anthropological, political science or legal projects.
• Establish international networks with early career and established researchers.
• Gain administrative skills and experience by assisting the BIEA in the organisation of events and in the day-to-day activities of the institute.
• Enrol for beginner, intermediate or advanced Kiswahili classes (if needed).

The BIEA will cover the cost of travel to and from Nairobi, and a visa if required for the period of the attachment. Graduate attachés will also receive a monthly stipend for the duration of their attachment, and the BIEA will assist in identifying suitable accommodation if needed. The GAS scheme will run in two cohorts: July – September and September – November 2026. Applicants should indicate their preferred cohort although this cannot be guaranteed. Successful applicants will be expected to supply a blog/ short report for BIEA’s Annual Review (with photo); make a post on LinkedIn; and acknowledge BIEA support in any outputs. 

‘I’m grateful to the BIEA for the Undergraduate Volunteer opportunity. It’s been an incredibly amazing experience having had a chance to develop vital skills that remain pivotal to my academic pursuits. With this opportunity, I managed to engage in the participation and organization of the Weekly BIEA Reading groups and PHD forums taking over email correspondences regarding the same. These platforms have and continue to profoundly build on my reading skills thus help me better understand how to engage in, interpret and shape scholarly conversations. This has indeed been and continues to be an Incredible space on academic development for me : Forever a member,’ LoiceOn’gere, UVP 2018.

’Undertaking the BIEA UV programme has been a great  honour. Coming from a legal background, it was refreshing to be exposed to a broad social sciences and humanities research environment.  I was also privileged to host a panel discussion on the Kenyan youth and corruption at the BIEA, a first for undergraduate volunteers. I enjoyed the stimulating discussions based on splendid book selections that characterized the weekly reading groups. The close interaction with both young and accomplished researchers was really the highlight of the programme that has strengthened my resolve to pursue research in the future.’ Gideon Mawasi, UVP 2018,

For the latest information about our UVP programme please see here.