The Hewlett Foundation has announced prizes of $5000 to educators who have winning ideas about how to make sure that African children are learning the reading, writing and critical thinking skills they need.

The Educational Research Network for West and Central Africa (ERNWACA) is calling for proposals from young researchers, doctoral students, education specialists, administrators living in one of its 14 member countries – Benin, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Cote d’Ivoire, the Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Mali, Mauritania, Niger, Nigeria, Senegal, Sierra Leone, and Togo. ERNWACA will finance 25 studies through its Grant Programme, sponsored by the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Successful candidates will have the opportunity within 15 months to benefit from: A generous research grant for selected teams; Training in research methodology; Training in scientific research; Expertise and supervision of senior researchers with great international reputation; A publication in the ERNWACA young researcher journal; Travel grants to share the findings; Experience from other young researchers coming from African Universities. Interdisciplinary studies which involve specialists with diverse backgrounds or that involve at least two countries will be given preference. Applications from women and young researchers are actively encouraged. The studies must reflect the following themes: Millennium Challenge Goals and Education for African Development; Education and socioeconomic integration (Women and Development); Curriculum Reforms for/and Improvement in Education Quality; Non-formal Education: Islamic “Schools” (i.e. Madrassas and other Koranic School Centres).

The deadline for proposal submission is 15 March 2009.

To access the online version of the call for proposals: