AFRO-NETS> Research Capacity Strengthening Programme Grants

[Dieter Neuvians MD <neuvians@mweb.co.za>]

Research Capacity Strengthening Programme Grants
------------------------------------------------
 
Call for Letters of Intent - 2004
 
Deadline: 15 July 2003
Source: tdr-scientists@who.ch
 
The UNDP/ World Bank/ WHO Special Programme for Research and Training 
in Tropical Diseases (TDR) supports long-term institutional capacity 
building projects for research in tropical diseases in the least de-
veloped countries (LDCs) [http://www.unesco.org/ldc/list.htm] and in 
other low income and high disease-burden countries with limited ca-
pacity for research .
 
Research Capability Strengthening (RCS) is a cross-cutting and multi-
disciplinary area of TDR established to promote and fund research 
training and institution development, and to increase the participa-
tion of developing countries in the development and use of new tools 
for the diagnosis, treatment, prevention and control of communicable 
diseases.
 
The RCS mission is to foster self-reliance in biomedical and social 
science research in disease-endemic, developing countries (DECs) by 
building a critical mass of human resources, increasing institution 
capacity, and creating a conducive environment able to respond to 
public health research needs.
 
RCS activities aim to contribute to the definition of research pri-
orities, conduct of research, and translation of results into evi-
dence-based health policy. This can be ensured by increasing access 
to, and use of, new scientific knowledge by DECs through modern in-
formation and communication technologies. The core of the RCS strat-
egy is to create partnerships, increase networking, and promote equal 
opportunities, ensuring a gender and geographically balanced genera-
tion of scientists. The RCS Strategy 2002-2 005 is available at 
http://www.who.int/tdr/publications/publications/rcs-strategy.htm
 
The Programme Grant will support long-term proposals for institu-
tional, development programmes designed to foster research capacity. 
The grant will provide support to develop leadership in research, 
scientific expertise in biomedical and/or social sciences, managerial 
skills, and institutional infrastructure. The support is expected to 
facilitate access to training opportunities and scientific informa-
tion, and improve communication systems. The programme grant also 
fosters opportunities for collaboration with scientists and institu-
tions in more advanced developing countries and industrialized coun-
tries.
 
The RCS staff will assist in the development of proposals which will 
be reviewed on the basis of a sound, scientific institutional devel-
opment plan, relevant research project(s) and explicit expected out-
comes. Successful research proposals will address areas on the inter-
face between laboratory-oriented research and applied field research, 
with the aim of extending, where possible, research findings into 
policy and practice.
 
Funding
 
Selected proposals will be funded for an initial period of three 
years, subject to annual reviews and satisfactory progress, with an-
nual budget up to US$ 50,000. The funding level for each year should 
be fully justified according to the activities proposed. Long-term 
support will be considered on a case-by-case basis for successful 
projects which have a high-impact potential.
 
Application
 
Proposals for a Programme Grants will initially be selected from Let-
ters of Intent. A 3-5-page letter of intent should provide a brief 
outline of the institutional development plan highlighting its poten-
tial scientific contribution and relevance to reducing the burden of 
disease. A description of the technical and operational feasibility, 
interaction/collaboration with control programmes, as well as team 
and research capacity-building perspectives are necessary for the re-
view. A one page summary CV of the Principal Investigator and a sup-
porting letter from the Institution Director. An external panel will 
select the most promising letters to be invited to prepare full pro-
posals for RSG consideration. TDR will assist in the development of 
final proposals.
 
The following content is suggested for the letter of intent:
 
- Brief description of Institution(s) mandate, structure, staff, cur-
rent activities, research experience
 
- Summary description of a 5-year development plan for institu-
tion/group research strengthening: overall goal, objectives, areas to 
be developed/expected results, list of activities
 
- Outline of proposed research project(s): PI, title, objectives, ra-
tionale, and overall design
 
- Individual and group training activities planned: disciplines, 
level and place
 
- Relationship with any ongoing programme, research project, external 
funding
 
- Research team/institutions involved and collaborators
 
- Proposed budget breakdown (individual training will be budgeted 
separately by WHO/TDR standards)
 
- Additional sources of support for the proposal, either matching 
funds or in kind support
 
How to Apply
 
Applications will be accepted by email only. Please e-mail your let-
ter of intent to mailto:rcstdr@who.int . The letter of intent should 
be marked, "Programme Grant 2004". Where required, the TDR secre-
tariat and external consultants will provide assistance to ensure 
proposals with a clear plan of research, capacity building component, 
and including timelines, milestones, and indicators.
 
Deadline for submission of letters of intent: 15 July 2003 
Letter of intent should be sent by e-mail only to: <rcstdr@who.int>
 
--
Dr Fabio Zicker, Coordinator
Research Capability Strengthening
UNDP/World Bank/WHO Special Programme for
Research and Training in Tropical Disease (TDR)
World Health Organization
1211 Geneva 27
Switzerland
Fax: +41-22-791-4854
mailto:rcstdr@who.int
http://www.who.int/tdr
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