The AREF-MRC Towards Leadership Programme 2025/2026

The AREF Towards Leadership programme aims to empower talented, emerging scientists in Africa to compete successfully for UKRI MRC and other major funding opportunities in global health research. Together, we are investing in talented African scientists in Africa, enhancing their global health research and leadership potential.

The programme will run from December 2025 to November 2026, consisting of two residential workshops (opening and closing) and one virtual workshop.

The curriculum is designed to support, engage, and enhance the participants’ capabilities and to empower talented, emerging scientists in Africa to compete successfully on a level playing field for UKRI MRC and other major funding opportunities in global health research. The programme is directed towards winning grant funding, empowering effective teams, collaborating internationally, influencing stakeholders, and building rewarding research careers.

Eligibility Criteria for The AREF-MRC Towards Leadership Programme 2025/2026

1. You are a citizen of a country in Africa.
2. You are currently employed in Africa by a recognised university and/or specialist research institution.
3. You are an early-career researcher, having completed your research education and are now at the early stages of leading your own research group.
4. You will hold a research doctorate (PhD/DPhil/MD) from a recognized academic institution, OR you have a medical/clinical qualification PLUS a research-relevant Master’s degree, both usually within the last 10 years. If it has been longer than 10 years since your last degree, please explain in your application why you should still be considered an early career researcher (i.e., caring responsibilities or career break/change impacting your research career).
5. You are currently responsible for managing/supervising one or more research students and/or research staff members and are involved in building research collaborations.
6. You demonstrate evidence of being at the early stages of leading a research team or being an active member of a research team conducting Global Health Research.
7. A significant part of your current employee role is to develop and conduct health research.
8. You already have experience in obtaining research funding (Combined value of £500,000 or less).

Selection

1. To be accepted to the Programme, you will need to demonstrate the potential to benefit yourself and your home institution. Therefore, in the application form, you will need to provide a persuasive personal statement demonstrating
2. Your current/most recent research programme and the potential for it to make an impact on health.
3. A compelling career vision and how you plan to achieve it.
4. Your potential as an emerging research leader to build a successful research group, influence your discipline, and engage with impact or innovation outside of academia.
5. How you and your institution will benefit from participating in the AREF Towards Leadership Programme.
6. Nominations must be accompanied by a supporting letter from an authorized senior representative of your employing institution, such as the director. They should
7. confirm your eligibility.
8. confirm they authorize you to participate in all three workshops—that you will not be withdrawn to fulfill teaching, administration, or other obligations.
9. Describe how they personally and the institution will recognize the benefits that participating in the program brings and how those benefits will be integrated into and sustained within the organization.
10. Nominees must be fully committed to participating in all three workshops of the Programme; partial attendance is NOT an option.

Programme Timeline:

1. The opening Workshop is deliberate for 1-3 December 2025.
2. Workshop 2 shall be held locally and is anticipated to run in April 2026.
3. The closing workshop is anticipated for November 2026

Benefits of The AREF-MRC Towards Leadership Programme 2025/2026

1. The prices of the workshops and related lodging and journey of chosen nominees shall be met by MRC and AREF

How to Apply

View details of AREF-MRC Towards Leadership Programm

Apply for AREF-MRC Towards Leadership Programm

Application Deadline

02 May, 2025

Application Link(s)

• Apply for The AREF-MRC Towards Leadership Programme 2025/2026