ZAMBIA – GHANA CALL FOR COLLABORATIVE RESEARCH PROPOSALS:

Opening Date: 20th January, 2025
Closing Date: 21st March, 2025

BACKGROUND
The National Science and Technology Council (NSTC) of Zambia and the Ministry of Environment, Science and Technology (MEST) of Ghana are proud partners in the Science Granting Councils Initiative in Sub-Saharan Africa (SGCI). The SGCI is a continent-wide initiative designed to enhance the capabilities of Science Granting Councils (SGCs) in Sub-Saharan Africa, empowering them to drive the development of policies based on evidence and research that can promote sustainable socio-economic development. This collaborative effort is underpinned by support from several renowned international organizations, including South Africa’s National Research Foundation (NRF), the German Research Foundation (DFG), the UK’s Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO), Canada’s International Development Research Centre (IDRC), the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (SIDA), and the Norwegian Agency for Development Cooperation (NORAD).
The overarching goal of the SGCI is to build the capacity of African science and research institutions, enabling them to generate innovative solutions to the region’s most pressing challenges. By improving research quality and enhancing the use of research in policymaking, the initiative aims to bolster economic and social development in the region. The partnership between NSTC and MEST is a direct  outcome of the SGCI framework, with both institutions collaborating to offer a Collaborative Research Grant under the NRF-DFG partnership. This initiative is aimed at fostering research collaboration between Zambia, Ghana, and the broader African region, facilitating cross-border sharing of knowledge, resources, and expertise. This Collaborative Research Grant will support cutting-edge research across a variety of disciplines, focusing on issues that are of critical importance to both Zambia and Ghana. Through this initiative, both countries aim to improve their capacity to conduct high-impact research that can address national and regional priorities, including challenges related to natural resources,
health systems, agriculture, and emerging technologies. The research outcomes are expected to influence public policies and strategies, while also contributing to scientific innovation and economic progress in both nations. The initiative is designed to be inclusive and promotes the active participation of early-career researchers, as well as female scientists, to ensure that diverse perspectives are incorporated into
the research process. By prioritizing diversity and inclusivity, this collaborative effort aims to empower underrepresented groups in the scientific community, creating equal opportunities for researchers from all backgrounds. Through strategic partnerships and the fostering of research excellence, the Collaborative Research Grant will help establish both Zambia and Ghana as regional leaders in scientific
research and technological innovation, playing a key role in achieving the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in the region. Ultimately, the initiative will contribute to the economic growth and prosperity of both nations, while simultaneously promoting Africa’s position in the global knowledge economy.

RATIONALE FOR THE COLLABORATIVE RESEARCH CALL
Zambia and Ghana share common developmental challenges, opportunities, and goals, particularly in key areas of sustainable resource management, health systems, agriculture, and technology. By collaborating on research in these areas, both countries aim to foster economic growth, innovation, and sustainability. Focused on sustainable mining, agriculture, health systems, and space science, this partnership aligns with the national and regional priorities of both countries, which emphasize agriculture, natural resource management, health, energy, and education.
Research in sustainable health systems, including the use of natural and traditional medicine, is essential to both countries’ policies for promoting comprehensive, culturally sensitive healthcare services. Space science research also holds significant societal and economic value, contributing to climate change mitigation, environmental monitoring, weather prediction, and disaster management through technologies like earth observation satellites.
This joint research call offers an opportunity to address national and regional challenges, with research outcomes supporting sustainable development, economic growth, and evidence-based policymaking aligned with both countries’ development strategies.

RESEARCH THEMATIC AREAS OF FOCUS

• Sustainable Mining Practices and Environmental Impact
• Precision Farming for Environmental Sustainability and Economic Transformation
• Emerging Technologies and Development – Space Science Technology
• Sustainable Health and Health Systems: The Use of Natural/Traditional Medicine

ELIGIBILITY
This call is open to researchers from public and private science and technology research and development (R&D) institutions/centers, as well as institutions of higher learning in Ghana and Zambia. Institutions/centers in Zambia must be registered with NSTC. Each research proposal must consist of two research teams, one from Ghana and one from Zambia, with Principal Investigators based in each country leading their respective teams. The Principal Investigators will be the main applicants and will bear overall responsibility for the project, including its technical and administrative coordination, as well as the timely delivery of scientific and financial reports.
Principal Investigators must hold a Ph.D., preferably in a related field to the proposed thematic area, demonstrate prior research experience in the proposed work, and be able to mentor research teams.
The research team must possess significant capacity, capability, and leadership in the proposed field, including the inclusion of early-career researchers. The projects must involve private sector partner(s) in both countries, and confirmation letters of collaboration from these partners must be submitted.  Applications must include letters of support from host institutions in Ghana and Zambia. Proposals lacking institutional support letters will not be considered.

