Climate and Health Catalyst Awards 2026: Apply for Up to USD 5,000 in Research Funding for Early Career Researchers in Africa

The Climate and Health Catalyst Awards 2026 provide catalytic research funding of up to USD 5,000 to support Early Career Researchers who are working at the intersection of climate change and health. The programme is designed for researchers who have already collected climate-and-health data and now need support to transform that existing evidence into meaningful research, policy or practice outputs. Rather than funding the collection of new primary data, the awards focus on helping researchers analyse, interpret, write, disseminate and translate existing evidence into outputs that can influence decision-making and real-world practice. The initiative is being implemented by the ARCH Program Consortium and Amref Health Africa, through the Pan-African Center for Research and Policy in Climate Change and Health (CPRCCH). It seeks to strengthen the next generation of African climate and health researchers by providing not only financial support, but also mentorship, technical guidance, capacity strengthening, networking and knowledge-translation support. With a maximum individual award of USD 5,000 and a project implementation period of up to 12 months, the Climate and Health Catalyst Awards can help researchers move an existing dataset from the evidence-generation stage toward publication, policy influence and practical application. What Are the Climate and Health Catalyst Awards 2026? The Climate and Health Catalyst Awards are intended to bridge the gap between research evidence and real-world impact. Many researchers already possess valuable datasets but may lack the resources required to complete secondary analysis, prepare manuscripts, develop policy briefs, disseminate findings or convert research evidence into practical recommendations. This programme addresses that gap. The award supports researchers who have already generated climate-and-health evidence and are ready to take the next steps, including: • Analysing existing datasets. • Conducting statistical work. • Interpreting research findings. • Preparing scientific manuscripts. • Developing policy briefs. • Producing evidence syntheses. • Managing and improving data quality. • Disseminating research findings. • Translating evidence for policy and practice. • Publishing research through open-access platforms. • Participating in approved conferences. • Supporting communication and collaboration activities. The programme therefore focuses on moving research through the pathway of: Research → Evidence → Policy → Practice The central principle is that funding should help transform existing climate-and-health evidence into outputs that can contribute to better decisions and meaningful change. A Catalyst Award, Not a Primary Data Collection Grant One of the most important points applicants need to understand is that the Climate and Health Catalyst Awards are not designed to fund primary data collection. Applicants must already possess an existing climate-and-health dataset. The funding is instead intended to support the stages that come after data collection, including: • Secondary data analysis. • Statistical analysis. • Data management and quality assurance. • Interpretation of findings. • Scientific writing. • Manuscript development. • Policy brief preparation. • Evidence synthesis. • Research dissemination. • Knowledge translation. • Publication. • Communication and collaboration. This makes the programme particularly relevant to researchers who have completed data collection but require additional resources to turn their findings into high-quality academic, policy or practical outputs. Who Is Behind the Climate and Health Catalyst Awards? The programme is offered through the ARCH Program Consortium and Amref Health Africa, through the Pan-African Center for Research and Policy in Climate Change and Health (CPRCCH). The broader goal is to support the development of the next generation of African researchers working on climate and health. The programme combines funding with a structured support ecosystem intended to strengthen research quality and increase the likelihood that research findings will reach policymakers, practitioners and other decision-makers. What Does the Climate and Health Catalyst Award Provide? Selected researchers can receive a range of financial and non-financial support. 1. Up to USD 5,000 in Catalytic Funding Each successful applicant can receive a maximum award of USD 5,000. The funding is intended to accelerate the process of transforming existing climate-and-health evidence into meaningful outputs. The award is therefore not simply general research funding. Proposed expenditure should be directly connected to activities that move existing evidence toward publication, policy influence, dissemination or practical application. 2. Structured Mentorship Award recipients receive structured mentorship throughout the programme. The mentorship is intended to help researchers strengthen: • Research quality. • Interpretation of findings. • Scientific outputs. • Overall research impact. This can be particularly valuable for Early Career Researchers who are developing their research careers and seeking guidance from experienced professionals. 3. Capacity Strengthening Participants receive technical and research skills designed to help them move evidence toward impact. Capacity strengthening can support researchers in developing the skills required to analyse evidence, communicate findings and translate research into useful outputs. 4. Networking Opportunities The programme connects award recipients with a Pan-African community of: • Researchers. • Practitioners. • Climate and health leaders. This creates opportunities for researchers to develop professional relationships and become part of a wider African climate-and-health research community. 5. Knowledge Translation Support Researchers receive support in turning research findings into evidence that can be used by policymakers, practitioners and other decision-makers. Knowledge translation is particularly important in climate and health because research findings can have significant implications for public health planning, climate adaptation and policy development. 