Jennifer Ward Oppenheimer Research Grant on Africa 2024

Application are open for reseachers who wish to apply for Jennifer Ward Oppenheimer Research Grant (JWO Research Grant).

The Jennifer Ward Oppenheimer Research Grant (JWO Research Grant) is a member of Oppenheimer Generations, a diverse community of commercial ventures and not-for-profit organisations representing the global interests of the Nicky and Jonathan Oppenheimer family. 

The grant aims to continue her contribution to and passion for Africa, the environment, and pioneering science. The purpose of the grant is to support early-career scientists that are conducting impactful research that will provide solutions to some of Africa’s most pressing problems.

• Table of Content
• About Jennifer Ward Oppenheimer
• JWO Research Grant
• Aim and Benefits of JWO Research Grant
• JWO Research Grant Courses
• Requirements for JWO Research Grant Qualification
• Interview date, Process and Venue for JWO Research Grant
• Application Deadline
• How to Apply

About Jennifer Ward Oppenheimer

Jennifer Ward Oppenheimer’s love for the African continent began in the mid-90s  when she moved to Zimbabwe with Jonathan Oppenheimer. In 1999 they moved to South Africa and she embraced it as her home. Her philanthropic interests first started with health and education, however, as she began to understand the challenges that South Africa, Africa and the world faced, the environment took centre stage and became a significant part of her focus and passion. Sustainable ecology became a central theme in her efforts to understand how a sustainable environment can be created where man... continue reading

JWO Research Grant

Aim and Benefits of JWO Research Grant

A grant of $150,000 will be awarded to one successful applicant. The grant will support a research project or programme for up to three years (previously funded research not eligible).

JWO Research Grant Courses

• Research

Requirements for JWO Research Grant Qualification

The lead applicant should be:

a.      An early career scientist

Applicant must already hold a PhD degree and should have no more than seven years of work and/or research experience post-degree (excluding time taken for family responsibilities).

b.    Have strong links to a credible African institution

The institution should have a proven ability to manage to fund and subscribes to good financial grant practice and can be any of the following: academic institution, research institution, government institution, NGO, for-profit organisation

Furthermore, the proposed research should be focused on or in Africa.

Interview date, Process and Venue for JWO Research Grant

Application Topic:

• Applicants’ proposals must demonstrate a strong link to biodiversity and conservation

Jugding Criteria

• Advances the frontiers of knowledge within the chosen field
• Facilitates solutions to African challenges: The research should try and solve an African challenge that occurs in more than one geography and is scalable to other areas. The research should include multiple research sites
• Demonstrates innovative methodologies and approaches
• Exhibits scientific rigour and excellence
• Contributes to human capital development (e.g. mentorship, support, and professional development opportunities) for the next generation of researchers.
• Incorporates a holistic perspective and involves inter-and multi-disciplinary collaboration with partners (preference intra-African) to leverage time, expertise, skills, materials, and resources and reduce duplication
• Articulates the potential to create impact both during and beyond the grant period
• Displays knowledge of associated recent or ongoing work on the continent.
• Defines a clear plan for disseminating research outcomes both inside and outside the scientific community
• Endeavours to open access publications (popular and scientific
• Does not present unacceptable ethical or safety risk

Aplication Timeline:

• Q&A Webinar: 27 March 2024 14:00 - 15:00
• Online applications open: 2 April 2024 00:00 (SAST)
• Online applications close: 3 May 2024 00:00 (SAST)
• Full proposal invitation: 10 June 2024
• Full proposals due: 8 July 2024 00:00 (SAST)
• Sub Label  Interview week for Top 3: 12 - 16 August 2024
• ORC Conference 9-11 October 2024 (Successful grant recipient awarded): 10 October 2024

Application Deadline

How to Apply

For more details visit: JWO website.