☰
Applications are open for the Mastercard Foundation/University of Cambridge Climate Resilience and Sustainability Research Fund 2025. This opportunity is open to pairs of researchers (post-doctoral level and above) from the University of Cambridge and African universities or research institutes across all disciplines.
Opportunity Details
The Mastercard Foundation and University of Cambridge Climate Resilience and Sustainability Research Fund aims to catalyse new and strengthen existing collaborations between researchers in Africa and Cambridge and support high quality training activities. The focus of the scheme is research on climate resilience and sustainability. This focus is interpreted broadly so long as the linkage of the research to these areas can be justified in the application for the award. 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.
The research fund is supported by a generous £7.7million investment by the Mastercard Foundation and will run from 2025 to 2030. The Mastercard Foundation and University of Cambridge Climate Resilience and Sustainability Research Fund will follow an annual cycle of awards until 2029 when the award will support activities for the year 2029-30. It is anticipated that most awards will be made for activities that will take place over a 12-month period.
Awards available:
In this round, applications can be made for a Research Catalyst Grant for up to £20,000 or a Workshop Grant for up to £50,000 regardless of discipline and dependent on justification for funding requested.
Applications are invited from pairs of researchers (post-doctoral level and above) from the University of Cambridge and African universities or research institutes, across all disciplines to initiate and/or strengthen research collaborations that address key challenges in climate resilience and sustainability.
All applications must justify how the research is relevant to climate resilience and sustainability. This may be broadly interpreted. Funding is not restricted to science departments but is open to all disciplines and departments. Multi-disciplinary and inter- disciplinary applications are particularly welcomed as are innovative approaches.
Research proposals that engage with young people on the African continent (aged <36 years) and /or are of benefit to young people will be prioritised. Principal Investigators (PIs) are encouraged to consider how young people might be involved in the research team in Africa. Workshop proposals should be designed to enhance the skills of young people in Africa.
Both applicants should be at post-doctoral level or above although due consideration will be given for equivalent experience. Please contact us if one of the applicants does not have a PhD.
By completing an application, it is understood that both applicants are doing so with support from their Head of Department or equivalent. Both applicants should have a formal link to a research group/department/faculty in their home institution. It is also expected that both applicants remain employed beyond the end date of the awards. The awards are not intended to support post- graduate students, however, limited support for students (e.g. as part of a research project or internship) is encouraged.
The Cambridge- based applicant must be working at the University of Cambridge. The Cambridge applicants will act as the lead applicants, for administrative purposes, as the awards will be managed by their Cambridge Departments/Faculties/Institutes.
The Africa-based applicant must be in a Research Institution or University on the African continent.
NB: The Cambridge based applicant needs a 'cam.ac.uk' email address in order to fill in the form.
For more information, read the Guidance for Applicants.
The online application form has been designed to allow both applicants (Cambridge and Africa-based) to log in, update, save and eventually submit electronically.
To access the form, the Cambridge based applicant must Register Here. Only applicants with @cam.ac.uk email addresses can register.
The Cambridge-based applicant must then log in to the Mastercard Foundation and University of Cambridge Climate Resilience and Sustainability Research Fund (CReSus) application form, where they will see the words "Invite a 2nd applicant to view/edit this submission". Click on this link in order to invite the Africa-based applicant to register and edit the forms.
If you are eligible to apply, but are unable to register on the page above, then please contact [email protected]
If you have already registered, please Log In to access the form.
Any questions or requests for assistance can be directed to [email protected]
Apply for Mastercard Foundation/University of Cambridge Climate Resilience and Sustainability Research Fund