Horizon Europe launches Africa Initiative IV under the 2026–2027 work programme

Africa Initiative IV builds on the results of the first three Africa Initiatives and will cover around 30 calls for proposals targeting joint EU-Africa research and innovation activities. The initiative contributes to the implementation of the AU-EU Innovation Agenda, addressing agreed short-, medium- and long-term actions across priority areas.

The calls under Africa Initiative IV address four joint policy priorities:

• Public Health
• Green Transition
• Innovation and Technology
• Capacities for Science

The initiative is designed to support collaborative research, strengthen research and innovation systems, and expand participation of African organisations in Horizon Europe projects.

Africa Initiative IV continues the approach established since 2021, whereby calls actively encourage, or require, the participation of African research institutions in project consortia. This approach has supported the creation of new partnerships and increased the involvement of African organisations across Horizon Europe.

Previous Africa Initiatives have resulted in a significant number of signed grants involving African partners from more than 40 countries, alongside dedicated EU financial contributions to African entities. Africa Initiative IV builds on this experience, with an expanded thematic coverage, reflecting recent policy and technological developments.

Africa Initiative IV forms part of the fourth Horizon Europe work programme (2026-2027), adopted on 11 December 2025 and published on the EU Funding & Tenders Portal. It complements other Horizon Europe instruments, including the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions and the European Research Council, which support researcher mobility, training and research excellence involving African partners.

Further information is available through EURAXESS Africa, which organises country-specific, regional and thematic webinars on the Horizon Europe Africa Initiatives. Presentation materials, recordings of past sessions and announcements of upcoming webinars are available on the EURAXESS Africa events page.

Find the Africa Initiative IV calls listed below.