2026 Africa Oxford Health Innovation Programme (AfOx-HIP)

Job Description

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Applications are now open for the 2026 Africa Oxford Health Innovation Programme (AfOx-HIP), a premier initiative supporting African innovators developing transformative health solutions. AfOx-HIP is open to innovations across all disciplines and technologies aimed at improving disease prevention, diagnosis, management, and treatment, including vaccines, diagnostics, therapeutics, medical devices, and surgical tools.

The program prioritizes solutions with high impact potential that can advance healthcare delivery in Africa. Innovations targeting the following areas are especially encouraged:

• Reducing premature deaths from non-communicable diseases in African populations
• Optimising diagnostic and prognostic tests for African contexts
• Developing novel diagnostic tools to strengthen resilience to endemic diseases
• Preventing, diagnosing, or treating zoonotic diseases

Eligibility Criteria

Applicants must meet three levels of eligibility: Applicant, Solution, and Venture.

1. Applicant Eligibility

• Must be a national or have indefinite leave to remain in an African country
• Legally resident and domiciled in an African country
• Developing the proposed innovation in their host country
• Individuals or small teams are eligible; academic affiliation is not required, but a strong scientific or technological foundation is necessary
• Female and under-represented innovators are strongly encouraged to apply

2. Solution Eligibility

• Proposed innovation must be science-based and focused on disease prevention, diagnosis, management, or treatment
• Eligible innovations include vaccines, diagnostics, medical devices, therapeutics, and surgical tools
• Early-stage ideas are accepted in specific categories, while prototype or advanced innovations with scaling potential are strongly encouraged

3. Venture Eligibility

• Ventures must have legal presence in the country of domicile; founders without registered companies are eligible
• Innovations from established businesses, consultancies, NGOs, consortiums, or industrial research companies are not supported
• Student projects such as master’s dissertations or capstones are not eligible

Training Programme

Selected innovators will participate in a fully virtual Innovation and Entrepreneurship training programme, designed for busy professionals. Participants should allocate approximately 8–10 hours per week. The programme includes:

• Entrepreneurial thinking and venture acceleration
• Translational research
• Creative problem-solving
• Business with purpose
• Weekly interactive workshops and collaborative group work

Application Process

Applicants must complete all required steps and submit their applications before the deadline. Incomplete submissions will not be considered. Successful candidates will receive confirmation via email.

Required Materials

• Completed online application form
• Reference letter from an affiliated institution or professional contact
• Visual demonstration of the innovation (up to two-page PDF schematic or design; optional video)
• Disclosure of any potential conflicts of interest

Important Dates

• Application Deadline: 18 March 2026, 23:59 GMT
• Notification to Shortlisted Candidates: 31 May 2026

Applications must be submitted in English.

2026 Africa Oxford Health Innovation Programme (AfOx-HIP) offers African innovators a unique opportunity to gain mentorship, training, and resources to accelerate high-impact health innovations that can transform healthcare delivery across the continent.