Grants

Grants for Harvard Student Organizations

The Committee on African Studies offers grants of up to $1,000 per semester for Harvard student organizations focused on Africa to fund African activities. Organizations must submit proposals describing the purpose and nature of their activity; the size and type of audience for which it is intended; the co-sponsors and a detailed budget using a template available from Terence Keel at aifin@fas.harvard.edu           .

Grant decisions are based upon the clarity, focus, and feasibility of the activity an organization is planning.  Student organizations are encouraged to seek additional funding to complement the grant awarded by the Committee.  Examples of activities that may be funded include lectures, performances, workshops, conferences and Africa Weeks. Committee grants cannot be used to fund social activities and dinners. Food charges must be kept to a minimum.

Student organizations must have official standing with Harvard University prior to requesting funding.  Events must take place in the Boston/Cambridge area.

There is only one grant per semester for each organization. The deadline for the Fall 2009 is Wednesday, September 30, 2009. However, since grants take several weeks to process, if an organization in planning an event before the end of October, it should submit its proposal as soon as possible. 

Grant proposals with budgets on the required template should be submitted to aifin@fas.harvard.edu

Grants for Individual Student Research and Internships in Africa

Deadline for research and internship grant applications is February 12, 2010

In addition to the summer grants for juniors doing thesis research and doctoral students doing summer dissertation research, Harvard students can apply for grants to help fund summer internships in Africa and for the study of African languages. Dissertation research grants can be used during term time or summer, and master's students can apply for grants for their summer thesis research.

All grants cover only partial expenses, and students should also apply elsewhere for additional funds. Please note the minimum stays required for Committee grants. The following is a description of the grants currently offered.

Dissertation Research Grant 
The Committee on African Studies offers travel grants to assist Harvard graduate students conducting short term doctoral dissertation research in Africa. These grants are for research and travel only in Sub-Saharan Africa. Grants require a minimum stay of six weeks in Africa and may be used during the summer or term time. Doctoral students in all Harvard schools whose research focuses on Sub-Saharan Africa are eligible to apply. See link for Dissertation Research Grant.

Summer Internship Grant 
The Committee on African Studies offers summer travel grants to assist Harvard undergraduates and graduate students with internship opportunities in Africa. These grants are only for internships in Sub-Saharan Africa. Internships must last a minimum of eight weeks and students must be returning to Harvard the following year. Students are expected to immerse themselves in the local African culture and society through their internship, their use of the local language or their living arrangements. See link for Summer Internship Grant Application.

Summer Masters Thesis Grant
The Committee on African Studies offers summer travel grants to assist Harvard graduate students doing masters thesis research on Africa. These grants are only for travel in Sub-Saharan Africa. Students must be returning to Harvard the following year. Grants require a minimum stay of six weeks in Africa. Graduate students in all Harvard schools whose research focuses on Sub-Saharan Africa are eligible to apply. See link for Summer Masters Thesis Grant Application.

Summer Senior Thesis Grant
The Committee on African Studies offers summer travel grants to assist
Harvard juniors with senior honors thesis research. These grants are for research in the social sciences, humanities and related fields and are only for travel in Sub-Saharan Africa. Students must spend a minimum of eight weeks in Africa and are expected to immerse themselves in the local African culture and society through their research or living arrangements. See link for Summer Senior Thesis Grant.

Summer African Language Study Grant
The Committee on African Studies offers grants for summer study of Sub-Saharan African languages not offered at Harvard. Students may study at any academic institution offering approved African language courses, but must receive the prior approval of the Director of the African Language Program at Harvard. Grants may not be used for private tutorials. See link for Summer African Language Study Grant.

Grant deadline
The deadline for all grant applications is February 12, 2010. To apply, please go to the Common Application for Research and Travel at CARAT. (Please be advised that the University is revising information for all grants processed through this site.)

For more information on Committee grants contact:

Committee on African Studies
1730 Cambridge Street, Room 403
Ph: 495-5265, cafrica@fas.harvard.edu

For a comprehensive listing of all funding available for Harvard undergraduates for international study and research go to the Funding Sources Database for International Experience.