Research Proposals Under the Open Competitive System

REPOA's capacity building activities for researchers uses two main methods, learning by doing, where researchers undertake research projects, and training via specialised courses.

Under the Open Competitive System researchers are publicly invited to apply for funding for analytical research projects on themes derived from REPOA's research agenda (listed below).

Who May Apply
Junior and senior researchers, representatives from the public, private sector and NGOs.

Individual and joint proposals are acceptable; as well as a joint application from different institutions. REPOA encourages teamwork on the research project to promote inter-disciplinary research.

A non-Tanzania based organisation or researcher would be expected to have well established links with local research bodies or a local researcher. 

Students undertaking a PhD by thesis.

Further information on submitting an application and the evaluation process can be obtained here and you will find this publication useful:

“Guidelines for Preparing Concept Notes and Proposals for Research on Pro-Poor Growth and Poverty in Tanzania ” REPOA Special Paper 07.23

You can download the publication by clicking on the title, or contact REPOA for a copy to be sent to you.

Research Projects Undertaken Under the Open Competitive System
Recipients of REPOA research grants under the Open Competitive System are monitored throughout the project, with specific mentoring provided where it is determined to be necessary. The researchers are required to present their work in progress and draft final reports at REPOA seminars and at REPOA’s Annual Research Workshop and here they receive peer review and feedback from experts. Researchers are also required to hold a feedback session with respondents who participated in the research project.

The draft of the final report is anonymously reviewed to determine if it is suitable for publication under the REPOA Research Report Series.

Recipients of REPOA research grants under the Open Competitive System are monitored throughout the project, with specific mentoring provided where it is determined to be necessary. The researchers are required to present their work in progress and draft final reports at REPOA seminars and at REPOA’s Annual Research Workshop and here they receive peer review and feedback from experts. Researchers are also required to hold a feedback session with respondents who participated in the research project.

The draft of the final report is anonymously reviewed to determine if it is suitable for publication under the REPOA Research Report Series.

Info source: http://www.repoa.or.tz/content/blogcategory/27/57/

Grand Challenges Explorations fosters innovation in global health research. The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation has committed $100 million to encourage scientists worldwide to expand the pipeline of ideas to fight our greatest health challenges.

Launched in 2008, Grand Challenge Explorations grants have already been awarded to 262 researchers from 30 countries.

Open to All Disciplines: Anyone Can Apply
The grant program is open to anyone from any discipline, from student to tenured professor, and from any organization – colleges and universities, government laboratories, research institutions, non-profit organizations and for-profit companies. Agile, Accelerated Grant-Making
The initiative uses an agile, accelerated grant-making process with short two-page applications and no preliminary data required. Applications are submitted online, and winning grants are chosen approximately 4 months from the submission deadline.

Initial grants of $100,000 are awarded two times a year. Successful projects have the opportunity to receive a follow-on grant of up to $1 million.

Step 1: Read the Details
To get started, download and read the Rules and Guidelines document (PDF). It contains detailed information on all aspects of Grand Challenges Explorations. You may need to download Adobe Reader to view PDF documents.

Please also read the Terms and Conditions, and Privacy Policy. Any information submitted by you or on your behalf with respect to the Grand Challenges Explorations Initiative (including your proposal, reports, and any related documentation and communications) will be subject to and handled in accordance with the provisions in these three documents.

Changes to the rules and guidelines will be posted on the Frequently Asked Questions page of this Web site. Please read the current FAQs before submitting any questions or concerns.

Step 2: Read The Topics
Topics are presented for each Grand Challenges Explorations round. Read the detailed topic descriptions on the GCE Topics Overview page and determine which topic best suits your idea.

Step 3: Download the Application Form
Please download the Application Form (click here) for specific instructions on the format and content of your application. All proposals must be written in English.

Step 4: Create an Account, Register for a Topic, and Submit your Proposal
You may create an account using our online Explorations Application Tool.  This tool will enable you to register for an Explorations topic as well as create, edit, or submit your proposal.  After you have created an account and registered for a topic, you can start the online application process. All applications must be submitted through this online system.

• You may create an account at any time

For Round 5 of Grand Challenges Explorations we anticipate completing the review process and announcing our decisions in October 2010. Please do not contact the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation regarding your proposal; we will contact you once the review is complete.

More info available at: www.grandchallenges.org

The SEVEN Fund today published its annual open “Enterprise-based Solutions to Poverty” request for proposals (RFP).

The competition will award up to two (2) research grants of no more than $100,000 each.

