About Us

The Africa Research Excellence Fund (AREF) is a charitable trust established in 2015 by the Medical Research Foundation.

AREF’s mission is to improve the quality and impact of health research in Africa by nurturing African-led research in and for the region. Our initial focus is on giving talented postdoctoral health researchers in Sub-Saharan Africa access to the knowledge and skills they need to become leading scientists.

Our vision is growing a community of African researchers working in Africa, who lead and partner world-class research that benefits patients, populations, policy makers and practitioners.

Many young researchers in the region face a lack of opportunities, skills and mentorship essential to winning funding for their ideas, progressing to research independence and eventual leadership.  AREF’s strategy has three pillars:

• To provide stepping-stones awards and training at vulnerable career stages that develop researchers’ knowledge, skills and experience – focusing on the early outcome of applying for grants and winning support.
• To attract new funding into research capacity strengthening, including from philanthropic foundations and individuals.
• To work in partnership, leveraging complementary knowledge and resources – being stronger together.

You can be part of our vision and help us achieve it. Please read more about our programmes and how you can get involved:

AREF Launch case for support
AREF Strengthening health research capacity in Africa for Africa
AREF Research Development Fellowship
AREF Essential Grant Writing Skills Workshops
Excell Leadership and Researcher Development Programme