African Union launches call for research grant proposals

The African Union, with funding from the European Union, has launched the 2018 open call for proposals for the second phase of its research grants, part of the two phases funded under the EU's Pan-African Programme, valued at €17.5 million (US$21 million).

The 2018 call is focused on research in food, nutrition security and sustainable agriculture, and is targeted at scientists and researchers working in national or regional research, or technological organisations or networks, including those working in universities. A total of US$9 million is up for grabs in what the AU says are “research projects that aim to eradicate hunger and ensure food and nutrition security”.

Sizes of grants have been set at a minimum amount of US$500,000 and a maximum of US$1 million, accounting for between 50% and 80% of research project costs, according to the guidelines.

All African nationals are eligible to apply for funding, but must, among other things, be directly responsible for the preparation and management of projects, not be acting as an intermediary, have at least a three-year record in the formulation or implementation of research activities, and be able to “demonstrate their experience and capacity to manage activities corresponding in scale and complexity to those for which a grant has been requested”.

The window for sending in applications, requests for clarifications or additional information ends on 22 May. – Compiled by Maina Waruru.