If you are an Arab scholar, researcher, or social activist with a passion for studying how artificial intelligence is changing our world, this is an opportunity you cannot afford to miss. The Arab Council for the Social Sciences (ACSS) has officially launched the 10th Cycle of its Small Grants Program (SGP) — and this round is dedicated to a topic that could not be more relevant right now: “Artificial Intelligence: Technology, Society and Learning in the Arab Region.”
With funding of up to USD 4,000 per researcher, a clear and structured 8-month timeline, and support from the prestigious Ford Foundation, this grant is designed to fuel serious, original research on how AI is reshaping Arab societies, economies, education systems, and governance. Whether you are a junior academic just starting your research career or a seasoned professor with years of fieldwork behind you, the ACSS SGP Cycle 10 is worth your full attention.
Read on for everything you need to know about eligibility, funding, the application process, and deadlines.
🎓 Grant Overview
The Arab Council for the Social Sciences (ACSS) is a pan-Arab, independent, regional organization based in Beirut, Lebanon. Established to strengthen social science research across the Arab world, the ACSS runs several competitive grant and fellowship programs each year. The Small Grants Program (SGP) is one of its most accessible and impactful offerings — designed to support both emerging and established researchers with targeted funding for specific research projects.
This tenth cycle builds on a growing focus on technology and society, with a particular emphasis on artificial intelligence and its far-reaching effects across the Arab region.
| Detail | Information |
| 🏛️ Organization | Arab Council for the Social Sciences (ACSS) |
| 💰 Grant Amount | Up to USD 4,000 per individual |
| 🌍 Region of Focus | Arab Region (League of Arab States) |
| 🎯 Theme | AI: Technology, Society & Learning |
| ⏳ Grant Duration | 8 months (Oct 2026 – May 2027) |
| 🗓️ Application Deadline | July 14, 2026 |
| 🌐 Official Website | theacss.org |
🎓 Grant Benefits & Funding
This is a research grant, not a traditional scholarship — which makes it ideal for researchers who already have a project idea and need financial support to execute it. Here is what the funding covers:
- 💵 Up to USD 4,000 per individual researcher
- ✈️ Fieldwork expenses including travel, accommodation, and transportation related to research
- 🛠️ Research equipment and supplies
- 🧑🏫 Consultation fees for project development
- 💼 Stipend for the principal investigator and research assistant (combined maximum of 25% of budget, i.e., up to $1,000)
- 🗣️ Free travel and participation at the 8th ACSS Conference (Spring 2027) — covered directly by ACSS
- 📄 Publication support through the ACSS Working Papers Series (peer-reviewed)
Up to six grantees will be selected in this second cycle of the AI-themed SGP.
⚠️ Note: The budget cannot be used for conference registration fees or participation in external workshops.
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🎓 Research Theme — Why Artificial Intelligence?
The ACSS has chosen AI as the central theme because of its sweeping impact across every dimension of Arab societies. This program encourages researchers to explore topics including but not limited to:
- 🏛️ The political economy of AI and how it is governed in Arab countries
- ✊ AI’s growing influence on civil society and social movements
- 👷 The effect of AI on the labor market and employment in the Arab world
- 📚 The role of AI in education, learning, and academic systems
- 👦 AI’s impact on youth development, communication, and online networks
- ⚖️ The ethics of AI — moral and social questions around AI applications
- 🤝 How increased AI adoption is reshaping social relationships and community structures
This is an exciting and underexplored space in Arab academic research. Scholars who get in early on this topic stand to make a significant contribution to a growing global conversation.
🎓 Eligibility Criteria
Nationality
This grant is open to:
- ✅ Citizens of any Arab country (a member of the League of Arab States)
- ✅ Refugees and/or stateless individuals from Arab countries residing in the Arab region
- ✅ Arab researchers living outside the Arab region who hold Arab citizenship
- ✅ Individuals outside the Arab region who carry a non-Arab passport but are originally from an Arab country
Priority in selection is given to applicants residing within the Arab region.
Academic & Professional Qualifications
The ACSS SGP targets two groups:
For Scholars:
- Must hold a PhD degree in the social sciences or humanities
- Degree must be obtained (not in progress) at the time of application
- Degree can have been earned inside or outside the Arab region
For Activists:
- Must have more than 5 years of work experience in their relevant field
- Must hold at least a Master’s degree in the social sciences or humanities
- Degree must be obtained at the time of application
Disciplinary Focus
The grant is open to all social sciences and humanities disciplines including: anthropology, sociology, political science, economics, history, psychology, philosophy, literary studies, art history, as well as allied fields such as law, education, media studies, gender studies, public health, urban studies, cultural studies, and development studies.