RFP funding favors research that has two characteristics. First it aims at supporting research that is foundational, with potentially significant and broad implications for our understanding of how entrepreneurs lift people out of poverty. Second, this unconventional view will enable research that, because of its speculative, non-mainstream, or high-risk nature, would otherwise go unrealized due to lack of funding. SEVEN especially welcomes proposals that are integrative, and recommends that interested researchers see “That’s My Duck: The Case for Integration” by Michael Fairbanks, in "In the River They Swim: Essays on Enterprise Solutions to Poverty from Around the Globe" for more perspective on the importance of integration across domains to inform innovative approaches to poverty.

How and when do we apply?
You enter into the RFP competition by completing an Initial Proposal of no more than three pages, with the PI’s (Principal Investigator’s) CV attached. Submission deadline for this RFP (Initial Proposals) is October 15, 2010.

Only applications submitted online via website will be accepted. That form can be accessed at www.sevenfund.org/submit-loi

If you encounter problems, please contact SEVEN at info@sevenfund.org

Submission deadline for the Initial Letters of Interest (LOIs) is October 15, 2010.

In July 2009 GSK CEO Andrew Witty announced the new Positive Action for Children Fund for community programmes that mitigate the impact of HIV and AIDS on children and their families. The Fund is an integral part of ViiV Healthcare's commitment to communities affected by HIV and AIDS: the company will invest £50 million ($80 million) in the Fund over the next ten years.

The Positive Action for Children Fund aims to support and inform the global effort to alleviate the impact of HIV and AIDS on maternal and child health by supporting interventions that engage affected communities, developing their capacity to participate and lead.

The scope of the Positive Action for Children Fund has been determined following consultations with donors, researchers, NGOs and practitioners, along with the focus of its first requests for proposals.

Below you can find details of how the Fund will work, what types of project will be eligible for funding, and how to apply for grants.

Grant criteria and application
The Positive Action for Children Fund has opened its first Requests for Proposals (RFPs). Proposals should be prepared by following this detailed guidance (Download Requests for Proposals 1 & 2 see the attached document below) and submitted by the deadline, midnight (GMT) on Friday 7th May 2010. This document contains full guidance, a mandatory application form, and a set of answers to some of the most frequently asked questions.

Proposals submitted late, or that do not follow this guidance and comply with its criteria will not be considered. Unsolicited proposals for funds will not be considered.

Later this year we will invite concept notes for projects that fall outside these two Requests for Proposals. But in this first round proposals must focus on one of the following areas:

Focus of RFP1 This first Request for Proposals from the Positive Action for Children Fund is focused on the integration of HIV and sexual and reproductive health services leading to improved access to and continuity of services for men and women at risk of HIV or living with HIV.

All projects should have a strong component of community involvement to ensure demand for these services is generated or increased. Project objectives should contribute to the enhancement and integration of services in WHO’s PMTCT elements 1 or 2, or together: primary HIV prevention; and improved sexual health and prevention of unintended pregnancies.

Focus of RFP2 This second Request for Proposals from the Positive Action for Children Fund is focused on the support of infants, children and adolescents living with HIV and their families within their communities, promoting a family-centred approach.

Projects may focus on one area of need for any subset of this age group or cover a number across the age range, including, but not restricted to: early infant diagnosis; nutrition; support around maintenance of and adherence to ARV treatment; sexual and reproductive health education, services and rights; stigma and discrimination.

Projects that are delivered in conjunction with affected communities and seek to develop continuing capacity in those communities and their organisations are encouraged.

We have tried to provide all the information you should need to prepare your proposal, including a set of Q&A at the end of the guidance, but you may have one or more specific questions you need to put to us. Queries on these two RFPs received by e-mail (positiveactionforchildren@viivhealthcare.com) will be answered as quickly as possible and will be used to update the existing Q&A periodically.

PermalinkInfo source:
www.viivhealthcare.com/access-and-community/positive-action/positive-action-for-children-fund.aspx

Entitled to nominate are specialists and experts in the field of child and adolescent research worldwide.

The Klaus J. Jacobs Research Prize for Productive Youth Development awards outstanding scientific contributions of individuals from all disciplines aiming at the improvement of young people’s development and perspectives worldwide.

All documents pertaining to the nomination should be submitted to the offices of the Jacobs Foundation by 30 April 2010.

Incomplete nominations or documents received after this date will not be considered.

