The Afreximbank–Edordu Research Competition 2026 is now open for applications from postgraduate students across Africa and participating Caribbean (CARICOM) states. Launched by the African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank), the competition celebrates academic excellence while supporting the next generation of researchers whose work can shape Africa’s trade, finance, and development agenda.
Named in honour of Mr Christopher Edordu, the founding President of Afreximbank, the competition provides a prestigious platform for master’s and PhD students to produce original, evidence-based research with real policy impact. The top three winners will receive prizes of up to USD 20,000, alongside continental recognition and the opportunity to present their research at a major Afreximbank event.
About the Afreximbank–Edordu Research Competition
The Afreximbank–Edordu Research Competition is an initiative of the Bank’s Research Department and Creative and Diaspora Department. It was established to preserve the intellectual legacy of Christopher Edordu, whose visionary leadership laid the foundation for one of Africa’s most influential financial institutions.
Rather than rewarding academic research alone, the competition seeks ideas that address pressing challenges facing Africa and the Caribbean. Participants are encouraged to develop practical policy recommendations capable of strengthening regional trade, financial integration, industrialisation, and sustainable economic growth under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).
Winning papers will be transformed into concise policy briefs and presented to Afreximbank’s leadership, ensuring that outstanding research contributes directly to continental policymaking.
Competition Objectives
The programme is designed to cultivate a new generation of African and Caribbean scholars committed to advancing evidence-based solutions for economic transformation.
Its key objectives include:
- Promoting African-led research grounded in local realities and priorities.
- Generating actionable policy frameworks that support AfCFTA implementation.
- Encouraging postgraduate scholars to engage critically with trade and development challenges.
- Preserving and extending the intellectual legacy of Christopher Edordu through rigorous academic inquiry.
The competition emphasises research that is innovative, policy-oriented, and capable of influencing decision-makers across the continent.
Who Can Apply?
The competition is open to currently enrolled postgraduate students studying at recognised tertiary institutions in:
- African countries
- Participating CARICOM states
Both Master’s and PhD candidates are eligible to submit original research papers.
To promote linguistic inclusivity, submissions are accepted in six languages:
- English
- French
- Arabic
- Portuguese
- Spanish
- Kiswahili
This multilingual approach enables scholars from diverse academic communities to participate without language barriers.
Research Themes
Applicants are invited to develop rigorous and original research focusing on areas that shape Africa’s economic future. Suitable topics include:
- International and intra-African trade
- Trade finance and financial systems
- Regional economic integration
- AfCFTA implementation
- Industrial development
- Sustainable economic growth
- Development finance
- Policy innovation for Africa and the Caribbean
Research should combine strong academic methodology with practical recommendations that can inform public policy and institutional decision-making.
Prize Awards
Three outstanding research papers will receive substantial financial awards:
| Prize | Award Value |
|---|---|
| First Prize | USD 20,000 |
| Second Prize | USD 15,000 |
| Third Prize | USD 10,000 |
Each prize is distributed as:
- 50% cash award
- 50% support for tuition fees and academic books
In addition, all winners will receive:
- A Certificate of Excellence
- An invitation to present their research at an official Afreximbank event
- Continental visibility among policymakers, researchers, and development leaders
This combination of funding and exposure makes the competition one of the most valuable postgraduate research opportunities in Africa.
Why This Competition Matters
The Afreximbank–Edordu Research Competition is more than an academic award—it is a bridge between scholarship and policymaking. Instead of remaining within university libraries, winning research is translated into policy briefs that contribute to Afreximbank’s strategic work and broader discussions on Africa’s economic integration.
By empowering young researchers, the initiative helps position African and Caribbean scholars as active contributors to the continent’s trade architecture rather than passive observers of development debates.
The programme also reinforces the importance of home-grown knowledge production, recognising that sustainable solutions are most effective when informed by African experiences and regional realities.
Key Dates
Applicants should note the following timeline for the 2026 competition:
| Milestone | Date |
|---|---|
| Submission Portal Opens | 30 April 2026 |
| Application Deadline | 30 September 2026 |
| Jury Evaluation | October – November 2026 |
| Winners Announced | December 2026 |
Candidates are encouraged to begin preparing their research well before the submission deadline to ensure sufficient time for review and refinement.
How to Apply
Eligible postgraduate students should prepare an original research paper aligned with the competition’s objectives and submit it through the official Afreximbank competition portal before 30 September 2026.
Submissions should demonstrate academic rigour, originality, and clear policy relevance, with practical recommendations that can contribute to Africa’s trade, finance, and sustainable development agenda.
For master’s and PhD students seeking to influence continental policy while competing for significant research funding, the Afreximbank–Edordu Research Competition 2026 offers an exceptional opportunity to showcase their scholarship on an international stage.
