Afghanistan Research Initiative 2027/28: Research, Fellowships and PhD Support Grants

SCOPE

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.

Through its 2027/28 Call for Applications; GSD ARI invites applications under three funding streams:

1. Research Grants
2. Non-Resident Research Fellowships
3. PhD Support Grants

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.

ARI operates an open, competitive, and transparent selection process. All eligible applications will be assessed against published eligibility and evaluation criteria by independent reviewers and the ARI Selection Committee.

ARI is committed to promoting inclusive research and encourages applications from women researchers, scholars from historically underrepresented communities, researchers based both inside and outside Afghanistan, including outside Kabul, and members of the Afghanistan diaspora. Applications from international researchers collaborating with scholars from Afghanistan are particularly encouraged where appropriate.

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

Meeting the eligibility requirements does not guarantee funding.

TIMELINE

APPLICATION PROCESS

Applications to each of the three funding streams must be submitted through the designated online application form available on the ARI website. Applications submitted after the deadline (1 October 2026) by email, or through any means other than the designated online application forms will not be considered. Applicants are responsible for ensuring that all required information and supporting documentation are submitted before the deadline. Incomplete applications may not proceed to assessment.

Financial and Grant Management Requirements

Applicants must prepare their proposed budget and ensure that all requested costs are reasonable, necessary, and directly related to the proposed research activities. Eligible costs may include research costs, data collection expenses, research assistance, and research materials where relevant to the proposed project. ARI funding may not be used for institutional overheads or administrative fees, costs incurred outside the approved award period, personal expenses, or activities and expenditures not directly related to the approved research.

Successful applicants will be required to use funds in accordance with the approved budget and activities. Material changes to the approved budget or scope of work require prior written approval from ARI/UCA.

Award recipients are responsible for maintaining appropriate financial records and supporting documentation for research-related expenditures. ARI/UCA may request financial reports or supporting documentation where required for financial verification, donor reporting, or audit purposes. Detailed financial and reporting requirements will be specified in the award agreement

HOW TO APPLY

For more information on each grant and how to apply, please follow the links below.

• Research Grants 
• Non-Resident Research Fellowships 
• PhD Support Grants 

Point of contact

ari@ucentralasia.org