WHO Opens 2026–2027 Impact Grants of Up to $15,000 for African Researchers and Institutions

Researchers and eligible institutions in Africa have a new opportunity to secure funding for implementation research through the 2026–2027 Joint WHO African Region/TDR Impact Grants for Regional Priorities.

The call, announced by the World Health Organization Regional Office for Africa in partnership with TDR, is designed to strengthen implementation research capacity and generate evidence that can help address important regional health priorities.

Successful projects can receive grants of up to US$15,000, with applications closing on 15 September 2026 at 17:00 CEST.

About the Grant

Implementation research focuses on understanding how proven or promising health interventions can be delivered more effectively in real-world settings.

Rather than concentrating exclusively on laboratory discoveries, implementation research examines practical questions surrounding health systems, service delivery, access, adoption and effectiveness.

This makes the programme particularly relevant to researchers and institutions working directly with communities and health systems.

The 2026–2027 call seeks proposals addressing priority public health issues within the WHO African Region.

Funding Available

Successful projects may receive up to US$15,000.

The relatively focused grant size makes the programme suitable for implementation research projects capable of producing practical evidence within a defined period.

Who Can Apply?

The official call is restricted to applicants from eligible countries within the WHO African Region. Nigeria is among the eligible countries identified for the opportunity.

Researchers interested in applying should carefully examine the institutional and principal-investigator requirements contained in the official call before preparing their submissions.

The opportunity is particularly relevant to universities, research institutions, health-related organisations and qualified researchers capable of undertaking implementation research.

NGOs interested in the opportunity should verify their exact institutional eligibility rather than assuming that all registered civil society organisations automatically qualify.

Why Implementation Research Matters

Many African countries have health policies and interventions with strong potential, but implementation challenges can limit their effectiveness.

These barriers may include shortages of trained personnel, weak infrastructure, low community participation, geographical inequalities, poor access to information, inadequate data and difficulties translating national policies into effective local services.

Implementation research can help identify why such gaps exist and test practical approaches to addressing them.

For community-focused organisations, this can create opportunities to connect local experience with scientific evidence and policy improvement.

Developing a Strong Proposal

Applicants should start with a clearly defined implementation problem rather than an overly broad health topic.

For example, instead of proposing general research on maternal health, an applicant could investigate why women in a particular underserved area are not accessing an established maternal-health intervention and evaluate practical strategies for improving uptake.

Similarly, researchers could investigate implementation barriers affecting disease surveillance, digital health interventions, community health programmes or other regional priorities identified in the official call.

A competitive proposal should demonstrate the importance of the implementation problem, explain the research methodology, identify expected outcomes and show how findings could contribute to improved health practice or policy.

Deadline

Applications must be submitted by:

15 September 2026 at 17:00 CEST.

Applicants should take note of the time-zone requirement and aim to submit well before the portal closes.

How to Apply

Interested researchers and institutions should first read the complete WHO call to confirm their country, institutional and research eligibility.

Official WHO AFRO/TDR Impact Grants 2026–2027 Call

Applicants should use the templates and submission procedure specified by WHO rather than relying solely on third-party summaries of the opportunity.

Funding: Up to US$15,000

Deadline: 15 September 2026, 17:00 CEST

Article 5 — Avery Dennison Foundation

Avery Dennison Foundation Offers $50,000–$100,000 Grants to NGOs Worldwide

Nonprofit and non-governmental organisations working to expand education, strengthen livelihoods and address environmental challenges can apply for grants through the Avery Dennison Foundation’s global grantmaking programme.

The Foundation accepts grant requests year-round, makes funding decisions quarterly, and states that grants typically range from US$50,000 to US$100,000.

With nearly 90 per cent of projects supported within its pillars located outside the United States, the programme presents a potentially significant opportunity for eligible organisations operating in high-need communities around the world.

About the Avery Dennison Foundation

The Avery Dennison Foundation is the philanthropic arm associated with Avery Dennison and supports nonprofit and non-governmental organisations addressing social, economic and environmental challenges.

Its grantmaking strategy is aligned with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals and gives particular attention to communities and geographical areas facing significant disparities.

The Foundation currently concentrates its funding around three major impact areas: Education Access, Environmental Sustainability and Secure Livelihoods.

Funding Available

Grants typically range from:

US$50,000 to US$100,000.

Applications are accepted throughout the year, while funding decisions are made quarterly.

Unlike grant calls with a single annual deadline, eligible organisations can therefore prepare an application when they have developed a strong project aligned with the Foundation’s priorities.

Priority Area 1: Education Access

Under education access, the Foundation supports organisations working to reduce unequal access to primary and secondary education among marginalised populations.

Its priorities include reducing barriers to education, increasing enrolment among underserved people — particularly women and girls — and providing learning opportunities to populations disadvantaged because of factors such as gender, socioeconomic status, disability or geography.

This creates opportunities for NGOs delivering education interventions to marginalised communities, provided their programmes align with the Foundation’s detailed criteria.

Priority Area 2: Environmental Sustainability

Environmental grants focus on climate resilience, mitigation and adaptation.

The Foundation identifies areas including environmental education, energy and water conservation, waste reduction, recycling, responsible forestry and resource conservation.

It also supports efforts that improve communities’ and ecosystems’ ability to adapt to and recover from the negative effects of climate change, as well as projects concerning forests, water and air that contribute to community wellbeing.

African NGOs combining community development with environmental sustainability could therefore find this funding area particularly relevant.

Priority Area 3: Secure Livelihoods

The secure livelihoods pillar supports initiatives increasing economic opportunities for marginalised populations.

Relevant activities include workforce development, entrepreneurship, vocational training, job readiness and initiatives addressing barriers to meaningful employment.

The Foundation also identifies gender equality and improved economic and financial stability among disadvantaged communities as relevant priorities.

What Will Not Be Funded?

Organisations should carefully check the exclusions before applying.

The Foundation does not sponsor conferences, fundraising events or special events.

It also excludes individual scholarships, stipends, fellowships and travel grants; for-profit ventures; religious groups seeking funding for religious purposes; political organisations or political activities; and institutional endowments.

How the Application Process Works

The process begins with an eligibility assessment.

Applicants must first create a profile in the Foundation’s online system and complete an Eligibility Form.

Foundation staff then review the form to determine whether the organisation and proposed work align with its funding strategy.

Applicants that pass this stage are invited to complete a full proposal. The Foundation then reviews the full submission and may request additional information before making its decision.

The Foundation states that applicants are notified through the online system regardless of the final grantmaking decision.

How to Apply

Organisations interested in applying should first assess how closely their work aligns with one of the Foundation’s three priority areas.

Avery Dennison Foundation Grantmaking and Application Page

Funding: Typically US$50,000–US$100,000
Deadline: Applications accepted year-round
Decision cycle: Quarterly
Focus: Education Access, Environmental Sustainability and Secure Livelihoods

Applicants should complete the Foundation’s eligibility assessment before investing substantial time in developing a full proposal.