Global Initiatives Grant

Each year, the Wenner-Gren Foundation funds a small number of initiatives that meet a need not already addressed by our other programs. Global Initiatives Grants help support innovative projects that benefit the discipline as a whole by creating the conditions for anthropologists to do better work. We look for initiatives in which a small amount of money can have a wide and lasting impact, building capacity for the discipline to thrive.

Applicants of any nationality or country of residence may apply. Applicants must have a PhD in anthropology at the time of application and be affiliated with a school or organization that can carry forward the lessons learned through the project. We are eager to receive applications from individuals based in countries, regions, and communities where anthropology is disadvantaged or under threat. Our total budget for this program is modest, so the competition is stiff.

In the past, we have prioritized projects aimed at building capacity by addressing specific themes, including the impact of Covid-19 on anthropology, the struggle for racial justice in the discipline, and the ethical treatment of human remains.

In 2025 we are again promoting capacity building for paleoanthropology in East Africa. Hominin fossil remains from East Africa have played a critical role in the history of the study of human origins.  But individuals and institutions from the region have long been sidelined in paleoanthropology, despite the critical role that local experts, stakeholders, and scholars have played.  In this year’s competition, we prioritize African-led collaborative projects centered in institutions and communities within East Africa that are designed to promote the growth and flourishing of paleoanthropology in this key global region.

Possible projects include:

• Support for workshops and curricula development focused on training paleoanthropological researchers in ethnography and community engagement.
• Support for the development of a strong African infrastructure for African-led research and partnerships on an anti-colonial basis in ways that avoid funding extractive, colonial, “exploration” science.
• Support for African institutional development in the paleosciences to encourage the retention of scholars and reduce brain drain.
• Support for African-led training programs for staff in casting and 3D scanning with an eye toward developing facilities that provide ongoing support for African institutions holding important fossil remains.
• Support for African-led meetings and skill-sharing bringing together institutions from across the region with an eye towards cross training and capacity building in the region.
• Support for field school attendance and curriculum development at the master’s degree level, designed to grow a new generation of East African researchers.
• Support for African-led pilot projects demonstrating novel approaches to community participation and engagement.

Please note that the Global Initiatives Grant is not a research grant; it doesn’t cover research expenses unless these activities are directly in the service of a training program or other initiative designed to build capacity in the discipline. If you are seeking support for research, please consider applying for an Engaged Research Grant, Dissertation Research Grant, or Post-PhD Research Grant.

 

Global Initiatives Grants can be as small as $5,000 or as large as $20,000. Wenner-Gren awards do not include funds to cover institutional overhead or any fees related to the administration of our grants and fellowships.

The deadline for this program is May 15. The application portal opens 2 months before the deadline. Projects may begin as soon as we arrive at our final selection, which is generally by July 15 of the same year.

Doctorates in Anthropology, Doctorates in Related Fields, Independent Scholars