CARN ASPIRE Grant Program 2025: The Aspire Grant Program provides competitive research grants of up to $5,000 USD for African graduate students and early career professionals working in the areas of biodiversity, conservation and environmental sustainability in the Congo Basin region.
CARN established the Aspire Grant Program in 2014 to support and encourage young African scientists to conduct novel conservation research and management activities that address the critical challenges facing wildlife, biodiversity and ecosystem health in the Congo Basin. Critically, these small grants can build the foundation for young African researchers to become independent, providing “bridge funding” that allows them to compete in larger international arenas. Most importantly, small research grants will encourage and provide a means for young Africans to remain engaged in their research and stay in their native countries to practice their trades.
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CARN ASPIRE Grant Program 2025.
Conservation Action Research Network (CARN) is a non-profit (501.c3) research organization focused on advancing conservation efforts that conserve biodiversity and ecosystem health, protect threatened wildlife species and habitats, and promote environmental sustainability.
Why the Congo Basin?
The Congo Basin rainforests comprise one of the most important centers of biodiversity in the world and harbor an estimated 20% of all known species of plants and animals. While efforts are underway to implement conservation projects, habitat conversion, mineral extraction, forest degradation and deforestation continue at accelerating rates. Exacerbating these threats, the African continent, and the Congo Basin in particular, is predicted as one of the regions to be most severely affected by climate change.
Recent projections suggest rainfall patterns will change dramatically and 50% of African mammals are at risk of extinction if the rise in mean global temperature exceeds 3°C, an increase predicted to occur by the end of the century (IPCC 2014).
Furthermore, impacts from severe water and food scarcity, environmental deterioration, agricultural pests, emerging human diseases, and climate change impede the development of constructive and sustainable conservation solutions. To meet these challenges, Central Africa desperately needs a new generation of environmental and conservation experts.
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Eligibility
- Be a resident of one of the following countries: Cameroon, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, Republic of Congo, Democratic Republic of Congo, Central African Republic and Uganda.
- 35 years of age or younger
- Enrolled in a graduate program or hold a professional position
How to Apply CARN ASPIRE Grant Program.
The 2025 Aspire Grant Program Application Period is now open. The application deadline is June 15, 2025.
- To apply, download and complete this Aspire Grant Application 2025 English following the instructions in the template document.
- Fill out the form below and upload your completed application document as a single pdf.
Applications are also accepted in Francais and Español All applications are treated equally regardless of the language of submission, so please submit in the language you are most comfortable with.
The 2025 Aspire Grant Program Application Period is April 1 through June 15.
Contact us at info@conservationactionresearch.net
