The Integrated Research Partnerships for Malaria Control in Africa (IPMA) is a new initiative of IDRC’s Ecosystem Approaches to Human Health (Ecohealth) and Governance, Equity and Health (GEH) programs. 

In March 2010, IDRC will announce IPMA’s Call for Proposals:

• Funding: IPMA Stewardship Grants
• Total Value: CA$1.5 million
• Goal: To build an Africa-wide stewardship network for integrated malaria research
• Recipients: Up to three regional networks in malaria-endemic regions of Sub-Saharan Africa
• Duration: 2.5 years

IPMA
IPMA will support integrated malaria research in endemic regions of Sub-Saharan Africa:  that is research that creates synergies among environmental, health systems, and community-based approaches to malaria control. IPMA emphasizes systems thinking, collaboration across disciplines and regions, multi-stakeholder engagement, environmental sustainability, and social and gender equity.

The Call for Proposals
The Call for Proposals will catalyze the development of an Africa-wide stewardship network for integrated malaria research in endemic regions of Sub-Saharan Africa.  It will address existing, formal or informal networks, each comprising up to three institutions in different countries located in the most affected malaria-endemic countries south of the Sahara.

• Grants will be designed to add value to the ongoing activities of each network member
• Grants will support innovative research and capacity enhancement for networking, advocacy, and fund-raising
• Grants will not fund the start-up of new research programs, clinical research, or intervention trials

Expected Outcomes 
1. Members of the network  will add to and enhance evidence and impacts from integrated research for malaria control
2. Regional champions will build an Africa-wide network for integrated research for malaria control
3. The network will successfully develop a resource mobilization & advocacy strategy 

Criteria  

Applying teams should be led by African not-for-profit institutions (including universities)

Applying networks should have a strong track record in collaborative and effective applied research on integrated approaches to malaria control 

Selection Process 

Teams will be selected upon submission of a short proposal, which will be evaluated by an international review committee.  

Selected teams will be invited to attend a proposal development workshop. The output of this workshop will be a joint full proposal from all teams to collaboratively build a cross-regional IPMA stewardship network.

Further information contact: ecohealth@idrc.ca  

About Canada’s International Development Research Centre
IDRC supports research in developing countries to promote growth and development. The result is innovative, lasting local solutions that aim to bring choice and change to those who need it most.