About
PAST (Palaeontological Scientific Trust) is the largest independent funder of palaeosciences in Africa. Dedicated to supporting those unearthing and exploring Africa’s rich fossil heritage and advancing origin sciences. PAST harnesses the lessons of deep time, the multi-million-year timeline of Earth's biological and geological history, to inform answers to modern challenges, including climate change, biodiversity loss, and social cohesion. Through our research grants, academic bursaries, and technical support, PAST actively builds scientific capacity across the continent. By bridging ancient scientific insight with public engagement and education, PAST believes in Africa’s importance as a global archive of life’s origins and a keystone in the fight for a resilient, sustainable future.
Mission. To grow African leadership in the origin sciences, inspire scientific curiosity in youth, and use evidence of our shared origins to combat racism and promote environmental stewardship.
Focus areas
- Education
- Climate and environment
- Livelihoods and employment
Activities and approach
Approaches
- Direct service delivery
- Advocacy and campaigning
- Research and evidence
- Training and capacity strengthening
- Grantmaking
- Convening and networking
Capabilities
- Consortium leadership
- Technical expertise
- Research and evidence
- Consortium membership
- Policy and advocacy
- Training and capacity strengthening
- Grant management
- Funding or co-investment
- In-kind or professional support
Populations served
- Children
- Adolescents and young people
- Women and girls
Support sought
- Flexible or core funding
- Investment
- Capacity strengthening
- Introductions and network access
- Funding opportunities
Readiness and evidence
3 verified readiness areas
Readiness reflects VICO's review of evidence the organisation has supplied. It is not a compatibility score, and evidence documents are not public.