Afreximbank–Edordu Research Competition 2026

Photo: Opportunitiesforafricans

The Afreximbank–Edordu Research Competition 2026 invites postgraduate students across Africa and participating Caribbean states to submit original research on trade, finance, integration, and sustainable development. Ghanaian Master’s and PhD students currently enrolled at accredited institutions are eligible. Prize pool totals USD 45,000 (~GHS 495,000). Applications close September 30, 2026.

What you get

• First prize: USD 20,000 (~GHS 220,000), with support for books and tuition toward further study.
• Second prize: USD 15,000 (~GHS 165,000).
• Third prize: USD 10,000 (~GHS 110,000).
• Your research distilled into a policy brief and presented to Afreximbank leadership at a designated forum.
• Continental visibility across Afreximbank’s network and events.
• Recognition as part of Africa’s emerging trade and development research community.

Who can apply

• Currently enrolled postgraduate students (Master’s or PhD) at an accredited tertiary institution in Africa or an eligible CARICOM state (Antigua and Barbuda, The Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Dominica, Grenada, Guyana, Haiti, Jamaica, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Suriname).
• Hold nationality of an African country or one of the eligible CARICOM states.
• Ghanaian citizens studying at recognized universities in Ghana or abroad qualify.
• Submit original, unpublished research not under consideration elsewhere.
• Paper must address one of the competition’s announced themes: trade, finance, African integration, or sustainable development.
• Paper length: 3,000–5,000 words, excluding references, tables, and figures.

How to apply

1. Prepare a complete research paper of 3,000–5,000 words on one of the competition themes. Follow APA, Chicago, or Harvard citation style.
2. Submit in PDF or Word format through the official competition portal. Papers may be in Arabic, English, French, Portuguese, Spanish, or Kiswahili (translated to English for evaluation).
3. Ensure your paper is original, unpublished, and not under consideration elsewhere at time of submission.
4. Papers are anonymized and scored by the jury on originality, methodological rigor, clarity, development contribution, and relevance to Afreximbank’s operations.
5. Submit by September 30, 2026. Top three authors will be invited to convert their research into a policy brief and present to Afreximbank before winners are publicly announced.

Why this matters for Ghanaians

Ghanaian postgraduate students at all accredited universities in Ghana or abroad are explicitly eligible. The competition directly rewards rigorous policy research on issues central to Ghana’s trade and development agenda, including AfCFTA implementation, trade finance access, and regional integration. Winners gain direct access to Afreximbank leadership and continental policy networks, positioning them at the center of Africa’s economic decision-making structures.

Deadline

Applications close September 30, 2026. The opportunity detail box at the top of this page has the live Apply Now button — it links directly to the official source.

Source

Verified at opportunitiesforafricans.com on April 30, 2026. Always check the official page for any updates before applying.