The Future Leaders – African Independent Research (FLAIR) Fellowships were designed to support talented African early-career researchers with the potential to become leaders in their fields.
The fellowship provided researchers with an opportunity to establish an independent research career at a sub-Saharan African research institution while undertaking high-quality scientific research addressing global challenges facing developing countries.
The programme was a partnership between the African Academy of Sciences (AAS) and the Royal Society, supported by the Global Challenges Research Fund (GCRF).
However, applicants searching for FLAIR Fellowships 2026 should be aware that the official Royal Society page is now archived. The page states that the scheme is closed to applications and will not open to further applications.
FLAIR Fellowships 2026 Overview
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Programme | Future Leaders – African Independent Research Fellowships |
| Abbreviation | FLAIR |
| Programme partners | Royal Society and African Academy of Sciences |
| Funding support | Global Challenges Research Fund |
| Target applicants | African early-career researchers |
| Nationality | Sub-Saharan African countries |
| Host location | ODA-eligible sub-Saharan African country |
| Research focus | Global challenges facing developing countries |
| Research fields | Natural sciences |
| Award | Up to £150,000 per year |
| Initial duration | Two years |
| Researcher’s salary | Up to £45,000 per year |
| Institutional overhead | Up to £15,000 per year |
| Additional support | Mentoring, training and networking |
| Current status | Permanently closed |
| 2026 applications | No new applications |
What Were the FLAIR Fellowships?
The FLAIR Fellowships were designed to help talented African scientists establish independent research careers within African research institutions.
The programme aimed to support researchers who had the potential to become future scientific leaders while enabling them to undertake cutting-edge research addressing global development challenges.
The programme also provided professional development through training, mentoring and networking opportunities.
Who Were the FLAIR Fellowships For?
The programme was specifically designed for early-career researchers from sub-Saharan Africa.
Eligible applicants needed to meet several requirements relating to:
- Nationality
- PhD status
- Research experience
- Host institution
- Research location
- Research proposal
- Scientific discipline
FLAIR Fellowship Eligibility Requirements
According to the archived Royal Society information, applicants had to:
- Be a national of a sub-Saharan African country.
- Hold a PhD by the time of application.
- Be an early-career researcher.
- Have at least two years of research experience after completing the PhD.
- Have no more than eight years of post-doctoral research experience.
- Hold the fellowship at a research institution in an Official Development Assistance (ODA)-eligible sub-Saharan African country.
- Submit a clearly defined scientific research proposal addressing one or more of the programme’s Global Challenge areas.
These requirements come directly from the archived programme information.
FLAIR Fellowship Research Areas
The fellowship supported research within the Royal Society’s remit of natural sciences.
The source identifies areas including:
- Biological research
- Chemistry
- Engineering
- Mathematics
- Physics
The Royal Society stated that its support did not normally cover:
- Clinical medicine, such as patient-oriented research and clinical trials
- Social sciences
- Humanities
Social sciences and humanities could only be considered where the work was undertaken in partnership with relevant organizations.
FLAIR Fellowship Research Proposal
Applicants were required to develop a clearly defined scientific research proposal.
The proposal needed to focus on one or more of the Global Challenge areas outlined in the scheme notes.
Applicants were encouraged to familiarize themselves with the Global Challenges Research Fund research agenda and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals when developing their research.
FLAIR Fellowship Funding
One of the most significant features of the FLAIR programme was its research funding.
The fellowship provided an award of up to:
£150,000 per year for two years in the first instance.
The funding could cover several categories of expenditure.
Researcher’s Salary
Up to £45,000 per year could be allocated toward the research fellow’s salary.
Research Expenses
Funding could also support research-related costs, including:
- Research assistance
- Equipment
- Travel
- Research consumables
Institutional Overhead
The programme provided institutional overhead funding of up to:
£15,000 per year.
FLAIR Fellowship Duration
The initial fellowship period was two years.
The award was structured at up to £150,000 per year for two years in the first instance.
Applicants should note that these figures describe the historical FLAIR scheme and should not be interpreted as an active 2026 funding offer.
FLAIR Fellowship Professional Development
The fellowship was not limited to research funding.
It also provided a programme of professional support and development.
This included:
- Mentoring
- Training courses
- International collaboration opportunities
- Regional networking
- International networking
These elements were intended to help early-career African researchers develop independent research careers.
FLAIR Fellowship Mentoring
Mentoring was one of the programme’s key professional development components.
The objective was to provide early-career researchers with support as they developed independent research careers within African institutions.
