About the opportunity
Addressing Neglected Areas of Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights in sub-Saharan Africa (ANeSA) is launching Stage 1 of a two-stage funding opportunity to support Cohort 2 of Implementation Research Teams. Funded by IDRC, Global Affairs Canada (GAC), and the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR), the initiative funds implementation research focused on sustainable, evidence-informed, and gender-transformative interventions for under-served populations. Projects must address at least one of five priority areas: family planning and contraceptive services, safe abortion and post-abortion care, adolescent SRHR rights and service access, prevention and support for sexual- and gender-based violence (SGBV), or SRHR advocacy.
Funding and benefits
- Up to six grants of up to CAD 1.2 million each
- Funding duration of up to 36 months
- Up to 12 applicants invited to advance to Stage 2 (Full Proposal stage)
- Participation in a Proposal Development Workshop in February 2027 for shortlisted teams
Who can apply?
- Open to Implementation Research Teams led by a sub-Saharan Africa-based researcher (Principal Applicant)
- Principal Applicant must be affiliated with an eligible organization based in an eligible sub-Saharan African country
- Eligible countries include: Angola, Benin, Botswana, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Chad, Congo (Brazzaville), Democratic Republic of the Congo (Kinshasa), Equatorial Guinea, Ethiopia, Gabon, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Ivory Coast, Kenya, Lesotho, Liberia, Madagascar, Malawi, Mali, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mozambique, Namibia, Niger, Nigeria, Rwanda, Senegal, Sierra Leone, South Africa, Eswatini, South Sudan, Tanzania, Togo, Uganda, Zambia, and Zimbabwe
- Applications from certain specified countries may be subject to an additional stage of internal approval within IDRC
Required documents
- Letter of Interest submitted via SurveyMonkey Apply (Stage 1)
- Full Proposal (Stage 2, for invited applicants)
When to apply
- Call launch: June 29, 2026
- Informational webinars: July 15 and 16, 2026 (English with French subtitles); July 23, 2026 (French only, 9:00-10:00 AM ET)
- Deadline to submit questions to SRHR-SDSR@idrc.ca: August 9, 2026
- Deadline for Submission of Letter of Interest: August 23, 2026 at 23:59 ET
- Submission results notification: December 18, 2026
- Proposal Development Workshop: February 9-11, 2027
- Call for Full Proposal Launch: February 12, 2027
- Deadline for Submission of Full Proposal: May 2, 2027
- Funding decisions notification: July 21, 2027
How to apply
- Create or log in to an account on SurveyMonkey Apply.
- Access the ANeSA Cohort 2 Implementation Research Teams application portal.
- Prepare and submit the Letter of Interest before August 23, 2026 at 23:59 ET.
- If shortlisted, participate in the Proposal Development Workshop in February 2027 and submit a Full Proposal by May 2, 2027.
Additional information
- ANeSA is jointly funded by the International Development Research Centre (IDRC), Global Affairs Canada (GAC), and the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR).
- Attendance at an informational webinar is not mandatory to submit an application.
Our Take on This Opportunity
This section reflects Open Opportunities’ own analysis of the opportunity from an applicant’s perspective.
You may be a strong fit if…
- Implementation Research Teams led by a sub-Saharan Africa-based researcher affiliated with an eligible organization.
- Researchers focused on neglected areas of sexual and reproductive health, such as adolescent rights or SGBV prevention.
- Teams capable of designing gender-transformative interventions that are evidence-informed and sustainable.
What should you think carefully about?
- This is a two-stage process; only a limited number of applicants will be invited to submit a full proposal.
- The administrative burden is high, requiring adherence to strict deadlines and potential internal approvals.
- The scope is limited to specific eligible countries and priority research areas defined by the initiative.
How could this fit your current goals and plans?
This grant is a major opportunity for research teams looking to secure long-term, substantial funding (up to CAD 1.2 million) to drive systemic change in public health. It is ideal for teams aiming to scale their research impact over a three-year period.
Our take
Established research teams in the specified sub-Saharan African countries should apply if their work aligns with the five priority SRHR areas and they have the capacity to manage a large-scale, multi-year project.
Ready to apply?
Review the opportunity on the official website before applying.
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