The African Centre for Development Impact (ACDI) invites teams of evaluators, researchers, and policymakers across Africa to submit proposals for funding to implement innovative impact evaluations in sectors of strategic importance to governments across the continent.
This Request for Proposals (RFP) is designed to support rigorous, policy-relevant evaluations that generate credible evidence for better decision-making and sustainable development outcomes. Successful teams may receive research grants ranging from $10,000 to $15,000 (or GHS 100,000 to GHS 150,000 for PIs based in Ghanaian institutions), with exploratory projects eligible for up to $5,000 (or GHS 50,000 for PIs based in Ghanaian institutions).
We are particularly interested in proposals that address critical development priorities such as agriculture, health, education, gender, youth empowerment, financial inclusion, and other areas that contribute to poverty reduction and social and economic transformation in Africa.
To be eligible, the lead African researcher (PI) must have participated in the ACDI Impact Evaluation Training and Matchmaking Workshop held in Accra in March 2026. Researchers who completed previous DIWA/ACDI Impact Evaluation Trainings (2020 or 2023) but were not awarded grants, or were only co-PIs in previous funded research, also qualify to apply as lead or co-PIs.
Each proposal must be submitted by at least one ACDI affiliated Principal Investigator and must include:
- An African Lead Principal Investigator (PI)
- A Mentor
- A Government Ministry or Policy Partner
Proposals must demonstrate strong policy relevance, institutional buy-in, and clear potential for evidence use in public decision-making.
Applications will undergo a blinded peer review process and will be assessed based on significance and innovation, methodological rigour, policy translation potential, and capacity development.
The official project implementation period is from July 2026 to June 2027.
How to Apply
Applicants are required to submit:
- Cover Sheet
- Research Proposal (maximum 5 pages)
- Completed Budget Template (Excel)
Please carefully review the full Request for Proposals document and complete all required templates before submission.
Download the Full RFP Document
Please download and carefully review the full Request for Proposals (RFP) document for detailed guidelines, eligibility criteria, proposal instructions, the co-authorship statement, budget template, and the official submission link for proposal upload.
Submission Deadline
All proposals must be submitted no later than Friday, 12 June 2026 at 11:59 PM GMT.
At ACDI, we believe evidence should not only be generated, but also used to drive better decisions and meaningful development outcomes. This grant call reflects our commitment to strengthening the full value chain from evidence generation to evidence use across Africa.
