Michigan State University (MSU) in collaboration with Dar es Salaam University College of Education (DUCE), University of Dar es Salaam (UDSM) and Sokoine University of Agriculture (SUA) is seeking participants for a collaborative initiative aimed at capacitating early career researchers to develop fundable research and capacity building grant proposals. Through this initiative, early career academic staff/researchers from DUCE, UDSM and SUA will receive training and mentorship in various aspects of the research proposal development process as well as post award management preparations and management. Participants will receive mentoring through multidisciplinary, multi-institutional research teams that will be formed to coordinate and support the writing process. It is expected that by the end of the project participants will have submitted their grant proposal to desired funders.

Eligibility criteria

The main target for this training is early to mid-career academics with research interest in climate change, food security, education, nature conservation, agriculture and livestock, and health services that lead to resilient and sustainable community development. Interested participants must meet the following criteria:

• Be an early career researcher at DUCE, UDSM, or SUA who completed a master’s or doctoral degree within the last 10 years. Female researchers are highly encouraged to apply.
• Able to attend a monthly series of capacity building workshops. The initiative consists of one intensive half-day workshop (in-person) and a series of 60-90 minute webinars (virtual).
• Commit to partake in a mentoring program designed to support the proposal writing process and submission for funding.

Application process

Interested applicants must send the following to Jennifer Brewer at brewer13@msu.edu and Dr. Perpetua Urio at peturio@yahoo.com by:

• A one-page (double-spaced) statement of: 1) your research interests, 2) the research ideas/topics you would like to work on under this initiative, and 3) your commitment to participate in the initiative to the end. 
• Support letter from the head of your department or dean of your college/unit

The application

Interested applicants must send the following to Jennifer Brewer at brewer13@msu.edu and Dr. Perpetua Urio at peturio@yahoo.com by March 17^th, 2023:

• A one-page (double-spaced) statement of: 1) your research interests, 2) the research ideas/topics you would like to work on under this initiative, and 3) your commitment to participate in the initiative to the end. 
• Support letter from the head of your department or dean of your college/unit

This initiative is expected to last from March to December 2023. Workshops will be held once a month and run from April to October. The initiative will only cover costs for stationeries, refreshments during in-person sessions and internet access during the virtual online sessions. For additional information, please contact the PIs and Co-PIs of your respective institution, Dr. Kwame Yeboah (yeboahfe@msu.edu) and Dr. Emiliana Mwita (DUCE) emmyrh@yahoo.com and Dr. Victoria Moshy (UDSM) moshyv2001@yahoo.com, Prof. Sharadhuli Kimera (SUA) sikimera@sua.ac.tz.

Closing date:

The deadline for submitting the application is March 17^th, 2023.

ISSUED ON 8^TH MARCH 2023.