Application Deadline: February 14, 2017, 17:00 GMT
Call Budget: USD 100,000
Maximum no. of awards: Seven
Maximum funding per award: USD 25,000
Call Opening date: January 09, 2017, 08:00 GMT
Announcement of awards: March 10, 2017, 17:00 GMT
The U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) is supporting the African Research Network for Neglected Tropical Diseases (ARNTD) through the Coalition for Operational Research on Neglected Tropical Diseases (COR-NTD) with 100,000 USD to initiate the first African Researchers’ Small Grants Program (SGP). Collaboration between COR-NTD and ARNTD, which were both formed in 2013, provides a unique opportunity for a synergistic effort to address emerging challenges facing program implementation in Africa in line with the goals established in the London Declaration. SGP is comprised of two small grant funding tracks:
a. Small grants for junior researchers
b. Small grants for mid-career and/or senior researchers.
This first call for proposals is targeted at outstanding researchers and academics based at research institutions or universities in Africa. Applicants will have to demonstrate that the proposed research or activity is aligned with country/program interests and has potential institutional/individual capacity-building impact. The small grants targeted at junior researchers at the Masters or PhD level will provide up to four 1-year grants, each ranging from USD 5,000-15,000. Three small 1-year grants for mid-career and/or senior researchers will be provided, each ranging from USD 15,000-25,000.
General criteria:
1. Must be currently employed or enrolled as a student by an academic, health, or research institution in Africa for the duration of the grant
2. Must demonstrate having a commitment to NTD-related research as well as the skills and experience required to carry out the proposed work
3. Must be able to provide evidence of research output, including publications and/or presentations at scientific conferences.
Specific to applicants for the junior researchers’ grants:
1. Must be an early career researcher, defined as a basic biomedical scientist, clinically qualified investigator or public health researcher, who has not previously competed successfully as principal investigator for a major research grant
2. Must hold at least a Master’s degree or should be actively enrolled in doctoral studies. Applicants holding a doctoral degree (e.g. PhD, DrPH, DSc) must have graduated no more than seven years ago. Clinicians (e.g. MBChB, MBBS, MD, DVM holders), who have not completed a Master’s degree must have some specialist training (e.g. Membership, Fellowship) or be able to demonstrate relevant research training/experience
3. Must not currently hold positions above lecturer/assistant professor level or equivalent.
Specific to applicants for the mid-career/senior researchers grants:
1. Must be a mid-career/senior researcher, defined as a basic biomedical scientist, clinically qualified investigator or public health researcher, who has previously competed successfully as principal investigator for a major research grant, but is no more than fifteen years from their highest degree of study
2. Must hold a doctoral degree (e.g. PhD, DrPH, DSc). Clinicians (e.g. MBChB, MBBS, MD, DVM holders), who have not completed a PhD must have completed specialist training (e.g. Fellowship) or be able to demonstrate relevant training tied to research (e.g. MSc, MPhil), or experience
3. Must hold a position no lower than Senior lecturer/Senior Scientific Officer level or equivalent
4. Must demonstrate that they have a track record and ongoing commitment to NTD research.
How to apply
1. Access the online application form here, complete all required sections and submit ahead of the deadlinei
2. Email a copy of your budget in Microsoft Excel format to [email protected] with both the file name and subject heading: “SURNAME_Budget_SGP”. Where “SURNAME” is the surname of the applicant
Review of the application will take the following into consideration:
1. The eligibility of the applicant
2. The scientific merit of the proposed project
3. The significance of the research
4. The potential for scaling up the research
5. The overall quality of the application
You may contact the ARNTD at any point during the period when the call is open by sending an email with the subject line “Inquiry_SGP” to [email protected]
For More Information:
Visit the Official Webpage of the (USAID) African Researchers’ Small Grants Program 2017