SOUTH AFRICA- KENYA JOINT SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY RESEARCH COLLABORATION FIFTH JOINT CALL FOR PROPOSALS – 2016

                              

SOUTH AFRICA- KENYA JOINT SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY RESEARCH COLLABORATION

FIFTH JOINT CALL FOR PROPOSALS – 2016

APPLICATION PERIOD: 22 MARCH 2016 TO 16 MAY 2016

A MAXIMUM OF TEN (10) JOINT PROJECTS WILL BE FUNDED FOR THIS CALL

Background

The Government of Kenya and the Republic of South Africa signed an Agreement for cooperation in science and technology in August 2004. The two countries have decided to jointly support researchers from public universities and public research institutes on an equal and mutually beneficial basis in an effort to enhance scientific and technological cooperation between the two countries. The National Research Foundation (NRF) of South Africa and the National Commission for Science, Technology & Innovation (NACOSTI) of Kenya are pleased to announce the launch of the fifth joint call for joint research projects in the priority areas below.

Areas of cooperation

Joint research proposals can be submitted in the following areas of cooperation prioritised by South Africa- Kenya collaboration:       

·         Agricultural sciences;

·         Biological Sciences;

·         Health;

·         Environmental sciences; and

·         ICT

Aims of the programme

• To collaborate on research projects selected within joint calls for proposal;
• To contribute to scientific advancement in both countries through the funding of joint research activities in specified research fields;
• To provide an opportunity for young researchers in the two countries to engage;
• To support the advancement of research; and
• To contribute meaningfully to research capacity development.

In terms of human capital development, South African applications from previously disadvantaged researchers are encouraged, as is the involvement of historically disadvantaged higher education institutions.

Duration of projects

The projects will be supported for a period of three (3) years.

Who may apply?

 An application must designate two principal investigators, one in South Africa and the other in Kenya, both in possession of a PhD, who will bear the main responsibility for the project, including its technical and administrative coordination as well as scientific and financial reporting. The onus is on the applicant to find their own research partner.

South Africa:

This call is open to fulltime researchers residing in South Africa and affiliated with a recognised higher education or research institution such as a university, university of technology or science council. The Commercial institutions and private education institutions are not eligible to apply under this programme.

Kenya:

The lead Kenyan applicants should be scientists/ faculty members from qualified institutions including public universities and research institutions, science councils, and licensed private universities or private research institutions.

A multi-institutional/ consortia approach will be preferred. Participation of an industry partner on both sides will be encouraged. However industry is expected to meet their participation costs in the project.

How do I apply?

The joint research project proposals shall be submitted to the relevant competent authorities in both countries for evaluation (the National Research Foundation in South Africa and the National Commission for Science, Technology & Innovation (NACOSTI) in Kenya.

In South Africa

South African applicants can apply by following the steps below:

·         Applications must be submitted electronically to the NRF on the NRF Online Submission System at https://nrfsubmission.nrf.ac.za/

·         Register/Login using your ID number and password.

·         Go to “My Applications” and select “Create Application”.

·         Select the call for which you are applying for: South Africa-Kenya Joint Science and Technology Research Programme Call for Project Proposals 2016.

·         Complete all compulsory sections applicable to you. Please attach the required documents in PDF format in the following order: CV of partner, budget of partner and the signed page of the partner.

·         Remember to submit your application on completion.

·         Complete applications will go to the host institutions for verification before being forwarded to the NRF for further processing.

·         Incomplete applications will not be considered.

·         Applications that do not meet the eligibility criteria will not be considered.

·         Please contact your research office or Designated Authority if you have any queries.

Please note:

Applications submitted outside the NRF Online Submission System will not be accepted. No hard copies will be accepted and will automatically be disqualified by the NRF. Only applications endorsed by the research office or its equivalent at higher education or research institutions will be accepted.

In Kenya

·         Application forms for proposal submission may be obtained from the NACOSTI website (www.nacosti.go.ke).

·         Electronic copies of the complete application form together with the signature page must be emailed to (research@nacosti.go.ke)

·         Signatures may either be signed electronically or scanned.

Proposals must be received in both South Africa and Kenya. Proposals which have only been received in either South Africa or Kenya, but not both countries, will not be considered for funding.

The call process is highly competitive; therefore submission of an application does not guarantee funding. The availability of funds and the evaluation of applications from both countries should be positive for them to be considered for funding. Both the NRF and the NACOSTI will not be held responsible for non-submission, non-administration or no evaluation of the application in the partner country.

Which activities may I apply for?

The purpose of this call is to support the research projects and mobility of researchers, scientists, postgraduate students between the two countries.  Funding will be made available for the following joint research activities undertaken as part of the joint research project:

• Support for research expenses: Expenditure by project team in their country would be borne by the respective country, i.e., NACOSTI in Kenya would support expenditure on Kenyan side of the project whereas NRF would meet the expenditure of South African side. A maximum of 15% of the budget may be allowed for small equipment.
• Support for Exchange visit component: In the case of meetings, research visits and exchanges of scientists, personnel and experts, as well as reciprocal visits undertaken as part of joint research projects and the attendance of seminars, symposia and other meetings funded under this agreement, the sending side will be responsible for financing international travel, visas, and medical insurance, while the receiving party will be responsible for financing the accommodation and subsistence of their international partners.

