The Afghanistan Research Initiative (ARI) is a programme of the University of Central Asia (UCA), jointly supported by the International Development Research Centre (IDRC) and the Aga Khan Foundation Canada (AKFC). The programme is implemented by UCA through its Graduate School of Development Afghanistan Research Initiative (GSD ARI).

Established following the collapse of the Afghan government in August 2021, GSD ARI seeks to sustain research capacity on Afghanistan, support students and scholars, foster collaboration among researchers, and promote the production and dissemination of independent research relevant to Afghanistan's development and future.

Applicants should carefully review the eligibility requirements for each funding stream before applying.

ARI welcomes proposals addressing one or more of the following thematic areas:

• Economic development, including livelihoods, poverty, labor markets, private sector development, entrepreneurship, finance, and economic resilience.
• Regional integration and sustainable trade, including regional cooperation, connectivity, trade, transportation, and economic corridors.
• Climate change, natural resources and environmental sustainability, including agriculture, water, energy, mining, biodiversity, climate adaptation, and disaster risk reduction.
• Governance, public policy and institutions, including public administration, service delivery, accountability, peacebuilding and state-society relations.
• Society, migration and inclusion, including education, health, gender, displacement, migration, demographic change, and social inclusion.
• Culture, history and heritage, including identity, languages, cultural heritage, religion, literature and historical research that contributes to understanding social cohesion, governance, development, or public policy in Afghanistan.

Applications will be evaluated on the basis of:

• Relevance to ARI's thematic priorities
• Originality and significance of the application (research, fellowship and doctoral support)
• Quality and rigor of the research methodology
• Feasibility of the proposed work plan
• Applicant's qualifications and research experience
• Potential academic, policy and societal impact

Purpose

The grant aims to support PhD candidates in the penultimate and final stages of their doctoral studies, enabling them to complete rigorous, original research while fostering connections with ARI's international research network. The program combines financial support for doctoral research with opportunities for knowledge dissemination and engagement with ARI's wider research community.

Grant Support

• Duration: 12 months
• Funding: Up to USD 10,000
• Number of awards: Subject to available funding.

Eligibility

Applicants must:

• be a national of Afghanistan;
• be enrolled at a recognized university anywhere in the world in the final or penultimate year of a PhD programme;
• be undertaking doctoral research aligned with one or more ARI research themes;
• demonstrate satisfactory progress towards completion of their PhD;
• demonstrate the ability to complete the proposed work within the grant period; and
• demonstrate proficiency in English sufficient to produce research outputs and participate in ARI activities.

ARI is committed to promoting inclusive research and strongly encourages applications from women and researchers from historically underrepresented communities. Applicants are encouraged to collaborate with researchers from Afghanistan, including scholars based inside Afghanistan where feasible and appropriate.

Grant Deliverables

Successful grant recipients will be expected to complete the following outputs during the grant period.

1.     Doctoral Research

• Continue and complete the approved doctoral research.
• Submit a final digital copy of the completed PhD thesis to ARI upon successful completion.

2.     Progress and Financial Reporting

Grant recipients must submit two written progress reports outlining:

• research activities undertaken;
• progress against agreed milestones and deliverables;
• challenges encountered; and
• planned activities for the remaining grant period.

Reports are due at:

• Month 6
• Month 12 (Final Report)

Grant recipients will also be required to provide financial information against the approved budget in accordance with the grant agreement. The final report will include a financial report showing expenditure against the approved budget and an explanation of any material budget variances.

Grant Payments

Grant funding of up to USD 10,000 will be disbursed in instalments linked to agreed milestones and satisfactory progress against the approved doctoral research activities and deliverables.

The specific payment schedule, financial reporting requirements, and conditions for disbursement will be set out in the grant agreement issued to successful applicants.

3.     Knowledge Brief

Prepare one non-technical knowledge brief or policy note suitable for publication by ARI. The brief should:

• clearly present the research question;
• summarize key findings and insights;
• highlight relevant policy and practical implications; and
• explain the contribution of the research to understanding Afghanistan.
• The knowledge brief should be submitted during the final four months of the grant period.

4.     Engagement with ARI

Grant recipients are expected to contribute to ARI's broader program of research dissemination and public engagement where appropriate. This may include participating as speakers or panelists in Conversations with ARI, public lectures, workshops, webinars, or other knowledge-sharing activities organized by ARI during the grant period.

Application Requirements

Applications must include:

• completed online application form;
• curriculum vitae;
• research proposal or extended PhD research summary (maximum 1,000 words);
• evidence of current PhD enrolment and expected completion date;
• brief letter of support from the PhD supervisor confirming satisfactory progress and supporting the application;
• proposed 12-month implementation timeline/workplan;
• detailed budget using the ARI budget template; and
• brief budget narrative explaining and justifying the proposed costs.

The proposed budget should be realistic and proportionate to the doctoral research activities to be undertaken during the grant period and should clearly correspond to the activities described in the research proposal and workplan.

Application deadline: 1 October 2026

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