NAIROBI, 1st August— The African Centre for School Leadership (ACSL), in partnership with the Mastercard Foundation, has opened applications for the second cohort of its School Leadership Research Grants Programme. Applications will close at midnight, 30th September 2026.

The second call builds on the inaugural round, announced in May 2026, which committed $865,000 to 39 (thirty-nine) researchers and research teams across 14 (fourteen) African countries. The ACSL Research Grants Programme is the largest known investment dedicated specifically to school leadership research on the African continent, and a defining step toward an Africa-led, contextually grounded evidence base tied directly to policy and practice.

Here are some key facts regarding the second cohort:

• Up to $485,000 available across two grant categories
• In Tanzania, 12 grants are available: eight Descriptive Action Research (up to $15,000 each) and four Comparative Action Research (up to $35,000 each)
• Other African countries: 11 grants — eight Descriptive Action Research (up to $15,000 each), three Comparative Action Research (up to $35,000 each)
• Information webinar: 20 August 2026 — register here
• Full call for applications: apply here

The school leadership research grant initiative responds to findings from our Continental Mapping of School Leadership Initiatives in Africa mapping report — the first continent-wide synthesis of evidence on the field. The report found that research on school leadership in Africa has grown significantly over the past decade but remains concentrated in a small number of countries and largely descriptive, with limited evidence on impact — particularly on teaching and learning outcomes. According to ACSL, 83 per cent of researchers examined school leadership only as part of broader education studies rather than as a dedicated field of inquiry.

The first cohort funded African researchers working on leadership preparation, Afrocentric leadership models, equity and inclusion, digital transformation, leadership's influence on teaching and learning, system enablers, distributed leadership, and leadership in emergency and crisis contexts. Those studies are now underway and benefitting from our Blended Exchange and Learning Trajectory (BELT), which pairs researchers with mentorship, peer learning, and direct policymaker engagement.

The second call invites applications from Tanzania — under ACSL's LiT-LEAD initiative — and from researchers across the rest of the continent, in the two categories above.

Head of ACSL Research Dr Edmund Aalangdong said: 

"As with the first cohort, successful applicants will receive financial support and technical mentorship, opportunities to collaborate with fellow researchers across the continent, and structured engagement with policymakers through the BELT programme." 

He added: "The grants aim to support research addressing real-world educational challenges and to generate evidence to inform policy, strengthen school leadership practice, and ultimately improve teaching and learning across Africa."

Dr Leila Abdullahi, Director of Research and Programme Delivery at ACSL, said the call marks the next phase of a wider continental effort: 

"It represents the next phase of a growing continental movement to position school leadership as a recognised field of research, and to ensure African education reforms are informed by locally generated evidence. By investing in researchers, fostering cross-country collaboration, and linking research directly to policy processes, ACSL is helping build a stronger, more sustainable knowledge ecosystem for school leadership across Africa."

Prospective applicants can attend an information webinar on 20 August 2026 to learn about eligibility, the application process, and assessment criteria, and to put questions directly to the ACSL team. Register here.

Full details and application materials are available on the ACSL website.