A complete nomination consists of the following documents:

• Completed nomination form
• 1-2 page appraisal of the academic accomplishments of the nominee, making clear what the nominee’s scientific breakthroughs have been, especially with Productive Youth Development, why the nominee deserves the prize more than his or her talented peers, and how the nominee would bring further distinction to the Klaus J. Jacobs Research Prize
• Full list of publications as included in nominee’s CV as well as evidence of his or her scientific leadership (such as direction of a research program, scientific committee, leadership role in a scientific society, and the like)
• Information regarding possible future academic plans, fields of interest, and aspirations of the nominee

* Click here to download the Nomination Form *

Nominations can be submitted by mail or email to:

Jacobs Foundation
Seefeldquai 17
P.O. Box
8034 Zurich
Switzerland
award@jacobsfoundation.org

Permalink: http://award.jacobsfoundation.org/en/call-for-nominations/

Expressions of Interest for the following Themes:

1. Tackling the neglected crisis of undernutrition;
2. Tackling the structural drivers of the HIV epidemic; and
3. Improving mental health services in low income countries

Application:
Click here to download the full Document (Including the Application Form)

Successful applicants at the EOI stage will be asked to prepare a full proposal.

EOIs should be sent electronically only to DFID stating the particular Theme in which the Consortia is Expressing Interest.
EOIs must be submitted electronically in English in formats compatible with the Microsoft Windows XP® operating system (*.doc, *.xls, *ppt, *.pdf etc) marked for the attention of Andrena Craig, to developmentresearchprocurement@dfid.gov.uk by 23.59 on 23rd April 2010.

Each Expression of Interest should be clearly labelled with the title of the RPC you wish to bid for (undernutrition, structural drivers, mental health) and the surname of the proposed Director.

Capacity Building and Technical Assistance for the Tanzania Interfaith Partnership (TIP) Networks and Leaders to Enhance HIV/AIDS Prevention and Community Care in the United Republic of Tanzania under the United Republic of Tanzania under (PEPFAR)

Eligible Applicants Others (see text field entitled "Additional Information on Eligibility" for clarification)
Eligibility: Eligible applicants that can apply for this funding opportunity are listed below:
• Public nonprofit organizations
• Private nonprofit organizations
• For profit organizations
• Small, minority, women-owned business
• Universities
• Colleges
• Research institutions
• Hospitals
• Community-based organizations
• Faith-based organizations
• Federally recognized Indian tribal organizations
• Alaska Native tribal governments
• Indian tribes
• Tribal Epidemiology centers
• Indian tribal organizations
• State and local governments or their Bona Fide Agents (this includes the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, the Commonwealth of the Northern Marianna Islands, American Samoa, Guam, the Federated States of Micronesia, the Republic of the Marshall Islands, and the Republic of Palau)
• Political subdivisions of States (in consultation with States)
• Non-domestic (non U.S.) entity A Bona Fide Agent is an agency/organization identified by the state as eligible to submit an application under the state eligibility in lieu of a state application. If applying as a bona fide agent of a state or local government, a letter from the state or local government as documentation of the status is required. Attach with “Other Attachment Forms” when submitting via www.grants.gov.

Agency Name
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Description
The purpose of this program is to enhance and strengthen the capacity of the Tanzania Interfaith Partnership (TIP) network to provide an effective and sustainable response to the HIV/AIDS epidemic in Tanzania. The program will provide technical assistance (TA) to national faith based organization (FBO) networks operating under the umbrella of TIP. TIP members/affiliates include the National Muslim Council of Tanzania (BAKWATA), the Christian Council of Tanzania (CCT), the Tanzania Episcopal Conference for Catholics (TEC), and the Office of the Chief Mufti of Zanzibar (OCMZ).

Link to Full Announcement If you have difficulty accessing the full announcement electronically, please contact: PGO TIMS grants

Phone 770-488-2700 GENERAL EMAIL SPGOTIM@CDC.gov

Use the following link for application forms: http://apply07.grants.gov/apply/UpdateOffer?id=16342

The SEVEN Fund is sponsoring a global competition inviting discourse on the morality of profit.  During this year long program, we seek to assemble the definitive collection of essays on this topic. Writers are asked to submit essays of up to 3,000 words. Initial submissions will be accepted through February 28, 2010.  SEVEN will award top honors to three essays, with a grand prize of $20,000, a second prize of $10,000, and a third prize of $5,000.  The best pieces will be collected into a manuscript, which is intended for publication, and the program will culminate with an international conference in 2010.

Quick Links to explore more:
• Background
• What are we looking for?
• About S.E.VEN
• Questions & Answers
• Imporant Dates
• Terms & Conditions

Request for Proposals: Establishment of a research consortium to explore the barriers to and potential for eradication of HIV infection.

BACKGROUND AND PROGRAM DESCRIPTION
This RFP solicits proposals for collaborations to explore the obstacles to and strategies for eradicating HIV infection.

Specific areas of interest include:

• Sterilizing cure: i.e., eliminating HIV from the body of an infected person
• Functional cure: i.e., achieving a state of persistent HIV infection without the need for medical treatment
• Characterizing viral reservoirs

Special notes
Please note that this RFP differs from recent ones in the following ways:

• Grants will be awarded to support collaborations, not individual researchers.
• The direct cost maximum is $300,000.
• Funding may be renewable.
• Pre-submission forms and letters of intent are not required.

