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Mastercard Foundation University of Cambridge Climate Resilience and Sustainability Research Fund 2025

Mastercard Foundation University of Cambridge Climate Resilience and Sustainability Research Fund 2025

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.  

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.

About MasterCard Foundation

The Mastercard Foundation seeks a world where everyone has the opportunity to learn and prosper. All people, no matter where their starting point in life, should have an equal chance to succeed. We believe that with access to education, financial services, and skills training, people can have that chance. Our focus is helping economically disadvantaged young people in Africa to find opportunities to move themselves, their families, and their communities out of poverty to a better life.... read more... continue reading

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Climate Resilience and Sustainability Research Fund

Application Deadline21 Mar 2025
Value£7.7million
Country to studyUnited Kingdom
School to studyUniversity of Cambridge
TypeFellowship
SponsorMasterCard Foundation
GenderMen and Women

Aim and Benefits of Climate Resilience and Sustainability Research Fund

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. It is anticipated that many awardees will be able to use the preliminary results from their research catalyst grant to apply for and win significant funding from other funding bodies. 


Requirements for Climate Resilience and Sustainability Research Fund Qualification

The purpose of the Mastercard Foundation and University of Cambridge Climate Resilience and Sustainability Research Fund (CReSus RF) is to develop innovative, integrated and interdisciplinary responses to sustainability and climate challenges, and shape the African continent’s responses to these challenges through research, innovation and skills for the next generation. Applicants from Cambridge apply jointly with applicants from universities/ institutes in Africa and co-create the projects. It is important that the funding is not simply used to provide services that will be carried out at one institution on behalf of the other, and that true collaboration is demonstrated in the application.

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.

Application Deadline

March 21, 2025

How to Apply

  • The Cambridge-based Principal Investigator must register and complete a saveable online application form, available on the Cambridge-Africa website. Final submissions should include the following documents:
  • • Case for support
  • • An itemised budget (template provided)
  • • A lay summary
  • • A letter of support 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

Any enquiries about the scheme can be directed to [email protected]

For more details, visit University of Cambridge website.

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