The World Academy of Sciences (TWAS), has an open grant call dabbed Seed Grants for New African Principal Investigators (SG-NAPI), this is a key grant program designed to assist young African scientists to establish their own research laboratories in their home countries. This program is fully funded by the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) and is now in its third year of operation, with 58 grants having been awarded thus far.
The SG-NAPI program is aimed at helping young scientists to establish themselves in their home countries by providing them with funding to set up their own research labs. The grants are designed to support the research and development of innovative solutions to key scientific challenges, with a particular focus on addressing the needs of Africa.
The program is open to candidates who are 40 years or younger, hold a PhD from outside their home country within the last five years, and are either just returning to their home country or are about to return. Applicants must also hold a position at an academic or research institution and be a citizen of an eligible country lagging in science and technology in sub-Saharan Africa. The maximum grant amount is USD 67,700, and the application deadline is 20 April 2023.
The SG-NAPI grant has already had a significant impact on the careers of young African scientists, as noted by 2021 awardee Rosemary Bulyaba of Uganda. "The SG-NAPI award has surely strengthened my reputation at Uganda Christian University and interactions with colleagues," she said. "The award uplifted my value to the university. I was actually promoted from head of department to dean of the Faculty of Agricultural Sciences in February 2022."
This program is an excellent opportunity for young African scientists to establish themselves in their home countries and contribute to the development of science and technology on the continent. With the support of TWAS and the BMBF, these young scientists can leverage their skills and knowledge to make a significant contribution to scientific research and innovation in Africa.
Photo by Ousa Chea on Unsplash
Article by Jed Mwangi
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