European Space Agency (ESA) African Research Fellowships 2026

Deadline: April 29, 2026

Applications are open for the European Space Agency (ESA) African Research Fellowships 2026. The African Research Fellowship (ARF) programme—part of the EO AFRICA flagship initiative of the European Space Agency (ESA), in partnership with the African Space Agency (AfSA), an organ of the African Union, and in coordination with the African Union Commission (AUC)—empowers the next generation of African Earth observation (EO) leaders. Since its launch in 2021, ten outstanding fellows have already advanced their research at ESA.

They are now seeking four passionate African researchers to join this dynamic network. Selected fellows will spend one year at ESA’s ESRIN centre in Frascati, Italy, collaborating directly with ESA experts. The fellowship period will begin in October 2026.

Research Themes

Applicants are invited to propose a 1-year R&D project focused on one of the EO AFRICA thematic priority areas, utilizing EO satellite data and advanced analytical methods.

Your research will be fully integrated into the EO AFRICA R&D Initiative. Fellows will gain access to:

• ESA supported cloud computing resources (e.g. EO Africa Innovation Lab, Space-HPC…) to facilitate collaboration with European scientists in implementing research ideas.
• The EO AFRICA Space Academy and Digital Campus, which offer dedicated training, scientific tools, and a wealth of expertise to support your project.
• A professional network that promotes open research practices and reproducible science.

Eligibility

• Open to African researchers holding a PhD, or a Master’s degree with substantial proven research experience in satellite Earth Observation, satellite remote sensing, or a closely related field.
• They seek innovators driven to translate data into sustainable solutions.

Application

Interested candidates must submit a complete application comprising:

• Research Proposal (with the official ARF template, max 10 pages -note: applications not using the provided template will be disregarded)
• Curriculum Vitae (maximum 3 pages) including a list of recent publications
• Copy of valid Identification document (preferably passport)
• Scan of the highest academic diploma (PhD or Master’s).
• Two (2) confidential letters of reference.

Click here to apply

For more information, visit African Research Fellowships.