The Association of African Universities (AAU) has announced a new opportunity for research institutions, NGOs, and consortia working at the intersection of climate change and public health. The CHINNOVA Small Grants program supports innovative, evidence-driven research that strengthens the resilience of health systems in West and Central Africa.
With up to $70,000 per project, this call could help African researchers and institutions turn bold climate-health ideas into real-world impact.
Africa is facing a growing health crisis linked to rising temperatures, extreme weather, and food insecurity. Yet, few initiatives directly fund research that connects these climate and health challenges.
CHINNOVA (Climate Change and Health Innovation Hub for West and Central Africa), established in 2024 under the Advancing Research for Climate and Health (ARCH) initiative, aims to change that.
By supporting collaborative, gender-responsive, and interdisciplinary research, the program helps local scientists, universities, and community partners generate solutions tailored to African realities.
Grant Benefits
Funding Amount: Up to USD 70,000 per project
Total Available Fund: USD 700,000 for 8–10 selected projects
Project Duration: Up to 18 months (2026–2027)
Supported Costs: Salaries, fieldwork, data collection, workshops, travel, training, equipment, and indirect costs up to 13%
Beyond funding, selected grantees gain access to CHINNOVA’s network of experts, capacity-building workshops, and peer exchange events across Côte d’Ivoire and Ghana.
Eligibility
To qualify, applicants must:
Be a legally registered organization headquartered in West or Central Africa.
Be a research institution, university, NGO with a research mandate, or public/private organization engaged in climate-health work.
Form multi-stakeholder consortia that include both a research institution and a civil society partner.
Demonstrate prior experience in research, sound financial management, and a commitment to ethical, gender-inclusive research practices.
Eligible countries include: Benin, Cameroon, Chad, Cape Verde, Côte d’Ivoire, DRC, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, The Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Liberia, Mauritania, Sao Tome and Principe, Senegal, Sierra Leone, and Togo.
Priority Research Areas
Applicants are encouraged to design projects addressing:
Health systems preparedness for climate-induced shocks such as floods or heatwaves
Climate-health data systems that improve accessibility and interoperability
Vector- and water-borne diseases like malaria and cholera
Gender and social equity in climate-health outcomes
Policy and institutional innovations for integrating climate-health approaches into national frameworks
Application Timeline
Call Opened: October 9, 2025
Expression of Interest (optional): by October 25, 2025
