If you’re an early-career researcher in Africa focused on health-related challenges, this opportunity could be the boost your career needs.
The Africa Research Excellence Fund (AREF) is calling on emerging biomedical and health researchers to apply for its Essential Grant Writing Skills Programme.
This fully online training is designed to equip you with the skills needed to write compelling research proposals and secure critical funding for your projects.
Program Overview
The programme is set to run over two months, with eight interactive sessions, each lasting three hours.
The sessions will be split into two parts: one beginning on March 17, 2025, and the other starting on May 5, 2025.
Between the two parts, there will be a six-week break during which you’ll write a mini-proposal and participate in peer review activities to improve your proposal-writing skills.
This is an intensive course that aims to help you make real progress toward developing a full-fledged grant proposal by the end of the series.
Keep in mind that the programme will require your full commitment, including additional work outside of the live sessions.
Who Should Apply?
The programme is tailored for health and health-related researchers who are actively looking for independent funding.
Ideal applicants will likely have secured smaller grants but haven’t yet reached the level of securing major funding.
The training will be most beneficial to those in the early stages of their research careers, with a focus on African countries facing significant health challenges.
What You’ll Learn
This comprehensive training covers essential aspects of successful grant writing, helping you to develop your research proposal from start to finish. Topics include:
- Defining your unique research niche and expressing it effectively
- Formulating a compelling research question
- Understanding what funders are looking for
- Writing in plain, accessible English
- Structuring different sections of a proposal
- Crafting a strong Case for Support/Project Description
- Budgeting and project planning
- Managing collaborations and research teams
- Preparing for fellowship interviews
- Understanding and practicing peer review
Eligibility Criteria
To apply for the programme, applicants must meet the following conditions:
- Be a citizen of an African country.
- Be in the early stages of their research career, having completed their research education.
- Hold a research doctorate (PhD/DPhil/MD) awarded within the past six years, or a medical/clinical qualification plus a relevant Master’s degree, both awarded within the last six years (on or after January 1, 2019).
- Be employed at a recognized university or research institution in Africa.
- Not have previously participated in equivalent grant-writing training.
- Be actively involved in health research in their current role.
- Not have a significant portfolio of international research grants (totaling £250,000 or more).
Selection Process
Applicants will be evaluated based on:
- Their research experience and achievements as emerging researchers.
- How they plan to use the training to develop their research career and address key health challenges in Africa.
- Their plans to share the knowledge gained with others, ensuring the skills are passed on within their community.
- Proficiency in English, as the programme is conducted in this language.
Application Deadline
The deadline to apply for the programme is January 8, 2025.
If you meet the eligibility criteria and are ready to take the next step in your research career, be sure to submit your application before this date.