AVAILABLE FUNDING AND PERFORMANCE PERIOD
Funding will be available for:  Collaborations – $300,000 direct costs plus up to 20% for indirect costs. The performance period for grants awarded under this RFP will be for one year starting May 1, 2010. Funding may be renewable.

APPLICATION PROCESS: For additional details visit http://www.amfar.org/lab/grants/default.aspx?id=8358.

DEADLINES: Application due March 25, 2010

Complete RFP plus all relevant details available online at www.amfar.org/rfp

The A.J. Muste Memorial Institute funds projects which promote the principles and practice of nonviolent social change through grantmaking programs including the International Nonviolence Training Fund (INTF). The INTF was created in 1994 by a group of concerned donors with the aim of specifically supporting nonviolence trainings. (For information about our other grantmaking programs, please see the grants page on our website at http://www.ajmuste.org/ajgrants.html.)

Decisions on INTF grants are guided by the INTF Advisory Committee--composed of several experienced trainers associated with the Muste Institute--and are ratified by the Muste Institute Board of Directors.

Nonviolence trainings seek to help people develop and improve the skills they need to confront systemic injustice through organized, principled, nonviolent action. Trainings promote the exchange of ideas, information, and strategies, through which activists can become more effective at using nonviolent action in their struggles.

INTF GRANTMAKING PRIORITIES

The INTF supports nonviolence training outside the United States, and within Native nations in the US.  

The maximum grant amount is US$3,000.

Projects eligible for support include:

• those which build capacity and leadership among people engaged in nonviolent struggles;
• those which prepare participants for specific nonviolent actions or campaigns;
• those geared to "training the trainers," in order to expand and multiply nonviolence training throughout a targeted community.

Preference is given to:

• projects which involve trainers from the local area or region, where such trainers are available.
• groups which are small, community-based and have less access to funding from other sources.

We also look seriously at gender balance within the training team and for the projected participants.

The INTF does not fund:

• trainings which are geared primarily toward resolving conflicts between individuals, building life skills or job skills, or achieving personal empowerment or economic independence.
• conflict resolution or violence reduction programs which do not directly promote activism for social justice.
• scholarships or other funding for people to travel abroad to attend courses or training sessions.
• trainings with budgets over US$50,000, or organizations with annual budgets over US$500,000.

The Muste Institute can and does directly fund organizations which do not have their own 501(c)3 non-profit tax-exempt status, and/or which are not incorporated. The only time we require a fiscal sponsor is if the organization does not have its own bank account; we cannot issue checks to individuals. If you cannot receive a grant from us directly (with the grant check made out to the name of your organization), please indicate this in your proposal and include information about your fiscal sponsor, including a letter indicating the sponsor's tax-exempt status and some basic information such as a brochure or brief annual report.

WHEN TO APPLY TO THE INTF

The next deadlines for proposals for the International Nonviolence Training Fund are December March 4, 2010; September 3, 2010; and December 3, 2010. Proposals must be received in our office on the deadline day.

The review and decision process takes approximately four months.

The INTF does not consider proposals for trainings which will have already taken place by the time our decision is made, so we urge you to apply at least four to five months before your training is set to begin, especially if you need preparation time for the training after notification of the grant decision.

Groups which receive INTF grants must generally wait two years before applying again to the INTF. (This is so we can expand the number of groups we support, and to encourage groups to look elsewhere for funding.)

HOW TO APPLY TO THE INTF
Please read these guidelines carefully and review our rosters of past grants on our website before applying to the Muste Institute for funding. If you are still uncertain about whether your project fits within our grantmaking priorities, you may contact our office well before the deadline to inquire. If you choose to do this, please start by sending a brief plain text description of your project via email to intf@ajmuste.org — if you don't hear back within two weeks, you are welcome to follow up with another email.

To submit a proposal, fill out completely:
- the INTF Grant Application Form: http://ajmuste.org/INTFGrantApplicationForm.doc

Email the completed form (preferably in MS Word or RTF format) with all required attachments to intf@ajmuste.org with the subject line “INTF:” followed by the name of your group.

NOTE: If you are awarded a grant, you will have to provide a complete financial accounting for all funds received from the Muste Institute, demonstrating that they were used in accord with the grant agreement. This accounting is due as soon as the money is spent or within six months, whichever comes first. If funds from a grant remain unspent after six months, you must submit an updated accounting every six months until the complete grant is spent. This financial accounting should be accompanied by copies of materials produced with Institute funds, and a brief narrative report on the project.