AERC Research Grants 2026: Up to US$10,000 for Industrial Policy Studies in Africa

The African Economic Research Consortium (AERC) invites proposals for its Industrial Policy and Growth in Africa Project. Early-career African and Africa-focused economists can apply for commissioned research funding of up to US$10,000 per study.

Who can apply?

• The lead applicant and every co-applicant must hold a PhD in Economics or a closely related field, awarded in 2016 or later.
• Applicants must already hold, or have confirmed access to, the data needed for their proposed research.
• Research teams are strongly encouraged, particularly collaborations between researchers at African and international institutions.
• Applications from female economists and Francophone and Lusophone economists are especially encouraged.

Research themes

Country-specific, multi-country and sector studies are welcome. Each proposal must make a clear connection to one of seven themes and explain its implications for industrial-policy design in Africa:

1. Policy instruments, allocation and firm dynamics
2. Special economic zones, industrial parks and place-based policy
3. Foreign direct investment, linkages and domestic capabilities
4. Trade, AfCFTA and regional value chains
5. Agriculture and agro-processing
6. Natural resources and critical minerals
7. Data and measurement

Priority areas include dynamic effects, spillovers, cost-effectiveness, distributional outcomes and under-studied countries and sectors. Proposals must demonstrate a credible empirical approach and feasibility within 18 months.

What the funding covers

Grants of up to US$10,000 may cover researcher time, access or licence fees for existing secondary data, and software needed for analysis. Primary data collection, including new surveys and interviews, and field travel are not funded. Include descriptive statistics showing that suitable data are available.

Selected researchers receive mentorship and editorial and methodological support through workshops. Funded papers are expected to target publication in internationally refereed journals ranked CABS-AJG 2 or above, or an equivalent ABDC or Scopus tier, and researchers must also prepare a short policy brief.

Proposal requirements

Submit in English or French. Proposals must not exceed 2,000 words, excluding CVs, the budget table and references. Use the following structure:

• Title, theme and abstract: up to 250 words, identifying the theme and question numbers, research question, methods and contribution.
• Introduction and motivation: up to 400 words on the literature and policy relevance.
• Data and methodology: up to 600 words on data access, descriptive statistics, empirical and identification strategies, and feasibility risks.
• Outputs and publication strategy: up to 250 words, including target journals and submission timeline.
• Team and roles: up to 300 words on qualifications, responsibilities and inclusion.
• Timeline and budget: up to 200 words plus a table, with an 18-month plan and a budget no higher than US$10,000.
• Appendices: short CVs for all team members, their PhD completion years, and proof of PhD award dates.

Selection criteria

Reviewers assess methodology and identification (30%), research question and contribution (25%), data and feasibility (20%), policy relevance (15%), and team and publication strategy (10%). Where quality is comparable, diversity and coverage across countries and themes are considered.

How to apply

1. Read the full call and select the research theme and question your proposal addresses.
2. Prepare your proposal, budget, team CVs and proof of PhD award dates.
3. Register on the AERC Research and Capacity Development Portal, complete the application and upload the required documents. The portal is available in English and French.
4. Submit by 21 November 2026, midnight EAT. Selection notification is planned for 31 December 2026.

Apply through the AERC portal ↗

Read the full call and proposal guidelines ↗