The Young Leaders in Research (YLR) Grant 2026 supports early-career African researchers in economics and related fields with a 12-month programme focused on policy-relevant research and Africa’s economic transformation. The initiative provides research funding, mentorship, professional development and opportunities to increase the visibility and policy influence of emerging researchers.
Young Leaders in Research (YLR) Grant 2026
The Young Leaders in Research (YLR) Grant is a 12-month research support programme designed for early-career African researchers working in economics and related disciplines.
The programme is offered by the African Center for Economic Transformation (ACET), a Pan-African economic policy institute focused on supporting Africa’s long-term economic transformation through research, policy advice and stakeholder engagement.
The YLR programme aims to help young researchers produce context-driven, policy-relevant research that can contribute to economic transformation across the continent.
Through the programme, selected young researchers receive a combination of research funding, mentorship, professional development and opportunities to increase the visibility of their work.
What Is the YLR Grant?
The Young Leaders in Research Grant is structured around the idea that strong African-led research can help inform better economic policy and development decisions.
The 12-month programme supports early-career researchers as they develop research addressing important challenges facing African economies.
Rather than focusing only on academic research, the programme places emphasis on research that can contribute to policy discussions and practical solutions.
The initiative is aligned with ACET’s broader Growth with DEPTH framework, which seeks to advance structural transformation across African economies.
2026 Research Themes
For the 2026 cohort, the programme identifies four key research themes:
1. Gender Equality
Research under this theme can examine issues connected to gender equality and its relationship with economic transformation.
The theme recognises the importance of inclusive development and ensuring that economic opportunities contribute to improved outcomes for women and other groups.
2. Regional Integration
The regional integration theme focuses on research relevant to strengthening economic connections between African countries.
Research in this area can contribute to discussions around regional cooperation and the broader transformation of African economies.
3. Innovation & Digital Policy
The programme also supports research examining innovation and digital policy.
This theme reflects the growing importance of technology and digital transformation in economic development and policymaking across Africa.
4. Green Industrial Transformation
Green industrial transformation is another priority area for the 2026 cohort.
Research under this theme can contribute to understanding how African countries can pursue industrial development while responding to environmental and sustainability challenges.
What Does the YLR Grant Offer?
Selected Young Researchers receive several forms of support during the 12-month programme.
The programme offers:
- Research funding
- Mentorship
- Professional development support
- Research visibility
- Opportunities to strengthen the policy relevance of their work
- Support to increase their influence in policymaking discussions
This combination is intended to help researchers move beyond producing research alone and develop the skills and networks needed to communicate evidence effectively to policymakers and other stakeholders.
Growth with DEPTH Framework
The YLR Grant is aligned with ACET’s Growth with DEPTH framework.
DEPTH represents five pillars:
- Diversification
- Export Competitiveness
- Productivity
- Technology
- Human Well-being
The framework provides a broader policy and economic transformation context for the research supported through the YLR programme.
According to the programme information, this alignment is intended to ensure that research produced by Young Researchers contributes to Africa’s structural transformation through evidence-based and actionable solutions.
Who Is the Programme For?
The YLR Grant is intended for early-career African researchers in economics and related fields.
The programme is particularly relevant to researchers who want to develop policy-focused research addressing major economic and development challenges across Africa.
Applicants considering the programme should ensure that their proposed research fits within one of the four identified 2026 themes:
- Gender Equality
- Regional Integration
- Innovation & Digital Policy
- Green Industrial Transformation
Why the YLR Grant Can Be Valuable for Researchers
Early-career researchers can face challenges when trying to turn academic expertise into research that reaches policymakers and influences development discussions.
The YLR programme addresses this gap by combining research support with mentorship, professional development and visibility.
This approach can help researchers strengthen not only their research output but also their ability to communicate evidence and engage with policy debates.
The programme’s Pan-African focus also provides a context for researchers interested in issues affecting African economies and the continent’s long-term transformation.
Grant Timeline
The information provided for the 2026 cohort gives the following timeline:
30 September 2025
Call for applications opens.
30 September – 21 November 2025
Rolling review period.
21 November 2025
Final application deadline.
From 8 December 2025
Interviews begin.
18 December 2025
2026 cohort announced.
1 January 2026
Programme starts.
Important Deadline Note
The dates supplied for this YLR 2026 cohort indicate that the application period ended on 21 November 2025, with the programme scheduled to begin on 1 January 2026.
Therefore, this particular 2026 call should not be presented as currently open on August 14, 2026. Researchers interested in future cohorts should monitor ACET for a new call.
About the African Center for Economic Transformation
The African Center for Economic Transformation (ACET) is a Pan-African economic policy institute working to support long-term economic transformation in Africa.
Its work includes research, policy advice and convening stakeholders to help African countries pursue innovative, inclusive and sustainable development.
ACET’s work covers areas including economic management and governance, gender equality, green industrial transformation, innovation and digital policy, regional integration, private sector development, and youth employment and skills.
Final Thoughts
The Young Leaders in Research (YLR) Grant 2026 was designed to support the next generation of African researchers working in economics and related fields.
With its combination of research funding, mentorship, professional development and research visibility, the programme offers a structured pathway for early-career researchers seeking to strengthen the policy impact of their work.
The 2026 cohort focused on four major areas: Gender Equality, Regional Integration, Innovation & Digital Policy, and Green Industrial Transformation, all aligned with ACET’s Growth with DEPTH approach to African economic transformation.
Since the supplied 2026 timeline shows that applications closed on 21 November 2025, prospective applicants should watch ACET’s official channels for information about future YLR Grant calls.
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