The National Research Foundation becomes a full member of the Trans-Atlantic Platform for Social Sciences and Humanities

The NRF was unanimously admitted as a full member of the Trans-Atlantic Platform (T-AP) for Social Sciences and Humanities at the T-AP Forum of 20 September 2023, making it the first African funding body to be admitted as a full member.

T-AP is a collaboration between Humanities and Social Science (HSS) research funders from South America, North America and Europe. It aims to enhance the ability of funders, research organisations and researchers to engage in transnational research collaboration. T-AP works to identify common challenges and promote a culture of collaboration in HSS research by offering joint research calls in areas of strong potential for international collaboration, facilitating the formation of networks, and promoting interdisciplinarity. T-AP also strives to heighten awareness of the social sciences and humanities’ role in addressing the 21^st century challenges.

In 2021, the NRF was invited to join the T-AP COVID-19 Recovery, Renewal and Resilience in a Post-Pandemic World (RRR) Call and thus gained observer status. The NRF is part of the currently open T-AP Research Call on Democracy, Governance and Trust (DGT) and is committing funds to support South African researchers.  

Full membership to the T-AP will strengthen South Africa’s efforts to position the Humanities and Social Sciences as strategic knowledge areas to advance national development. Through this membership, South Africa will be able to continue expanding social science research networks across Africa and thereby strengthen research initiatives on the continent in these research areas. This will also create an opportunity to broaden the reach of the Trans-Atlantic platform to the African region.

Below is the link to the T-AP Research Call on Democracy, Governance and Trust (DGT)