About the opportunity
The French Institute for Research in Africa (IFRA-Nigeria), located at the University of Ibadan, is inviting applications for its 2027 Research Grants. The institute promotes research in the humanities and social sciences across nine West African countries: Nigeria, Benin, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Côte d’Ivoire, Ghana, Niger, Chad, and Togo. IFRA-Nigeria is financing approximately a dozen individual or collective research projects—involving fieldwork missions and/or archival stays—taking place between January and October 2027. Proposed projects must align with one of the institute’s four research axes: beliefs, bodies, and health; citizenship, gender, and mobilization; heritage dynamics and the environment; or digital humanities (transversal axis). Successful applicants must also include a valorization component such as publications or oral communications.
Funding and benefits
- Financial support of up to €1,000 per research project, distributed in two installments (half at the start in January 2027, and the second half after final report submission)
- Funding for fieldwork missions and archival stays between January and October 2027
- Opportunities for academic collaboration and regional networking across West Africa and France
Who can apply?
- Open to second-year master's students, doctoral students, postdoctoral students, and established researchers
- Research must focus on the humanities and social sciences; disciplines outside this field are ineligible
- Projects must focus on at least one of the countries under IFRA-Nigeria's geographical mandate: Nigeria, Benin, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Côte d'Ivoire, Ghana, Niger, Chad, and Togo
- No nationality requirements apply
- Projects must align with at least one of IFRA-Nigeria's four research axes
Required documents
- A cover letter of maximum 1 page (Arial 12 font, default margins and paragraph spacing)
- A curriculum vitae (CV) of maximum 3 pages
- A detailed research proposal of maximum 4 pages (excluding bibliography and budget) using the official proposal template, including a scientific project, detailed work plan, institutional partnerships, valorization perspectives, and bibliography
- A project budget using the official budget template, showing total costs, requested funding from IFRA-Nigeria, and any other funding sources
When to apply
- Call is open for the 2027 funding cycle
- Application deadline: 30 October 2026, 23:59 West African Time (WAT)
- Notification of results sent by email in December 2026 at the latest
- Project execution period: January 2027 to October 2027
- Final reports must be submitted by 15 November 2027
How to apply
- Download and complete the official proposal template and budget template
- Compile all required documents into a single PDF file
- Submit the application via the official Google Form link provided by IFRA-Nigeria
Additional information
- Projects can be individual or collaborative; individual research must be undertaken personally by the applicant
- Strict scientific integrity rules apply: proposals cannot be written by a third party, and artificial intelligence (AI) tools must be properly disclosed and justified in accordance with IFRA-Nigeria's AI guidelines
- Incomplete applications will be automatically rejected
- For inquiries, applicants can contact IFRA-Nigeria via their designated support emails
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…
- Early-career researchers, master's students, and PhD candidates working on West African humanities and social sciences will find valuable financial and institutional backing for fieldwork.
- The broad geographic mandate spanning nine countries allows for comparative or multi-country research projects within West Africa.
- The inclusion of diverse academic statuses—from second-year master's students to established researchers—creates an accessible entry point for emerging scholars.
What should you think carefully about?
- The maximum grant amount is €1,000, which may only cover a portion of comprehensive fieldwork expenses, requiring careful budgeting and potential supplementary funding.
- Strict formatting rules and adherence to IFRA-Nigeria's scientific integrity and AI disclosure policies must be followed carefully to avoid automatic disqualification.
- The grant disbursement is split, with the second half contingent on submitting a final report by November 2027.
How could this fit your current goals and plans?
This grant serves as a practical stepping stone for students and researchers aiming to conduct localized fieldwork or archival research in West Africa, enhance their academic CVs through international institutional support, and develop dissemination outcomes like publications.
Our take
Researchers and graduate students conducting humanities or social science fieldwork in the designated West African countries should strongly consider applying, provided their project aligns with IFRA-Nigeria's research themes and they can operate within the €1,000 budget cap.
Ready to apply?
Review the opportunity on the official website before applying.
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