We offer small grants to both early career and senior researchers through an annual open competition and a targeted calls for ideas, led by BIEA’s Research Committee. These grants support innovative research in the arts, humanities and social sciences focused on Eastern Africa, broadly defined to encompass all countries from Sudan to Mozambique: including Burundi, Comoros, Djibouti, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Kenya, Madagascar, Malawi, Mauritius, Mozambique, Rwanda, Seychelles, Somalia, South Sudan, Sudan, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia, and Zimbabwe.
A series of calls is announced each year, typically in April. The awards aim to catalyse new research, promote knowledge production and dissemination, and foster impact among emerging and established scholars alike, through six funding opportunities:
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, after which the article must be submitted to the relevant journal.
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), Research projects must engage with one or more of the BIEA research themes [hyperlink]. Grants are normally between £500 and £1,000, but up to £1,500 may be awarded.
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.
This grant supports international research workshops for scholars in the humanities or social sciences working in or on Eastern Africa. All workshops must include academics from both Africa and the UK, coming together for a minimum of one full day. Workshop grants can be used to facilitate participation by covering travel costs for participants or contributing towards venue hire. Expected outputs may include a collaborative research funding application, a joint publication, a journal special issue or similar. The maximum amount available is £2000, with up to £4,000 available in exceptional circumstances, requiring specific justification.
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. Proposals must demonstrate:
Contributions to global or regional policy agendas to promote sustainable development, peacebuilding, human rights, justice, cultural heritage or historical understanding. Standard grants are available up to £2000; if an exceptionally strong case is made, we may award up to £4000.
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 placement at the BIEA in Nairobi, Kenya. BIEA graduate attachés will:
The BIEA will cover the cost of travel to and from Nairobi, and a visa if required. 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.
Find out more BIEA researchers, associates and affiliates are required to adhere to international research ethics standards for humanities and social sciences. Before commencing fieldwork, they must demonstrate that have obtained the necessary research permissions, are compliant with data protection regulations, and have completed a risk assessment. Grant recipients are expected to secure all relevant approvals from their home institutions. Both BIEA researchers and grant recipients must also observe the BIEA Code of Conduct.
For further information download BIEA’s Research Policy, Data Protection Policy, and the BIEA Code of Conduct.
View policies & guidelinesWe also recruit researchers at various levels as part of collaborative research projects. All opportunities are communicated to members through our mailing list.
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There are many reasons to become a member of the BIEA and join our research community. The BIEA membership is open to all researchers and early career researchers.
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