African Institutions Initiative

Purpose

This scheme is now closed. The details here are for information only.

This initiative aims to build a critical mass of sustainable local research capacity across Africa, through strengthening African universities and research institutions.

Objectives

• Create equitable and sustainable South-South and North-South partnerships and networks between institutions
• Build a critical mass of local research capacity and develop vibrant research environments geared to national priorities across Africa, including universities in the early stage of developing research potential
• Support the human resources and infrastructure necessary for the administrative, governance, financial and management functions needed for institutions to deliver research excellence
• Develop and build leadership at individual, institutional and national levels so countries can better initiate and lead research activities
• Support research leaders to act as beacons and role models to enthuse young scientists to develop research careers
• Strengthen research training and build career pathways for the best and brightest researchers in clinical tropical medicine and health research more generally, including public health research.

Background

There is an urgent need to strengthen local research capacity in Africa, to tackle compelling questions about health and disease vital to enhancing people's health, lives and livelihoods.

In order to enhance institutional capacity to undertake research, we will provide funding to support the creation of consortia and networks; both between higher education institutes (HEIs) and research institutes located within Africa, and between these institutions and UK HEIs. Institutions outside the UK and Africa may also be members of consortia.

We expect the African partners to include a mix of institutions with well-established research activities, and promising institutions that are either developing or renewing their research potential.

We have a particular focus on health research, including biomedical research and public health. Other scientific research areas may also be considered, where complementary to health research.

What's included

This scheme is now closed. The details here are for information only.

Awards are for a ten-year period and will be awarded for five years in the first instance.

A further five years' support is dependent on a satisfactory review in the fifth year.

Eligibility

This scheme is now closed. The details here are for information only.

Awards will be made to consortia. These partnerships may take various forms, from a small group of institutional partnerships to more complex consortia.

We expect the African partners to include a mix of institutions with well-established research activities, and promising institutions that are either developing or renewing their research potential.

Consortia may also include institutions from outside the UK and Africa, where it can be demonstrated that they would add significant value to the partnership.

The centre of gravity for the funding must be in African institutions.

Applications that facilitate the development of partnerships between Anglophone, Francophone and Lusophone countries are welcome. Applications must be submitted in English.

Application process

This scheme is now closed. The details here are for information only.

The deadline for preliminary expressions of interest has now passed. For reference, the application process is described below.

Preliminary expressions of interest are sought from consortia. These should be submitted by email by the published deadline.

The preliminary expression of interest should outline the nature of the consortium, the planned programme of activity and the estimated costs.

The expression of interest should include statements of support from the vice-chancellors of participating universities and institutions.

Where appropriate, it should also include the following key points (these points should be covered briefly, in a maximum of ten pages):

• the strengths and developmental needs of the host institutions in Africa, indicating specifically those institutions that are either developing or renewing their research potential
• the strengths of the scientific/clinical and administrative environments that, where appropriate, the UK or other institution from outside the UK and Africa will bring to the programme
• the strategic importance of the proposal to all the partnering institutions, and how the programme will make a difference in Africa
• a brief CV of the proposed director and deputy director of the consortium, including key publications and brief details of external funding held
• an indication of the level and nature of the host institution(s) support and, where appropriate, UK institution(s) support if the application is successful.

Strong leadership should be demonstrated from the African institutions. We expect the director or deputy director of the consortium to be based at an African university.

Deadlines

This scheme is now closed. The details here are for information only.

Preliminary expressions of interest must be received by 14 February 2008.

Contacts

This scheme is now closed. The details here are for information only.

Please send any enquiries to Jimmy Whitworth: globalhealth@wellcome.ac.uk.