The Africa Research Excellence Fund (AREF) is committed to enhancing the health research capabilities of African scientists who are addressing critical health challenges within the continent. AREF is inviting applications from emerging biomedical and health researchers in Africa to participate in its Essential Grant Writing Skills Programme, an initiative designed to equip researchers with the skills needed to successfully secure competitive research funding.
Programme Overview
The Essential Grant Writing Skills Programme is an intensive, fully online series aimed at empowering early-career health researchers in Africa. Participants will engage in eight 3-hour sessions held over two separate weeks: from October 21st to 25th, 2024, and from December 9th to 11th, 2024. During the six-week interval between these sessions, participants are expected to draft a mini research proposal and engage in peer review activities. This structure is designed to ensure that by the end of the programme, participants will have made substantial progress toward a well-crafted grant proposal.
Target Audience
This programme is specifically tailored for early-career researchers who are actively seeking independent funding and have perhaps already secured smaller grants but have not yet attained the larger grants necessary for advancing their research careers. It is ideal for researchers who are at a pivotal point in their careers where acquiring grant writing skills could significantly enhance their ability to secure funding for independent research projects.
Programme Objectives
The main goal of the programme is to enable promising early-career researchers from African countries to develop the skills required to create compelling research and fellowship proposals that meet the standards for securing international, regional, and national funding. The programme will focus on:
- Defining and communicating a unique research niche: Participants will learn how to effectively express their research focus and articulate its importance.
- Formulating research questions: The programme will guide researchers in crafting clear and impactful research questions that align with funders’ priorities.
- Understanding funders’ requirements: Participants will gain insights into the expectations of various funding bodies.
- Writing in plain English: The ability to convey complex scientific ideas in clear, concise language will be emphasized.
- Developing a proposal’s key sections: Researchers will learn how to structure a proposal, covering essential elements such as project descriptions and budgets.
- Managing collaborations and teams: The programme will also cover strategies for managing research teams and collaborations effectively.
- Preparing for Fellowship interviews: Participants will receive guidance on how to present their research and themselves in fellowship interviews.
What the Programme Will Not Cover
The programme will not address specific tasks such as obtaining research ethics approval, completing individual funders’ application forms, managing intellectual property, or practicing research communication.
Programme Format and Participation Requirements
The programme will be conducted online via Zoom, with participants expected to actively engage in interactive sessions, both individually and in groups. Daily sessions will be held from 08:30 to 11:30 GMT, with corresponding times provided for various African time zones. Participants must commit to attending all sessions and completing additional assignments outside of the scheduled sessions. Failure to attend all sessions will result in not receiving a certificate of completion.
AREF does not provide financial support for equipment, internet services, or any other expenses related to participation in the programme.
Eligibility and Selection Criteria
To be eligible for this programme, applicants must:
- Be citizens of an African country and employed in Africa by a recognized university or specialist research institution.
- Be in the early stages of their research careers, having completed a research doctorate or a medical/clinical qualification plus a research-relevant master’s degree, awarded within the last six years.
- Be actively involved in health research as a significant part of their current role.
- Not have participated in similar grant-writing training before.
- Not already have a significant portfolio of international research grants (defined as a combined value of £250,000 or more).
The selection process will assess applicants based on their research experience, potential to benefit from the programme, and commitment to applying the skills learned. AREF will also ensure diversity and inclusivity by limiting the selection of participants from any one institution and aiming for a balanced representation in terms of gender and language.
How to Apply
Interested researchers must apply via the AREF portal (https://programmes.aref-africa.org.uk/) by creating an account and completing the application form. The call for applications opened on August 2nd, 2024, with a submission deadline of August 30th, 2024, at 13:00 GMT. Applicants will be informed of the outcome by September 30th, 2024.
For any enquiries, applicants can contact AREF through by emailing programmes@africaresearchexcellencefund.org.uk for issues related to portal registration. Other enquiries sent to different AREF emails may not receive a timely response.
Key Dates
- Call Launch: August 2nd, 2024
- Application Deadline: August 30th, 2024, 13:00 GMT
- Outcome Notification: September 30th, 2024
This programme represents a valuable opportunity for early-career researchers to enhance their grant writing skills and increase their chances of securing funding for impactful health research in Africa.
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