The Science Granting Councils Initiative (SGCI) is inviting project proposals to support the councils in developing policy frameworks and enabling structures to support science granting councils in funding and managing research and innovation projects.
Through a new Science Granting Councils Initiative (SGCI) partnership with the UK’s Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office and IDRC, the Science Granting Councils Initiative is calling for proposals from organizations with proven experience and track records to support the councils in developing policy frameworks and enabling structures for private sector partnerships.
This project aims to strengthen the capacity of science granting councils to fund and manage research and innovation in areas aligned with their national development plans and priorities. An overarching research framework based on the SGCI theory of change has been proposed to guide the councils and the collaborating technical agencies supporting their work in selecting the proposals to fund.
The framework focuses on potential areas and activities linked to broad research objectives such as) putting research findings into economic and social use, promoting private sector partnerships in research and innovation and enhancing gender equality and inclusivity.
Objectives
The specific objectives could include:
working with the councils to refine/adapt the draft research framework by accounting for their specific needs and interests;
supporting the councils to design and manage high quality research competitions. This could include support to design the calls for proposals and review guidelines and to organize proposal development workshops. The proposal review panels would typically be organized by the councils;
drawing and issuing contracts to be signed by the grantees, councils and the collaborating technical agency. The councils will be responsible for issuing letters of award to successful applicants;
conducting joint monitoring of research projects with the councils, including joint review of progress reports and research outputs. The councils will be the primary recipients of progress reports from researchers;
supporting the synthesis of research results and development of various research outputs (including reports, journal articles, books and policy briefs) and their dissemination for use; and
supporting symposia for researchers funded by this project in collaboration with the councils.
Themes
Theme 1: Strengthen the ability of science granting councils in research management
Theme 2: Strengthen the capacity of science granting councils to use data and evidence in policy and decision-making
Theme 3: Supporting the ability of science granting councils to fund research and innovation
Theme 4: Supporting strategic communications, uptake of knowledge outputs and networking
Theme 5: Strengthen the capacities of science granting councils in gender equality and inclusivity
Funding Information
The budget available for this project is approximately CAD $8,200,000 (all inclusive) for approximately 34 months.
The Science Granting Councils Initiative in sub-Saharan Africa (SGCI) invites project proposals from organizations (including think tanks, institutes, universities and agencies) with proven experience and track records to support the councils in developing policy frameworks and enabling structures to support science granting councils in funding and managing research and innovation projects.
