Application Period: 20^th July, to 23^rd September, 2022.

BACKGROUND

The Government of the Republic of Zambia (GRZ) through the Ministry of Technology and Science (MoTS), administers the Strategic Research Fund (SRF). The Fund is implemented by the National Science and Technology Council (NSTC). The SRF was established to support basic and applied scientific Research and Development (R&D) in identified strategic national priority areas. The Fund is further aimed at enhancing research capacity in Zambia. The NSTC is calling for Research Proposals for funding under the Strategic Research Fund 2022 – 2023 funding cycle.

GUIDELINES FOR APPLICATION

1. RESEARCH THEMATIC AREAS 

Research Proposals must fall within the specified research fields under each thematic area given below. Proposals falling outside these thematic areas and research fields will NOT be considered.

• Agriculture and Forestry
  • Improvement in crop, livestock and fish productivity
  • Agricultural mechanisation
  • Early warning and surveillance systems
  • Climate change mitigation and adaptation

• Agriculture, Water and Environment
  • Green and renewable energy
  • Energy efficiency
  • Water harvesting
  • Green growth and sustainable environment 

• Industry and Mining
  • Material science
  • Digital Transformation
  • Mineral value addition
  • Artisanal and small-scale mining technologies
  • Biodegradable packaging materials
  • Artisanal and Small and medium scale green manufacturing technologies

• Health
  • Supplementation and micro-nutrients fortification
  • Communicable and Non-communicable diseases
  • Disease control and prevention
  • Indigenous knowledge medicine and systems

FUNDING CEILING AND EXPENSES

The overall indicative amount made available under this call is Eight Hundred Thousand Kwacha only (ZMW800,000.00) per proposal, for the duration of the project.

Only ‘eligible costs’ can be covered under this grant. The categories of costs that are eligible and non-eligible are indicated below:

Eligible costs:

1. Research materials and supplies
2. Research equipment and accessories
3. Travel and associated costs
4. Specialised services
5. Intellectual property protection fees
6. Dissemination of results and publications
7. Institutional Administrative cost at 5% of the total budget
8. Monitoring and Evaluation cost at 5% of the total budget

  Non-Eligible costs: 

1. Salaries and Honoraria for the research team 
2. Institutional financial management costs such as audit fees
3. Insurance costs not related to the project.

• PROJECT DURATION 

Successful, approved projects shall commence in January, 2023 and the planned maximum project duration shall not exceed three (3) years.

• ELIGIBILITY 

The Call is open to researchers in public and private R&D institutions and Higher Learning Institutions, that are registered with NSTC in the funding cycle. Individual researchers that are not affiliated to institutions will be required to be affiliated to an NSTC-registered institution. Applications from institutions not registered with NSTC will not be considered.

Note:

• Researchers that are Principal Investigators on ongoing SRF-funded projects are not eligible to apply for funding of another project. However, they can participate as part of the research team.
• The research proposals should be practical and focused towards knowledge generation and problem solving in the identified priority research fields.
• Proposals that demonstrate a strong multidisciplinary and collaborative approach among researchers and institutions in Zambia are encouraged.
• Early career researchers, females and differently abled persons are strongly encouraged to apply.
• HOW TO APPLY

Applications must be submitted via the online NSTC Grant Management System at nstcms.nstc.org.zm. A guide on how to use the system is available on the NSTC website www.nstc.org.zm

Note that applications that are not submitted via the online application system shall not be accepted.

Applicants must read the SRF Guidelines available on the NSTC website for further information before applying.

The closing date for submitting applications is Friday, 23^rd September, 2022.

• EVALUATION, REVIEW AND SELECTION OF PROJECTS FOR FUNDING

Proposals will be evaluated and reviewed by independent experts. Selection of projects for funding will be on merit and priority, taking into consideration the following:

• Scientific merit and quality of the proposed research;
• Evidence of the capacity and capability of the research teams and significant contribution to and leadership in the proposed field
• Demonstration of collaboration, inter and multi-disciplinarity of the proposed research
• Originality, innovativeness of the proposed research
• Potential for intellectual property generation, protection and commercialization
• Potential for human capital development for research and innovation
• Potential to have impact
• Consideration for gender and inclusivity dimensions

Note:

1. Applications that do not meet ALL the requirements stated in this Call and that do not adhere to ALL instructions in the Application Form will not be considered.
2. Proposals will be selected on merit and priority and the decision of the Fund Management Committee shall be final.

