What if 2026 was the year your research strengthened grassroots justice across Africa?
Kituo Cha Sheria, in partnership with the International Development Research Centre (IDRC), invites members of the African Centre of Excellence on Access to Justice (ACE Network) to apply for a restricted Call for Proposals.
Deadline: 15 February 2026 | Region: Eastern & Southern Africa
Overview
The Legal Empowerment & Community Power Research Grants support participatory action research that explores how grassroots justice actors—especially community paralegals—build collective power to defend rights, expand civic space, and drive systems change.
The Call focuses on research that is grounded in lived realities, responsive to gender and intersectionality, and designed to inform action, learning, and policy influence.
What the Grants Support
Funded projects will examine:
● Legal empowerment approaches that advance socio-economic rights
● Community mobilization, coalition-building, and paralegalism
● Civic space and enabling environments for grassroots justice actors
Funding Overview
● Grant size: Approx. CAD 400,000 per project
● Project duration: 24 months
● Number of recepients: 2
Where Projects Will Be Supported
● Eastern Africa: Uganda, Tanzania, Rwanda, Burundi, South Sudan, Somalia, Ethiopia
● Southern Africa: Malawi, Mozambique, Zimbabwe, Zambia, South Africa
Who Can Apply
● Open only to ACE Network members
● Applicants must be legally registered and operating in an eligible country
● Demonstrated experience in legal empowerment or access to justice work is required
How to Apply
Applicants should consult the full Proposal Guidelines for detailed requirements.
Submit applications electronically to: [email protected]
Deadline
15 February 2026 at 5:00 PM (EAT)
Please note: Any grant awarded will be conditional upon acquisition of a valid research permit from the relevant national authority.
For full details, download the Proposal Guidelines:
