Deadline: September 30, 2026
Applications are open for the Afreximbank-Edordu Research Competition 2026. The Afreximbank-Edordu Research Competition invites postgraduate students across Africa and participating Caribbean states to produce rigorous, original research on the issues defining the continent’s economic trajectory: trade, finance, integration, and sustainable development.
The competition honors the intellectual legacy of Mr. Christopher Edordu, Pioneer President of Afreximbank, whose vision shaped the institution’s commitment to African economic sovereignty. Winning research does not sit on a shelf — the top three papers are distilled into actionable policy briefs, presented to Afreximbank leadership, and showcased at the Bank’s major events.
Prizes
- First Prize: USD $20,000
- Second Prize: USD $15,000
- Third Prize: USD $10,000
All winners will receive a certificate and an invitation to present at an Afreximbank event.
Eligibility
- Open to postgraduate students (Master’s or PhD) who are currently enrolled at an accredited tertiary institution on the African continent or in an eligible CARICOM state, and who hold nationality of an African country or an eligible CARICOM state.
- Eligible CARICOM states are: Antigua and Barbuda, The Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Dominica, Grenada, Guyana, Haiti, Jamaica, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, and Suriname.
Submission Requirements
- Submission must be original, unpublished research papers that are not under consideration for publication elsewhere at the time of submission.
- Papers must address one of the themes announced by the competition for the relevant cycle.
- Submissions may be written in any African Union official language: Arabic, English, French, Portuguese, Spanish or Kiswahili and will be translated into English for jury evaluation.
- Papers must be between 3,000 and 5,000 words, excluding references, tables and figures.
- Papers must follow a recognised academic citation style (APA, Chicago, or Harvard) and be submitted as a PDF or Word document through the official competition portal.
Application
- Stage 1 – Submission & Jury Review: Applicants submit a complete research paper of 3,000–5,000 words through the official portal. Papers are screened for eligibility, formatting, and plagiarism, then anonymized and scored by the jury against a rubric covering originality, methodological rigor, clarity, contribution to development, and relevance to Afreximbank’s operations.
- Stage 2 – Policy Brief & Presentation: The authors of the three winning papers are invited to extract an implementable policy brief from their research and to present their findings at a forum designated by the Bank. Winners are formally approved by Afreximbank’s Internal Working Group before public announcement.
For more information, visit Afreximbank-Edordu Research Competition.
