The Mastercard Foundation and the University of Cambridge have established the Climate Resilience and Sustainability Research Fund to strengthen collaboration between African researchers and Cambridge-based academics. The initiative is designed to support high-quality research and training activities focused on climate resilience and sustainability.

Focus on Collaborative and Interdisciplinary Research

The fund supports research that addresses climate resilience and sustainability, with a broad interpretation of these themes as long as relevance can be clearly demonstrated. Awards are made to pairs of researchers, one based at an African university or research institution and one at the University of Cambridge. Eligible applicants are expected to be at post-doctoral level or above, with flexibility for those with equivalent experience.

Applications are welcomed from across disciplines, including the sciences, social sciences, humanities, and arts. The programme places particular emphasis on innovative, multi-disciplinary, and interdisciplinary research, as well as research-linked training activities.

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Part of the Africa Climate Collaborative

The research fund sits within the Africa Climate Collaborative, a partnership between the Mastercard Foundation, the University of Ghana, Makerere University, the University of Cape Town, and the University of Cambridge. The collaborative aims to empower young Africans to lead climate-resilient and sustainable futures through research, education, and leadership development.

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Funding Scale and Timeline

Backed by a £7.7 million investment from the Mastercard Foundation, the fund will run from 2025 to 2030. Awards will be made annually through to 2029, with the final funding cycle supporting activities during 2029–30. Most grants are expected to fund projects with a duration of approximately 12 months.

The first call for proposals was launched in spring 2025, marking the start of a multi-year effort to deepen Africa–Cambridge research partnerships on climate resilience and sustainability.

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