Industrial Policy and Growth in Africa Research Grants

Early-career African and Africa-focused economists can now apply for research grants of up to USD 10,000 per study under a new initiative examining the micro and macro foundations of industrialisation on the continent, the African Economic Research Consortium (AERC) reported.

The Industrial Policy and Growth in Africa Project sets a submission deadline of 21 November 2026 for researchers seeking funding to produce empirical evidence on firm productivity, investment, and structural transformation. Eligible applicants must have been awarded their PhD in 2016 or later, with working languages set as English or French.

Research Themes and Funding Objectives

The project invites proposals across seven core themes designed to generate policy-relevant research that can inform ministries of industry, trade, and finance, as well as investment-promotion agencies. Selected studies will evaluate the effectiveness and cost of specific industrial-policy instruments such as tax incentives, special economic zones, trade policy, and sector-specific measures.

Cross-cutting priorities for the commissioned studies include dynamic effects on firm entry and exit, spillovers to untreated firms, cost-effectiveness comparisons based on fiscal cost per job or unit of investment, and distributional impacts across gender, skill levels, and firm size. The initiative also encourages research in under-studied settings, covering countries and sectors beyond formal manufacturing, including services and agro-processing.

Application Criteria and Project Timeline

Proposals may adopt country-specific, multi-country, or sector approaches, provided they link explicitly to the designated themes and demonstrate a credible strategy for addressing data and identification challenges. Each commissioned study is expected to run for up to 18 months using existing data sources, with the ultimate goal of producing high-quality academic outputs publishable in internationally refereed journals.

Interested researchers must submit their proposals by 21 November 2026 to be considered for the grants, which cap funding at USD 10,000 per study. Further details regarding the application process and the seven research themes are available through the African Economic Research Consortium.

More on Growth: IMF Doubles Germany Growth Forecast to 1.3 Percent for 2026