Return-Home Grants: Funding Your Move Back to an African Institution

The funding conversation for African researchers abroad usually stops at "how do I get there." It should not. The harder, less-discussed problem is the one that follows the PhD or postdoc: how do you bring the research career back — without taking a 70% pay cut, losing access to equipment, or spending the first year of a faculty job writing seed-grant applications instead of papers?

The grants below exist for exactly that. They top up a junior African salary to internationally competitive levels, cover lab setup, fund return travel, and in several cases buy out teaching so a returning researcher can publish out of their PhD or postdoc and stay competitive for ERC, NIH or Wellcome grants. Most are wildly under-applied to. Some accept only a handful of applicants a year and still go undersubscribed.

Sync this guide with the live research-fellowships hub and the postdoc fellowships shortlist.

Why return-home grants matter

A South African PhD finishing a postdoc at MIT typically earns US$65,000–US$75,000. A junior lecturer post at the University of Cape Town pays roughly R650,000–R900,000 (US$35,000–US$48,000) — and comes with a teaching load that will eat the first 18 months. Without a return-home grant, the math punishes the move. With one, the gap closes enough that the move makes sense.

1. Carnegie African Diaspora Fellowship Program (CADFP)

For African-born scholars already holding a faculty position at a US or Canadian university. Funds visiting work at an African host institution: collaborative research, graduate teaching, mentoring junior faculty. 2–3 visits per project; ~US$5,000 daily allowance equivalent + travel per visit. Application twice a year via IIE.

2. Volkswagen Foundation — Postdoctoral Fellowships in Sub-Saharan Africa

Up to €100,000 over 18 months for postdoctoral research at an African host university. Designed precisely for the "return from PhD abroad" window. Open to humanities, social sciences and increasingly STEM. Co-applications with a host PI required; lighter teaching load is the norm.

3. Alexander von Humboldt Return Fellowship

For former Humboldt fellows returning to their home country. 6–12 months of salary top-up at a home institution, equipment grant, conference budget. The catch: you must already have completed a regular Humboldt fellowship in Germany. Plan this when you apply for the original Humboldt — the return fellowship is the second half of one conversation, not a separate scheme.

4. NRF Black Academics Advancement Programme (BAAP)

South Africa-only, but the most generous returning-academic scheme on the continent. Buys out teaching, funds research costs, and provides protected research time at a South African university for self-identified Black South African academics. Annual call, March–May window.

5. AAS Affiliates & the Future Leaders – African Independent Research (FLAIR) follow-on

The Royal Society/African Academy of Sciences FLAIR Fellowship moved to a follow-on phase that explicitly funds African researchers returning from abroad to a host African institution. Five-year package: salary, research costs, junior team budget. One of the rare schemes that funds a real PI start-up.

6. Next Einstein Forum (NEF) Fellows

Two-year recognition + research support for early-career African scientists based on the continent. NEF Fellows receive convening support, network access, visibility for follow-on grants — useful for a returning researcher rebuilding a profile inside Africa.

7. ARUA Centres of Excellence postdoc lines

The African Research Universities Alliance (16 universities) runs 13 Centres of Excellence with internal postdoc and early-career faculty positions. Application is centre-by-centre — UCT (climate, urbanisation), Ghana (post-harvest food loss), Ibadan (non-communicable disease), Makerere (unemployment) and others. Often unadvertised; email the centre director directly.

A 24-month return strategy

1. Month -24 to -18. Identify 2 host institutions. Email the head of department before applying anywhere — return-home grants almost always require a host letter of support.
2. Month -18 to -12. Apply to Volkswagen and FLAIR follow-on. Both have one annual round and 9-month decision cycles.
3. Month -12 to -6. Apply to Carnegie African Diaspora (if you hold a US/Canadian position) or NRF BAAP (if South African). Begin Humboldt return paperwork if you held a prior Humboldt.
4. Month -6 to 0. Stack a teaching buyout from your host institution's internal seed grant with one external return grant. The combination of "external prestige + internal commitment" is what unlocks lab space.

See the 12-month application timeline for the day-by-day version of this plan.

What the proposal actually has to do

Return-home reviewers are reading for one thing: does this researcher come back permanently, or is this a visiting tourist? Address it directly in the cover letter. Name the African host. Name the research line you will continue on the continent. Name two African PhD students you intend to train.

The structure that works mirrors a postdoc research statement — see the research-statement section of our scholarship essay guide.

Frequently asked questions

What is a return-home or reintegration grant?

A funding scheme designed to bring an African researcher who trained abroad back to a research role on the continent. It typically pays a top-up salary, equipment, lab setup, travel back, and sometimes a postdoc or junior faculty position at a named African university.

Who is eligible for return-home research grants?

Most schemes require African nationality (or origin) plus a PhD or postdoc completed outside Africa. Carnegie African Diaspora requires you to currently hold a position at a North American university; Humboldt return fellowships require a prior Humboldt fellowship; NRF Black Academics targets South African scholars; Volkswagen Foundation requires a host African institution.

How much do return-home grants pay?

Carnegie African Diaspora: up to US$5,000 + travel per visit, multiple visits over 2 years. Humboldt return: €1,000–€3,000/month for 6–12 months plus equipment. Volkswagen Foundation 'Postdoctoral Fellowships in Sub-Saharan Africa': up to €100,000 over 18 months. NRF Black Academics: research costs + protected research time at a South African university.

Can I apply if I am still doing my postdoc abroad?

Yes — most schemes prefer applicants 1–3 years from finishing their postdoc. Volkswagen, AvH return and the AAS Affiliates programme all encourage forward planning. Carnegie African Diaspora requires you to already hold a North American faculty position.

Which African institutions host return-home grants most often?

University of Cape Town, Stellenbosch, Wits, Pretoria (South Africa); Makerere (Uganda); University of Ghana, KNUST (Ghana); University of Nairobi, KEMRI-Wellcome (Kenya); University of Ibadan, Covenant University (Nigeria); ARUA partner universities across 16 institutions; and AIMS / Next Einstein Forum partner sites.