The Africa Research Excellence Fund (AREF) is a nonprofit organisation that strengthens health research leadership across Africa. It supports early-career African scientists through fellowships, grant-writing training, leadership development, mentoring and institutional research-capacity programmes.
History and Background
AREF was founded in 2015 by Professor Sir Tumani Corrah with support from the UK-based Medical Research Foundation. It was created to improve the quality, leadership and impact of health research conducted by African researchers in Africa.
The organisation is registered as a charity and company limited by guarantee in England and Wales. It also operates through an Africa-registered entity based in The Gambia.
Mission and Purpose
AREF’s mission is to develop skilled and confident African research leaders who can address the continent’s most important health challenges.
Its work aims to:
- Strengthen health research skills
- Improve research leadership
- Help scientists secure competitive research grants
- Support international collaboration
- Increase the use of African-generated evidence
- Retain talented researchers within African institutions
The organisation promotes research led by African scientists and informed by health priorities identified within Africa.
Governance and Structure
AREF is governed by a Board of Trustees and supported by committees and operational teams responsible for programme delivery, financial management, governance, monitoring and partnerships.
The Medical Research Foundation helped incubate the organisation by supporting its early governance and infrastructure while AREF developed greater institutional independence.
Funding and Support
AREF finances its activities through philanthropic support, institutional partnerships, grants and donations from organisations committed to African health research.
Funding is used to provide:
- Research fellowships
- Leadership training
- Grant-writing support
- Mentoring
- Institutional capacity building
- Research networking
- Alumni development
Rather than mainly funding large independent research projects, AREF focuses on helping African researchers develop the skills, experience and professional networks needed to compete successfully for major research funding.
Major Programmes and Initiatives
The Research Development Fellowship gives emerging African researchers opportunities to develop technical and professional skills through placements at leading research institutions in Africa, Europe and elsewhere.
The Towards Leadership Programme helps researchers strengthen leadership, collaboration, team management, stakeholder engagement and competitive grant-development skills. AREF is delivering its 2026–27 programme in partnership with the UKRI Medical Research Council.
The Women in Research Grant Writing Programme supports women scientists in developing stronger research proposals and responding to gender inequalities in scientific research careers.
The Excell Leadership Development Programme works with researchers and partner institutions to strengthen organisational research capacity and develop future global health research leaders.
AREF also conducts grant-writing workshops, mentoring activities and continuing alumni support for researchers who have completed its programmes.
Impact and Examples of Supported Research
AREF reports that 106 African researchers have benefited from its Research Development Fellowships, with placements at 17 research centres of excellence in Africa and Europe. A further 200 researchers have participated in its Towards Leadership Programme.
Researchers supported by AREF have worked on health issues including:
- Tuberculosis treatment
- Antimicrobial resistance
- Malaria and vector-borne diseases
- Women’s health
- Cancer therapies
- Mental health among older adults
- Medical biotechnology
- Public health policy
These projects demonstrate how stronger research leadership can contribute to locally relevant solutions for African health systems and communities.
Conclusion
The Africa Research Excellence Fund is an important health research capacity-building organisation focused on African scientists and institutions.
Through fellowships, grant-writing programmes, mentoring, leadership development and institutional partnerships, AREF helps emerging researchers build sustainable careers and compete for international research grants. Its long-term objective is to ensure that African health challenges are increasingly investigated and addressed by highly skilled researchers working within Africa.
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