Local travel and fees relating to the organisation of events (venue, catering, audio-visual equipment etc.) will be the financial responsibility of the host investigator which is to be paid from his / her allocation of the joint funding.

Eligible costs

The following will NOT be funded from this joint Grant:

• Consultant’s fees
• Educational expenses (scholarships and/or bursaries, etc.)
• Large equipment
• Project management fees
• Salaries and temporary staff fees.

All other expenses, including operational running costs and research materials, may be financed from the allocation accorded in terms of this call. Should the allocated funds allow – researchers may also make use of these for joint publication costs.

Funding modalities

Funding will be available for a maximum of three (3) years collaborative research projects jointly developed and completed by researchers on both sides. In both countries, all the approved projects will get funding support from the two parties in terms of the cost of activities mentioned above. Apart from the financial support from the two parties, institutions and universities in both countries are encouraged to solicit other funding resources.

How much should I apply for?

South Africa

The total amount applied for from the NRF should not exceed R400 000. Funding will be made available for a maximum of three years, to be paid in annual installments as would have been indicated on the application and exclusively for research activities commencing in 2017.

Kenya

In Kenya, projects will be funded up to a maximum amount of Ksh. 3,000,000 Kenyan Shillings over three years to be paid in annual installments subject to satisfactory progress report.

Researchers should therefore note that two separate budgets would be required; one from each side. Note that a commitment to both scientific and financial reporting on the project following its completion is an obligatory condition of funding. Please also note that the requested amounts do not necessarily imply that this amount will be awarded upon selection for funding.

Please do take note that:

• you will be funded only for the activities within the scope of the guidelines should you be successful;
• only a maximum of ten (10) joint projects will be funded for this call; and
• scientific and financial reporting on the project is an OBLIGATORY condition of funding in subsequent years.

How are applications evaluated?

Following the closing date indicated below, applications will be submitted to both a postal and a panel review. The panel will include recognised local experts in the various fields of research represented by the proposals received.  The experts will evaluate each proposal based on the following criteria:

• Relevance to the call, added value expected from the bilateral research collaboration
• Scientific quality and innovativeness of the joint research plan
• Feasibility of the joint research plan
• Competence and expertise of the principal investigators and scientists/research teams concerned
• Possible impact of the research:

                                        i.            industrial development;

                                       ii.            technology capacity building;

                                      iii.            science and technology human resources development;

                                      iv.            possible commercialization of research results;

                                       v.            social challenges.

• Potential for promoting equity and redress / capacity building
• Student involvement

Particular emphasis is to be placed on the training of students and young researchers achieved through research and the transfer of knowledge and know-how aimed at socio-economic community development. The integration of young researchers and students, and the exchange of post-doctoral researchers are encouraged, as is the involvement of students and researchers from previously-disadvantaged communities.

Following local evaluation, a shortlist of projects to be funded will be constituted through consultations between the NRF and NACOSTI based on the results of the evaluations done in both countries. Please note that, although the two funding agencies undertake to execute the evaluation and selection process as quickly as possible so as to notify applicants of the results as soon as possible, the nature of the bilateral process requires the alignment of the commencement of each phase of the process with the partnering country, whose schedules may differ significantly. As such applicants are urged not to expect notification by a certain date, nor to make concrete logistical arrangements before having been thus notified.

Projects follow-up and reporting

• A final joint scientific and financial report will be submitted in English to the NRF and NACOSTI by both the South African and Kenyan project leader no more than 3 months after the end of the project.
• The reports will mention the outputs of the projects compared with the objectives and aims targeted in the submission.
• The joint publications will mention the support from the NRF and the NACOSTI.

Intellectual property

The researchers of each country, particularly the leaders, must take adequate steps to ensure protection and sharing of the intellectual property that could result from the joint projects.

When is the closing date for applications?

Applications for both South Africa and Kenya must be submitted by 16 May 2016. Applications received after this date will not be considered for funding. Please note that neither the NRF nor NACOSTI will be held responsible for applications that were not received. Researchers are also advised to ensure that their research partners’ applications are submitted and have also been received in the partner country.

 Where can I obtain more information?

For South Africa	For Kenya
For programme related queries: Puleng Tshitlho Professional Officer: International Relations and Cooperation National Research Foundation Tel: +27 (0) 12 481 4061 Email: puleng.tshitlho@nrf.ac.za For grant and technical related queries: Jan Phalane Liaison Officer: Grants Management and Systems Administration Tel: +27 (0) 12 481 4157 Email: jan.phalane@nrf.ac.za	The  Director General National Commission for Science, Technology and Innovation P.O. Box 30623-00100 NAIROBI Website: www.nacosti.go.ke E-mail: dg@nacosti.go.ke