FLAIR Fellowship Training
FLAIR fellows also had access to training courses.
The training component complemented the research funding and was intended to strengthen researchers’ professional and scientific development.
FLAIR Fellowship Networking Opportunities
The programme provided networking opportunities both regionally and internationally.
Fellows could develop connections with other researchers and scientific communities while strengthening their opportunities for international collaboration.
FLAIR Fellowships for African Researchers
FLAIR was specifically created for African researchers.
Applicants had to be nationals of a sub-Saharan African country.
The fellowship was also designed to be held in an eligible research institution within sub-Saharan Africa rather than requiring fellows to relocate their research careers permanently outside the continent.
This was a central feature of the programme’s objective to strengthen independent research capacity in African institutions.
FLAIR Fellowship for Zimbabwean Researchers
The programme’s eligibility framework was based on nationality and location within eligible sub-Saharan African countries.
A researcher from Zimbabwe would therefore have been within the geographic scope of the programme, provided all other eligibility conditions were satisfied.
However, because the official scheme is now closed, Zimbabwean researchers cannot submit a new FLAIR application through this programme.
FLAIR Fellowship for Nigerian Researchers
Nigerian researchers were within the programme’s broader sub-Saharan African geographic scope, subject to the fellowship’s other eligibility conditions.
As with all other applicants, however, the scheme is now permanently closed.
FLAIR Fellowship for Kenyan Researchers
Kenyan researchers were also within the geographic scope of the programme because the fellowship targeted nationals of sub-Saharan African countries.
The historical programme also had a connection with the African Academy of Sciences.
However, no new FLAIR applications are currently being accepted.
FLAIR Fellowship for South African Researchers
Researchers from South Africa were within the broader geographic category of sub-Saharan African nationals, subject to the programme’s full eligibility conditions.
The fellowship was intended to support independent research careers in African institutions.
FLAIR Fellowship Host Institution
Fellows were expected to hold their fellowship at a research institution located in an ODA-eligible sub-Saharan African country.
This requirement reinforced the programme’s objective of strengthening research capacity within African institutions.
FLAIR Fellowship and Global Challenges
The programme was supported by the Global Challenges Research Fund.
Applicants were encouraged to ensure their research aligned with the GCRF research agenda and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.
The broader objective was to support research addressing major global development challenges facing the African continent and developing countries.
FLAIR Fellowship and Sustainable Development Goals
The programme encouraged applicants to consider the UN Sustainable Development Goals when developing their research proposals.
This meant that applicants were expected to demonstrate how their scientific research could contribute to addressing broader development challenges.
FLAIR Fellowship Application Process
Historically, applications were submitted through the Royal Society’s Flexi-Grant grant management system.
Applications were assessed through a process overseen by the FLAIR panel.
The historical programme also included an interview stage.
However, the dates shown on the archived page relate to an earlier application cycle and should not be presented as current 2026 deadlines.
FLAIR Fellowship Interview
The archived page states that interviews for that historical application cycle were scheduled to take place at the African Academy of Sciences in Nairobi.
The page gives the interview week as commencing 23 November 2020, with applicants expected to receive results by December 2020.
These dates are historical and are not a 2026 application schedule.
Is the FLAIR Fellowship Open in 2026?
No.
The Royal Society page explicitly states:
- The scheme is closed to applications.
- The scheme is closed permanently.
- It will not open to further applications.
Therefore, websites describing FLAIR as an active 2026 application opportunity would be misleading unless referring to a different programme with a similar name.
Can I Apply for FLAIR Fellowships in 2026?
No.
The official archived Royal Society page states that the scheme will not open to further applications.
Researchers interested in similar opportunities should instead monitor current Royal Society, African Academy of Sciences and other research-funding programmes for new fellowship schemes.
FLAIR Fellowship Benefits
Historically, FLAIR provided a combination of financial and professional support.
The programme offered:
- Up to £150,000 per year
- Two years of initial support
- Researcher’s salary funding
- Research assistance
- Equipment funding
- Travel expenses
- Research consumables
- Institutional overhead
- Mentoring
- Training
- International collaboration
- Regional networking
- International networking
FLAIR Fellowship Salary
The archived programme information states that the research fellow’s salary could be funded at up to:
£45,000 per year.
This amount formed part of the overall fellowship award and should not be interpreted as a separate £45,000 salary paid on top of the £150,000 annual award.
FLAIR Fellowship Institutional Overhead
The programme could provide institutional overhead funding of up to:
£15,000 per year.
