Since its establishment in 1960, the British Institute in Eastern Africa has produced and catalysed world-class research on the region’s histories, societies and cultures. Today it is a vibrant hub for diverse research activities and knowledge exchange across disciplinary and national boundaries. We support and host researchers in the arts, humanities and social sciences, awarding annual grants, offering fellowship opportunities, and serving as a partner on cutting-edge collaborative research projects.
We offer either an external affiliation to support an application for a research license, or an affiliation with a research licence and hosting. Non-Kenyan researchers undertaking fieldwork in Kenya need an affiliation in order to apply for a mandatory research license from the National Commission for Science, Technology and Innovation (NACOSTI). BIEA charges a processing fee to support affiliations for NACOSTI applications.
BIEA also hosts visiting researchers during periods of fieldwork or sabbatical, providing workspaces, and enabling participation in the research community. Affiliates may be hosted either as part of a BIEA research project partnership, or independently, by applying for an affiliation with a workspace (fees dependent on duration of affiliation).
For questions about affiliation contact [email protected].
Find out more and apply for affiliation here.
Application formBIEA 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 & guidelines
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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