Applications Call: Regional Training on Scientific and Grant Writing

/ 7 May 2025 / 0 Comments

Opportunity Description

Background

Sub-Saharan Africa continues to face a high burden of poverty-related diseases (PRDs) such as malaria, TB, HIV, and neglected tropical diseases. Despite notable progress, emerging and re-emerging diseases such as COVID-19, Ebola, and Dengue further strain regional health systems. In response to these challenges, the Eastern Africa Consortium for Clinical Research (EACCR3) is committed to building sustainable research capacity to conduct high-quality research and clinical trials in the region.

As a key partner in the EACCR3 consortium, the University of Rwanda plays a central role in building regional research capacity. Through the Mentorship and Training Work Package (WP3), the University of Rwanda is organizing a Regional Training on Scientific and Grant Writing for junior and mid-level researchers actively engaged in PRD research across East Africa.

Objective

The main objective of the training is to strengthen the capacity of regional researchers in scientific and grant writing to enhance their ability to publish high-quality research articles and secure competitive funding opportunities. The training will integrate practical sessions where participants actively work on developing their grant proposals within their respective groups under the guidance of experienced mentors, with individualized support.

Specific Objectives:

  • To enhance participants’ knowledge of the principles and structure of scientific manuscripts.
  • To provide practical guidance on preparing competitive grant proposals.
  • To improve understanding of the grant application process, including identifying funding opportunities.
  • To foster regional collaboration in research and scientific writing.

Training Description

This five-day, in-person training workshop will focus primarily on grant writing, with participants working on active grant calls relevant to their research interests. Each participating group will bring a specific grant call and a research idea, and will develop a grant proposal throughout the training under direct, personalized mentorship.

The training combines interactive lectures, hands-on writing sessions, one-on-one mentorship, peer feedback, and case studies of successful grant proposals. By the end of the training, all teams are expected to have significantly developed their proposals, translating learning into action.

Financial Support

The training is fully funded by the EACCR3 project under the University of Rwanda.

Selected participants from the EACCR3 network (outside Rwanda) will receive support covering:

  • Travel (e.g., flights/transport to Kigali)
  • Accommodation
  • Daily stipend
  • Meals and refreshments during the workshop
  • Training materials
  • Certificate of participation

Rwandan participants will receive the following support:

  • Meals and refreshments during the workshop
  • Training materials
  • Certificate of participation

Application Requirements

  • Applications must be made by a group of 2-3 researchers.
  • Each group must identify an active, relevant grant call to which they intend to respond.
  • The group must have a draft research idea or concept that fits the selected grant call.
  • The research topic must be related to global/public health or healthcare.
  • All group members must commit to attending the full five-day, in-person training in Kigali.

Required Documents for Application

Each group application should include:

  • A brief concept note (maximum 1 page) outlining the proposed research idea and the selected grant call.
  • Curriculum Vitae (CV) of the designated group Team Lead.
  • A signed letter of recommendation from the Team Lead’s Institution, confirming support for the team’s participation for the full five-day training period.

Selection Criteria

Applications will be evaluated based on the following criteria, ensuring a balanced representation from across the East African region:

  • Problem statement (20 points)
  • Research objectives (20 points)
  • Methodology (20 points)
  • Alignment and relevance of the proposed project idea to the selected grant call (20 points)
  • Profile and experience of the team (Team Lead’s CV and concept note) (20 points)

Total: 100 points

How to Apply and Key Dates

Interested teams are requested to complete the online application

  • Application Submission Deadline: 23/05/2025
  • Notification of Selected Participants: 30/05/2025
  • Training Dates: 23 – 27 / June / 2025
  • Venue: Nobleza Hotel, Kigali – Rwanda

Please ensure your application is submitted by the deadline.

Contacts

For any questions, please do not hesitate to contact:

Training Coordinator: Rugamba Rugero Fiacre

EACCR3 Principal Investigator: Prof. Stefan Jansen, PhD

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