SFA Foundation Executive Director, Prof. Tom KariukiSupported by Wellcome, the Science for Africa Foundation (SFA Foundation) in a significant move towards fostering community involvement and public engagement in scientific research, has announced a USD $600,000 grant. This initiative spans two years, from July 2024 to July 2026, and is targeted at researchers associated with DELTAS Africa II, a program dedicated to advancing scientific leadership and excellence across the African continent.
The grant's primary objective is to enhance the capacity of DELTAS Africa II researchers, enabling them to lead innovative engagement projects. These projects aim to amplify the societal impact of DELTAS Africa's research efforts, championing people-centric approaches to scientific inquiry.
Launched in 2015, DELTAS Africa operates within a multimillion-dollar framework, fostering collaborative endeavours led by African scientists. The program's core mission is to catalyse the development of world-class scientific leaders while bolstering the research capabilities of African institutions.
The newly introduced grant strategically aligns with the SFA Foundation's commitment to bolster the community and public engagement capabilities of DELTAS Africa II researchers. Over the specified two-year period, grantees, including PhD and postdoctoral fellows, alongside faculty members supervising DELTAS Africa II fellows, will embark on innovative engagement projects. These projects are tailored to amplify the societal impact of DELTAS Africa's research and cultivate people-centred research approaches.
To be eligible for consideration, applicants must either be citizens of African countries or be based in Africa. Faculty applicants, particularly supervisors of DELTAS Africa II fellows, are required to hold a permanent or fixed-term contract in an eligible institution, spanning the entire duration of the award.
The SFA Foundation is dedicated to ensuring active public engagement with the research it funds, especially involving communities most affected by challenges in Health, Climate, and Agriculture. However, it is noteworthy that the grant will not support projects focusing on ethical essentials for scientific/health research, health campaigns, or the provision of health information.
Interested parties have until February 29, 2024, to submit their applications. To facilitate a comprehensive understanding of the application process, a webinar for potential applicants is scheduled for February 15, 2024.
Interested applicants can visit here for more details
Photo courtesy / Google
Article by Jed Mwangi
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