For further information and inquiries, contact NSTC on:

Telephone: +260-211-255854, E-mail: nstc@nstc.org.zm or srf@nstc.org.zm

BACKGROUND
The Government of the Republic of Zambia (GRZ) through the Ministry of Science and Technology.
The Ministry of Science and Technology administers the Science and Technology Innovation Youth Fund (STIYF). The Fund is
implemented by the National Science and Technology Council (NSTC). The Fund is aimed at assisting Zambian youths to develop scientific and/or technological innovations, with specific focus on innovations that are relevant to the creation of wealth and employment.
The NSTC is calling for project proposals on scientific and/or technological innovations for funding under the 2021-2022 STIYF cycle.
ELIGIBILITY
Applicants must be Zambians aged 35 years of age or below. Applicants are eligible as individuals or as groups or organisations.
Female youths and differently abled persons are strongly encouraged to apply.
DURATION OF THE PROJECT
Successful and approved projects shall commence in January, 2022 and the planned maximum project duration shall not exceed three (3) years.
FUNDING
The funding ceiling is Two Hundred and Fifty Thousand Kwacha (K250,000.00) per approved project.
APPLICATION GUIDELINES
i. Only scientific and/or technological innovations qualify for the Fund.
For the purpose of this Fund, an innovation is “a new or adapted idea, process, product or service that improves a way of doing something and can be commercially viable for the benefit of society”
ii. The innovations must:
NATIONAL SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY COUNCIL
Page 2 of 3
a. Address some national priority areas highlighted in the Seventh National
Development Plan (7NDP), Vision 2030 or the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs); such areas as value addition to raw materials, engineering, mining, transport systems and infrastructure, water resources, manufacturing and industry, renewable & alternative energy, human and animal health (preferably addressing emerging challenges of COVID-19), agriculture, livestock and fisheries, environment, construction and building, Information and Communication Technology, new and emerging technologies among others.
b. be locally developed or adapted and as far as possible utilising local raw
materials.
iii. Please, note that the Fund does not support business projects; therefore, business proposals such as rearing chickens and livestock, vegetable growing, opening internet cafés, salons etc., will not be accepted.
iv. For more information on the requirement, applicants must read the STIYF Guidelines available on the NSTC website (www.nstc.org.zm) and Facebook page .
HOW TO APPLY
Applicants must fill in and submit the standard Application Form, which is available on the NSTC website (www.nstc.org.zm), or requested for from E-mail: nstc@nstc.org.zm. For the Application form click here.
Applications can also be written in the following format (Only where it is not possible to obtain an Application Form):
i. General Information: This section should include the following: Title of
Innovation/project, Category of innovation (corresponding with the priority areas listed in the guidelines above), Amount applied for in words and in figures, Applicant(s) full names, Sex, NRC or Passport No. Level of education, contact details i.e. Address, Telephone No., Mobile No., E-mail (if applicable). Signature and date.
ii. Details of the Innovation: This section should clearly give details of the innovation by answering the following questions:
a. Explain in detail how the innovation will work (attach diagrams where
applicable) (35 points)
b. Explain how you came up with the idea or where you got the idea from (15 points)
c. What problem(s) in the community/society/country will your innovation solve and explain the benefits (20 points)
d. What raw materials will be required to make your innovation and indicate the source of each of these raw materials (10 points)
NATIONAL SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY COUNCIL
Page 3 of 3
e. Explain how your innovation is likely to affect the environment, whether
positively or negatively. What measures will be put in place to address any
negative environmental effects? (5 points)
f. Explain the economic potential and sustainability of the proposed innovation. (10 points)
iii. Provisional Budget (5 points): (The final budget will be developed with the assistance of an expert from an institution that will supervise your project (the Institution of Affiliation)). The provisional budget should list all items required to develop the innovation and estimate the cost for each item. The budget should include materials, cost of fabrication and other services, operational costs e.g. travel, meetings, communication, etc., Institution of Affiliation Administrative cost at 5% of the total budget, Monitoring and evaluation cost at 5% of the total budget.
A copy of the NRC must be submitted for applicants above the age of 16 years. In the case of a minor, the mentor must submit a copy of their NRC.
Applications must be submitted electronically to nstc@nstc.org.zm or mailed/delivered to:
The Executive Secretary National Science and Technology Council
Curriculum Development Centre Building Haile Selassie Road, Longacres
P. O. Box 51309 Lusaka
The Closing Date for submitting applications is: 22nd October, 2021
EVALUATION, REVIEW AND SELECTION OF PROJECTS FOR FUNDING
Proposals will be evaluated and reviewed by independent experts. Selection of projects for funding will be on merit and priority, taking into consideration the originality, innovativeness and strong commercialization potential of the proposed project.
Note:
i. Applications that do not meet ALL the requirements stated in this Call and that do not adhere to ALL instructions in the Application Form will not be considered.
ii. Proposals will be selected on merit and priority and the decision of the Fund Management Committee shall be final.
For further information, contact NSTC on Telephone: +260-211-255854; e-mail nstc@nstc.org.zm

For the Application form click here.

Please note that the form must be downloaded and filled in by applicants. Then it should be submitted to either nstc@nstc.org.zm or srf@nstc.org.zm via email.