MUST One Health Small Research Grants 2026: Greater Virunga Landscape
Mbarara University of Science and Technology (SOH-PPR-GVL Project)
Small research grants of up to US$10,000 for graduate students and multidisciplinary teams conducting One Health research in the Greater Virunga Landscape.
Last checked 3 September 2026
This call is closed. The deadline was 12 September 2026. This page remains available for reference.
At a glance
- Funding / main benefit
- Up to USD 10,000
- Deadline
- 12 September 2026, 11:59 PM EATAfrica/Kampala
- Duration
- 12 months
- Location / format
- Not stated
- Career stage
- Master's student, Doctoral researcher, Early-career researcher
- Geographic eligibility
- Uganda, Rwanda, Democratic Republic of Congo
- Call opened
- 18 August 2026
- Deadline
- 12 September 2026
- Proposal review
- 18 September 2026
- Notification
- 1 October 2026
- Grant contracting
- 10 October 2026
About the opportunity
This programme is run by Mbarara University of Science and Technology under the SOH-PPR-GVL project, which strengthens One Health capacity in the Greater Virunga Landscape spanning Uganda, Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo.
It funds small, defined studies rather than large projects. Three award tiers exist: master's students, PhD students and operational or multidisciplinary research teams.
The timeline is fast. The call opened on 18 August 2026, closes on 12 September 2026, review runs 18 to 30 September, notification is on 1 October and contracting on 10 October 2026.
Is this for me?
Best suited to: Graduate students in Uganda, Rwanda or DRC whose thesis work already touches zoonoses, surveillance or preparedness in the Virunga landscape.
Uganda relevance: Yes. The Greater Virunga Landscape spans Uganda, Rwanda and DRC. Confirm the exact geographical and project eligibility rules in the full official call.
Not suitable if
- Your study site or scope falls outside the project's geography
- You need more than 12 months or more than your tier ceiling
- The work is purely clinical or laboratory science with no One Health framing
Methods Bench fit considerations
- Your study sits within the Greater Virunga Landscape scope
- The question is answerable within 12 months
- You fall into one of the three applicant tiers
- Your budget fits your tier ceiling
- The work addresses One Health, zoonoses, surveillance or preparedness directly
Editorial guidance, not an eligibility verdict. Confirm requirements with the funder.
What the opportunity provides
- One Health research at the human, animal and environment interface
- Zoonotic and emerging infectious disease studies
- Disease surveillance and outbreak preparedness research
- Operational and multidisciplinary research by teams
Three categories: 20 grants of up to US$3,000 for master's students, 12 grants of up to US$5,000 for PhD students, and 12 grants of up to US$10,000 for operational or multidisciplinary research teams.
Methods Bench application considerations
The short window. From the 12 September deadline to contracting on 10 October, everything moves quickly, so supervisor sign-off and ethics planning cannot wait.
Proposing a study outside the project's geography, or a budget above your tier ceiling.
- Which tier am I applying under?
- Is my study site inside the Greater Virunga Landscape?
- Can the study finish within 12 months?
- Is my budget within the tier ceiling?
- Do I have supervisor or institutional support in time?
Eligibility checklist
- Applicants: Master's students, PhD students and operational or multidisciplinary research teams
- Geography: Greater Virunga Landscape: Uganda, Rwanda and DR Congo. Confirm exact project eligibility in the official call.
- Duration: Up to 12 months
- Award tiers: US$3,000 master's, US$5,000 PhD, US$10,000 research teams
What to prepare
Required at this stage
- Application as specified in the official MUST call
How to apply
- 01
Confirm your tier
Master's, PhD or research team; each has its own ceiling.
- 02
Check the geographical scope
Confirm the study site falls within the Greater Virunga Landscape as defined in the call.
- 03
Prepare the application
Follow the format and annexes required by the official call.
- 04
Submit by 12 September 2026
Review runs 18 to 30 September, with notification on 1 October.
Sources and verification
Last checked: 3 September 2026.
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