This was part of the overall award structure.
Is FLAIR Fellowship Fully Funded?
Historically, FLAIR provided substantial research funding covering salary and a range of research costs.
However, because the scheme is permanently closed, it should not currently be advertised as an available fully funded fellowship.
FLAIR Fellowship Frequently Asked Questions
What does FLAIR stand for?
FLAIR stands for Future Leaders – African Independent Research.
What was the FLAIR Fellowship?
It was a fellowship designed to help talented African early-career researchers establish independent research careers in sub-Saharan African institutions.
Is the FLAIR Fellowship open in 2026?
No. The Royal Society’s archived page states that the scheme is closed and will not open to further applications.
Who administered FLAIR?
The programme was a partnership between the Royal Society and the African Academy of Sciences, with support from the Global Challenges Research Fund.
Who could apply?
The historical programme targeted nationals of sub-Saharan African countries who met its PhD, research experience, institutional and proposal requirements.
Did applicants need a PhD?
Yes. Applicants needed to hold a PhD by the time they applied.
How much was the FLAIR Fellowship worth?
The historical award was up to £150,000 per year for two years in the first instance.
How much salary funding was available?
Up to £45,000 per year could be allocated toward the research fellow’s salary.
Was there funding for research expenses?
Yes. Funding could cover research assistance, equipment, travel and research consumables.
Was institutional overhead covered?
Yes. Up to £15,000 per year was available for institutional overhead.
How long was the fellowship?
The initial award was for two years.
What subjects were supported?
The fellowship supported natural sciences within the Royal Society’s remit, including biological research, chemistry, engineering, mathematics and physics.
Did FLAIR fund clinical medicine?
The Royal Society stated that clinical medicine was not covered, including patient-oriented research and clinical trials.
Did FLAIR fund social sciences?
Social sciences and humanities were generally outside the Royal Society’s remit except when undertaken in partnership with relevant organizations.
Could African researchers hold the fellowship outside Africa?
The fellowship required researchers to hold it at a research institution in an ODA-eligible sub-Saharan African country.
Did FLAIR provide mentoring?
Yes. Mentoring was included in the programme’s support and development package.
Did FLAIR provide training?
Yes. Fellows could receive training courses as part of the professional development programme.
Did FLAIR provide networking?
Yes. The programme provided regional and international networking opportunities as well as opportunities for international collaboration.
Where were historical interviews held?
The archived information states that interviews for the historical cycle were held at the African Academy of Sciences in Nairobi.
Can I still submit a FLAIR application?
No. The official page states that the scheme is closed and will not open to further applications.
Alternatives to the FLAIR Fellowship
Because FLAIR is permanently closed, African researchers should not wait for another FLAIR application round.
Instead, researchers can explore current opportunities offered by:
- The Royal Society
- African Academy of Sciences
- Universities and research institutes
- International research foundations
- Development research funders
- Science and technology organizations
- Global fellowship programmes
When considering an alternative fellowship, applicants should compare:
- Eligibility
- Research field
- Funding amount
- Fellowship duration
- Host institution requirements
- Geographic restrictions
- Salary support
- Research expenses
- Travel funding
- Professional development opportunities
- Application deadline
Opportunities Feed Verdict
Opportunities Feed Verdict: The FLAIR Fellowship was a highly targeted research programme created to strengthen independent scientific research careers among talented African early-career researchers.
Its historical funding package was substantial, offering up to £150,000 per year for two years, including up to £45,000 per year toward the research fellow’s salary, research expenses and institutional overhead of up to £15,000 per year.
The programme also went beyond financial support by providing mentoring, training and regional and international networking opportunities.
Its geographic focus was particularly significant because fellows were expected to hold the fellowship at research institutions in sub-Saharan Africa, supporting the development of African research capacity rather than simply sending researchers abroad.
The programme covered natural sciences including biological research, chemistry, engineering, mathematics and physics, while excluding clinical medicine and generally excluding social sciences and humanities.
However, there is an important distinction for anyone searching for FLAIR Fellowships 2026: the programme is no longer accepting applications and the Royal Society states that it will not reopen to further applications.
Consequently, FLAIR should be treated as a historical fellowship opportunity, not as an active 2026 funding opportunity.
Researchers interested in the same goal — building independent scientific careers in Africa — should instead look for current Royal Society, African Academy of Sciences and international research fellowship programmes.
Official FLAIR Information
Royal Society FLAIR Fellowships Archive
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