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Participation Support
ABN Annual Conference 2026 — Limited availability | Deadline 31 August 2026

The Africa Bioethics Network is committed to broad and meaningful participation. A small number of partial participation support awards may be available for early-career researchers and contributors from underrepresented contexts, through conference partnerships and sponsorship mechanisms.

 

Overview

Participation support is intended to reduce financial barriers for selected contributors whose participation would strengthen the conference dialogue.

A small number of partial participation support awards may be available to accepted presenters who face significant financial barriers and lack institutional or project-based funding.

Acceptance of an abstract does not guarantee participation support. Support will be limited, partial in most cases, and dependent on available resources.

 

Eligibility

All of the following criteria must be met:

1. Presentation status

  • Abstract accepted for oral presentation, interactive workshop, or story circle

  • Priority will generally be given to oral presentations, workshops, and story circles.

2. Career stage — at least one must apply:

  • PhD student currently enrolled in a doctoral programme

  • Early-career professional within five years of PhD completion

  • Community-based practitioner without doctoral degree but with demonstrated expertise

3. Geographic or institutional context — at least one must apply:

  • Participant from an underrepresented African region — North Africa, Central Africa, Island Nations

  • Affiliated with a limited-resource institution without conference travel budget

  • Community-based organisation or independent researcher/practitioner

  • First-time international conference presenter

4. Financial need:

  • Limited or no access to institutional travel funding for conference attendance

  • No access to research grant or project funds covering conference participation

  • Written confirmation from institution that no conference support is available

  • Evidence that other reasonable funding options have been explored

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Support Packages​

Package A — Registration Waiver + Travel Subsidy

  • Conference registration fee waived

  • Travel subsidy up to USD 300

  • Recipient covers: remaining travel, accommodation, meals, visa, insurance

Package B — Registration Waiver + Accommodation

  • Conference registration fee waived

  • Accommodation for 2–3 nights — direct booking by ABN

  • Recipient covers: all travel, meals, visa, insurance

Package C — Registration Waiver Only

  • Conference registration fee waived

  • Recipient covers: all travel, accommodation, meals, visa, insurance

Support is expected to be partial in most cases and depends on available funding. It is intended to reduce selected participation costs and does not normally cover full conference expenses, visa fees, travel insurance, meals, or costs for accompanying persons.

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Application Process

STEP 1

Invitation Only

 

Participation support applications are by invitation. Invitations may be issued to selected accepted presenters based on contribution to the programme, geographic and sectoral diversity, institutional context, career stage, and available funding.

STEP 2

Required Documents 

 

Participation support applications are by invitation. Invitations may be issued to selected accepted presenters based on contribution to the programme, geographic and sectoral diversity, institutional context, career stage, and available funding.

Timeline

STEP 3

Milestone
Date
Acceptance notifications sent

5–10 September 2026

Invitations to apply for support

25 May 2026

Support applications deadline

31 August 2026

Review period

1–27 August 2026

Support decisions announcement

15 September 2026

Acceptance deadline

30 September 2026

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Support Conditions

  • Recipients will be asked to complete registration by the stated deadline

  • Recipients should confirm travel or participation arrangements within the required timeframe

  • Recipients are expected to engage actively in the conference programme and assigned sessions

  • Timely communication with the Secretariat will support planning and coordination

  • Any changes affecting attendance should be communicated as early as possible

  • Where reimbursement applies, documentation requirements will be communicated directly to supported participants

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​Alternative Funding Sources

If you are not selected or did not receive an invitation, consider:

  • Department or faculty travel grants

  • Graduate student association funding

  • Research funder conference allowances — check grant terms

  • Professional association travel grants

  • National research councils or science foundations

  • Commonwealth, Francophone, or other international scholarly exchange programmes

Contact

For participation support enquiries: conference@africabioethicsnetwork.org

Please include 'Support Query — [Your Name]' in the subject line.

 

Participation support decisions are made through an internal review process informed by programme priorities, diversity considerations, and available funding. Because support is limited and invitation-based, the Secretariat may not be able to respond individually to unsolicited support requests.

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