Note: Applicants are responsible for finding research partners in the collaborating country.

PREPARATION, SUBMISSION, AND PROCESSING OF PROPOSALS
Project proposals must be jointly prepared but submitted separately to the respective institutions (MEST and NSTC) in the two countries. Joint proposals must adhere to the provided guidelines. The full proposal template is available on the MEST website at www.mesti.gov.gh. Applicants can access the portal to apply for the grants through the MESTI Online Grants Management System at www.grants.mesti.gov.gh for applicants in Ghana, and through the NSTC Online Grants Management System at www.nstcms.nstc.org.zm for applicants in Zambia. The full application package should include a complete research proposal, a covering letter, letters of support from the Principal Investigators’ institutions and private sector partners, abridged CVs of the Principal Investigators, and all research team members, as well as a detailed work plan and budget.

Submission of Applications
a. In Ghana:
• Applicants must register to apply for the call.
• Applicants must visit the MEST website for more information about the Call at www.mesti.gov.gh.
• Applications must be submitted through the MEST Online Grants Management System (OGMS) at www.grants.mesti.gov.gh.
• Applications not submitted via the online application system will not be accepted.
• A guide on how to use the OGMS is available on the MEST website at www.mesti.gov.gh.
• All attachments uploaded to the Online Grants Management System must be in PDF format, and the budget must be uploaded in Excel format.

b. In Zambia:
• Applications must be submitted through the NSTC Online Grants Management System (OGMS) at www.nstcms.nstc.org.zm. Applications not submitted via the online application system will not be accepted.
• A guide on how to use the OGMS is available on the NSTC website at www.nstc.org.zm.
• All attachments uploaded on the Online Grants Management System must be in PDF format.
The deadline for submission of proposals is Friday, 21st March 2025 at 23:59.
Applications received after the deadline will not be considered.
All applications will be received and processed confidentially, with acknowledgment of intellectual property rights of the applicants.

Processing of Applications
a. A three-tier evaluation and review process will be used as follows:
• Screening of applications.
• Review of proposals in each country, by an equally represented review panel nominated by each collaborating Council, to make recommendations for funding.
• Funding decisions by a Joint Committee of the collaborating Councils.

b. All research proposals will be evaluated and reviewed by independent experts and selected based on their quality and merit, taking into consideration their potential for high impact at the societal level, feasibility within the project timeline, and reasonable cost, as follows:
• Scientific merit and quality of the proposed research.
• Evidence of the capacity and capability of the research teams and their contribution to and leadership in the proposed field.
• Potential social and economic impact.
• Potential for human capital development for research and innovation.
• Consideration for gender and inclusivity dimensions.
• Demonstration of collaboration and interdisciplinarity of the proposed
research.
• Originality and innovativeness of the proposed research.
• Strong innovation/commercialization potential.

c. The review, selection of proposals, and communication to applicants are expected to be completed by June 2025.
d. The decision of the NSTC and MEST Joint Committee will be final.

CONTACT DETAILS
For further information and inquiries, contact the following:
i.
In Ghana:
Cephas Adjei Mensah
Tel: +233 24 488 8566
E-mail:
cephas.mensah@mesti.gov.gh

Wilfred Edem Dennis
Tel: +233 24 327 4389
E-mail:
wilfred.dennis@mesti.gov.gh

Prince James Quarcoo
Tel: +233 54 339 3300
E-mail:
prince.quarcoo@mesti.gov.gh

ii.
In Zambia:
Atridah Mulonga
Tel: +260-211-255854
E-mail:
amulonga@nstc.org.zm

Phica N. Jalabani
Tel: +260-211-255854
E-mail:
pnjalabani@nstc.org.zm

Martin Mayembe
Tel: +260-211-255854
E-mail:
mmayembe@nstc.org.zm

For full call details visit the NSTC Online Grants Management System or contact any of the above.