🎓 Who Should Apply — and Who Should Not
✅ You SHOULD apply if you:
- Are of Arab origin (citizen, refugee, or from an Arab country)
- Hold a PhD or Master’s degree in social sciences/humanities
- Have a concrete research idea related to AI, technology, and Arab society
- Want to publish in peer-reviewed academic outlets
- Are able to complete the project within an 8-month period
- Can attend the ACSS Conference in Spring 2027
❌ You should NOT apply if you:
- Do not have Arab citizenship, origin, or affiliation
- Are still completing your undergraduate or Master’s degree (PhD required for scholars)
- Have less than 5 years experience as an activist without a Master’s degree
- Plan to use the budget for conference travel or external workshop fees
- Are not prepared to submit a full working paper for peer review
🎓 Required Documents
To apply, you must first create an account on the ACSS Applications Platform at acss.grantplatform.com. Once registered, prepare the following documents:
- ✅ Detailed CV with academic qualifications and list of publications (with online links if available)
- ✅ One-page cover letter explaining your research purpose, and a paragraph specifically about your experience and knowledge of AI
- ✅ Valid proof of nationality (passport or national ID); non-Arab passport holders must show evidence of Arab origin
- ✅ Research proposal (5 single-spaced pages + title page) — all proposals will be checked for plagiarism
- ✅ Copy of your Master’s or PhD degree certificate
- ✅ Completed Project Timeline and Outputs Form (available on the ACSS website)
- ✅ Completed Project Budget Request Form (Excel format, available on the ACSS website)
⚠️ Proposals may be submitted in Arabic, English, or French. The ACSS strongly discourages using AI tools to write the proposal — they value original thinking in your own words.
🎓 Application Process — Step by Step
- Review FAQs and Checklist — Download both documents from the ACSS website before starting
- Create Your Account — Register on the ACSS grant platform at acss.grantplatform.com
- Prepare Your Proposal — Write a 5-page research proposal following the official template (includes background, research questions, theoretical framework, literature review, methodology)
- Complete Budget and Timeline Forms — Be realistic and specific; the committee reviews each budget individually
- Upload All Required Documents — Ensure nothing is missing; incomplete applications will not be considered
- Submit Before July 14, 2026 — Late submissions will not be accepted
🎓 Important Dates
| Milestone | Date |
| 📅 Application Opens | April 14, 2026 |
| ⏰ Submission Deadline | July 14, 2026 |
| 🎤 Interviews with Shortlisted Applicants | First week of September 2026 |
| 📢 Results Announced | Second week of September 2026 |
| ✍️ Contract Signing | September 2026 |
| 🔬 Grant Period Begins | October 2026 |
| 📊 Progress Workshop | February 2027 |
| 🎓 ACSS Conference Presentation | Spring 2027 |
| 📄 Final Reports & Outputs Due | June 2027 |
🎓 Selection Process
Applications are reviewed by a multidisciplinary Selection Committee made up of distinguished Arab scholars with strong academic and research credentials. The committee evaluates proposals based on:
- 🔍 Contribution to knowledge — originality, significance, and quality
- 📋 Feasibility — realistic timeline and appropriate methodology
- 🎓 Applicant’s competence — academic credentials and publications
- 📝 Expected outputs and planned publications
Shortlisted applicants will be invited to an online interview before final decisions are made. Unsuccessful applicants will not receive specific feedback on rejection reasons.
🎓 Why Apply for the ACSS Small Grants Program?
This grant punches well above its dollar value. Here is why it matters:
- 🌍 Region-Specific — Dedicated to the Arab world, making your research directly relevant and impactful
- 🤖 Future-Focused Theme — AI and society is one of the fastest-growing research areas globally
- 📰 Publication Pathway — Guaranteed route to publishing in the ACSS Working Papers Series, a peer-reviewed academic publication
- 🌐 Conference Platform — You will present your research at the 8th ACSS Conference, with full travel costs covered
- 🔗 Ford Foundation-Backed — Internationally recognized funding source that adds credibility to your profile
- ✅ Accessible to Early-Career Researchers — Junior scholars are explicitly welcomed, not just senior academics
- 🗣️ Multilingual — Apply in Arabic, English, or French
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🎓 Official Source & How to Apply
Submit your application through the official ACSS grant portal:
🌐 Official Page: theacss.org/about-grants-fellowships/sgp-cycle-10-call-for-applications 🖥️ Application Portal: acss.grantplatform.com 📧 Grant Inquiries: grants@theacss.org 💻 Technical Issues: alam@theacss.org 📍 Address: Alamuddin Building, John Kennedy Street, Ain El Mreisseh, Beirut, Lebanon
🎓 Grant Summary
| Field | Details |
| Program | ACSS Small Grants Program — Cycle 10 |
| Theme | AI: Technology, Society & Learning in the Arab Region |
| Grant Amount | Up to USD 4,000 |
| Number of Grantees | Up to 6 |
| Grant Duration | 8 months |
| Open to | Arab citizens, refugees, diaspora |
| Degree Required | PhD (scholars) / Master’s + 5 yrs exp. (activists) |
| Application Deadline | July 14, 2026 |
| Funded By | Ford Foundation |
| Official Website | theacss.org |
Do not let this deadline slip by. Opportunities that specifically fund Arab researchers on cutting-edge topics are rare — and this one comes with publication support, conference access, and a globally respected funder behind it.
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