6. Technical Guidance The programme provides practical support across several stages of the research process, including: • Analysis. • Interpretation. • Scientific writing. • Dissemination. • Development of final outputs. This technical support complements the financial award and is intended to strengthen the overall quality and impact of the research. Who Can Apply for the Climate and Health Catalyst Awards? The programme is specifically designed for Early Career Researchers who already possess climate-and-health evidence and are ready to transform that evidence into research, policy or practice outputs. There are two main applicant profiles. PhD Candidates PhD candidates can apply if they have: • Completed the data collection phase of their research. • An existing climate-and-health dataset. • Enrolment in a PhD programme. • Registration at an eligible institution. • Residence in an eligible country. The key requirement is that data collection must already be completed. Applicants cannot use this award to begin or finance primary data collection. Postdoctoral and Early Career Researchers Postdoctoral researchers and other Early Career Researchers can apply if they are: • Within five years of PhD graduation. • Already in possession of a climate-and-health dataset. • Affiliated with an eligible institution. • Based in an eligible country. Their proposed work should focus on analysing and transforming their existing climate-and-health data into research, policy or practice outputs. Geographic Eligibility: Which African Countries Are Eligible? The Climate and Health Catalyst Awards have a specific geographic scope. Applicants must either be citizens or legal residents of one of the nine eligible African countries, and they must currently reside in the country indicated in their application. The nine eligible countries are: • Botswana • Ethiopia • Kenya • Malawi • Mozambique • Rwanda • South Africa • Tanzania • Uganda The programme therefore brings together researchers from countries across East, Southern and other parts of Africa represented by the eligible-country list. Residency Requirement Being a citizen of an eligible country is not the only geographic requirement. The source states that applicants must have citizenship or legal residence in one of the nine eligible countries and must currently reside in the country indicated in their application. Applicants should therefore carefully confirm that their current residence and legal status satisfy the programme requirements before submitting an application. What Research Activities Can the USD 5,000 Fund Support? The award provides funding for specific research-related activities. Eligible Activities The programme identifies the following activities as eligible: Secondary Data Analysis and Statistical Work Researchers can use the award to analyse existing climate-and-health datasets and conduct relevant statistical work. This is one of the central purposes of the programme because the award is specifically designed for researchers who have already completed data collection. Manuscript Preparation and Scientific Writing Funding can support the development of scientific manuscripts and other research writing. This can help researchers move from completed analysis toward publication-quality research outputs. Policy Briefs and Evidence Synthesis Researchers can develop policy briefs and evidence syntheses that make research findings more accessible and useful to decision-makers. This is particularly consistent with the programme's emphasis on moving evidence toward policy and practice. Data Management and Quality Assurance Funding can support activities related to managing existing data and ensuring its quality. Good data management is essential for producing credible and reliable research findings. Research Dissemination and Knowledge Translation The award can support activities that help researchers communicate their findings to relevant audiences and translate technical evidence into useful information. Open-Access Publication Fees Funding can be used for eligible open-access publication fees. This can help researchers make their findings more accessible to wider academic and professional audiences. Approved Conference Participation The award can support participation in approved conferences. This can give researchers opportunities to share their findings, receive feedback and connect with other professionals working in climate and health. Communication and Collaboration Costs Eligible communication and collaboration expenses can also be supported where they directly contribute to the approved research activities. What Expenses Are Not Eligible? Applicants must pay close attention to the programme's financial restrictions. The following expenses are listed as ineligible: • Salary top-ups. • Personal allowances. • Tuition fees. • Large equipment purchases. • Unapproved travel. • Entertainment. • Gifts. • Alcohol. • Political activities. • Religious activities. • Unrelated commercial activities. • Unapproved institutional overheads. The programme requires proposed expenditure to be directly attributable to approved research activities and to remain within the conditions of the award. Applicants should therefore develop a realistic and carefully justified budget rather than treating the USD 5,000 as unrestricted funding. Award Duration The maximum implementation period for a Climate and Health Catalyst Award is 12 months. Researchers should therefore develop a realistic work plan showing how the available funding will be used throughout the project period. The award parameters are: • Maximum funding: USD 5,000.

• Applicants must already possess an existing climate-and-health dataset with completed data collection • PhD candidates must have completed the data collection phase of their research • PhD candidates must be enrolled in a PhD programme • PhD candidates must be registered at an eligible institution • PhD candidates must be resident in an eligible African country • Postdoctoral and Early Career Researchers must be within five years of PhD graduation • Postdoctoral and Early Career Researchers must be affiliated with an eligible institution • Postdoctoral and Early Career Researchers must be based in an eligible African country • Applicants must be citizens or legal residents of one of the nine eligible African countries