Investing in Africa’s future: The JWO Research Grant enters its 5th year of funding African scientists.

South Africa, 2023 – Since its inception in 2019, the Jennifer Ward Oppenheimer Research Grant has awarded $600 000 to African researchers pursuing solutions to the continent's environmental issues.

Widely referred to as the JWO Research Grant, the grant is named after Jennifer Oppenheimer, who devoted much of her time to philanthropic support in science, education, health. “As she became to understand more deeply the challenges that face Africa, and the world at large – the environment became an increasingly essential part of her focus”, Jonathan Oppenheimer says.

With over 1000 applications since its inception and an annual increase in numbers, the grant addresses the need to support early-career African scientists on the continent.

The grant is an important initiative focused on supporting innovative research that will contribute to the advancement of environmental and allied sciences; and address relevant, real-world, African issues of current and future importance.

Previous recipients such as Dr Gideon Idowu, an Environmental Chemist at Nigeria’s Federal University of Technology Akure (FUTA) in Nigeria, is looking at the potential impact that microplastic pollution has on oceans as well as in Africa’s freshwater systems. What are their short- and long-term effects to the human body?

Dr Idowu believes that “Beyond the unesthetic scenes that plastic waste creates in the environment, we want to provide evidence in their effects in creating microplastics and endocrine disrupting chemicals, which potentially impair growth and reproduction in species. We believe that the findings will further compel policy makers to take real actions to reduce the disposal of plastic wastes”.

Oppenheimer Generations Research and Conservation Head, Dr Duncan MacFadyen says that “The grant showcases cutting-edge, innovative scientific research initiatives and provides a platform to foster and support Africa’s most brilliant minds. By so doing, it contributes further African voices into global conversations on environment and sustainability. The work pitched here is ground-breaking, impactful research, that regularly excites the expert panellists in anticipation as to whom will ultimately walk away with the prize”.

Grant Legibility

The lead applicant should be an early career African scientist1, who has strong links to a credible2 African institution3 and is proposing to conduct research on the continent. The 2023 JWO Research Grant is encouraging trans-disciplinary research applications that seek solutions to challenges in Africa.

  1. The applicant must hold a degree (PhD, equivalent or higher qualification), and should have no more than seven years of work and/or research experience post-degree (excluding career breaks, including family-related breaks).
  2. The institution must have a proven ability to manage funding and subscribes to good financial grant practice.
  3. The institutional affiliation may be academic, research, government, NGO and for- profit organisation.

Grant Award

The 2023 JWO grant of $150,000 (USD) will be awarded to one successful applicant. The grant will support a research programme of up to three years. There will be an annual call for new applications1, and the grant recipient will be announced at the Oppenheimer Research Conference The funds will be distributed in agreed tranches, based on satisfactory progress as measured against agreed milestones.

To apply for the grant, please follow this link - https://jworesearchgrant.org

About The Oppenheimer Generations Research and Conservation

The Oppenheimer Generations Research and Conservation team continue to build a first-class research entity which supports, funds and partners with national and international researchers to conduct cutting-edge research focused on the natural sciences ensuring practical and impactful outcomes. They are committed to further developing, expanding and promoting systems of sustainable conservation programmes and networks throughout the African continent

For more PR related information please contact: PR Account Director
Cebisa Luzipho
cebisa@orchardon25.co.za