The University of Cambridge, in collaboration with the Mastercard Foundation, has launched the Climate Resilience and Sustainability Research Fund. This initiative aims to foster new and strengthen existing partnerships between African researchers and those at Cambridge, focusing on innovative research and training activities that address climate resilience and sustainability challenges. The fund offers two types of grants:

- Research Catalyst Grant: Up to £20,000 to initiate new research collaborations.
- Workshop Grant: Up to £50,000 to support workshops designed to enhance skills and knowledge relevant to climate resilience and sustainability research.


Applications are open to pairs of researchers—one from an African university or research institution and one from the University of Cambridge—who hold post-doctoral positions or possess equivalent research experience. The fund welcomes proposals from all academic disciplines, with a particular emphasis on innovative, multidisciplinary, and interdisciplinary approaches. The deadline for submissions is March 21, 2025.


This fund represents a significant opportunity to advance research in climate resilience and sustainability through collaborative efforts between African institutions and the University of Cambridge.

Summary of Cambridge and Mastercard Foundation 2025

• Host: University of Cambridge in partnership with the Mastercard Foundation.
• Category: Fellowships
• Eligible Countries: African countries.
• Reward: £50,000 Grant
• Deadline: March 21, 2025.

About Cambridge and Mastercard Foundation 2025

The University of Cambridge and the Mastercard Foundation have a collaborative partnership aimed at fostering educational opportunities and research initiatives for African scholars. A notable program within this partnership is the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program at the University of Cambridge, which offers fully-funded scholarships for one-year master's courses to academically outstanding students from Africa. The program emphasizes developing transformative leadership skills and contributing to climate resilience and sustainability. The application deadlines for the 2025/2026 academic year are December 5, 2024, or January 5, 2025, depending on the chosen course.

<div>In addition to the Scholars Program, the Climate Resilience and Sustainability Research Fund has been established to promote collaborations between researchers in Africa and Cambridge. This fund supports research and training activities focused on climate resilience and sustainability, offering Research Catalyst Grants of up to £20,000 and Workshop Grants of up to £50,000. The application deadline for this fund is March 21, 2025.


These initiatives reflect the commitment of both the University of Cambridge and the Mastercard Foundation to advancing education and research that address critical global challenges, particularly those affecting the African continent.

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Cambridge and Mastercard Foundation Benefits

The Mastercard Foundation and University of Cambridge have established a £7.7 million Climate Resilience and Sustainability Research Fund, running from 2025 to 2030. Each year until 2029, the fund will offer Research Catalyst Grants up to £20,000 and Workshop Grants up to £50,000, typically supporting 12-month projects. Preliminary results from these grants are expected to help recipients secure further funding from other sources.

Cambridge and Mastercard Foundation Eligibility

• Awards are made to pairs of researchers (post-doctoral and above although due consideration will be given for equivalent experience), one from an African university or research institution and one from the University of Cambridge.
• We encourage applications from across the sciences, social sciences, humanities, and arts and from all academic subject areas.
• We particularly encourage innovative research. Multi-disciplinary and inter-disciplinary research proposals and research-related training activities are welcomed.

Required Documents

• Application Form
• Case for support
• An itemised budget (template provided)
• A lay summary
• A letter ofsupport from the department/faculty of the Cambridge-based PI. (For the Department
  of Engineering, a letter of support from the Head of Division is needed). An email from an
  institutional email account is also acceptable.
• A letter of support from the department/institution of the Africa-based PI. An email from an
  institutional email account is also acceptable.
• CVs (maximum 2 pages) for both the Cambridge-based and Africa-based PI
• The details of two suggested referees are also required; these should be individuals who have no conflicts of interest with the applicants (e.g. they should not be from the same Department).

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How to Apply for Cambridge and Mastercard Foundation

To apply

• Register and complete a saveable online application form, available on the Cambridge-Africa website.
• Final submissions should include the required documents listed above.
• The deadline for submission is 21st March 2025 and applications can be submitted at any time before this.
• Any queries should be sent to cresusrf@cambridge-africa.cam.ac.uk

Click Here To Apply

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