The Women Grant Writing Programme is designed to empower talented early-career health and health-related researchers from African countries.
The aim of this transformative initiative is to equip participants with the necessary skills to develop high-quality research and fellowship proposals that can successfully compete for international, regional, and national funding.
What the Programme Will Cover
Participants will gain vital knowledge and practical insights in the following areas:
- Identifying and Expressing Your Unique Research Niche
- Formulating Compelling Research Questions
- Understanding Funders’ Requirements
- Writing in Plain English
- Structuring Different Sections of a Proposal
- Key Components of a Case for Support / Project Description
- Planning Your Proposal, Including Project Plan and Budget
- Principles of Collaboration and Team Management
- Understanding and Practicing Peer Review
- Preparing for Fellowship Interviews
What the Programme Will Not Cover
The programme will not address the following topics:
- Obtaining research ethics approval
- Completing individual funders’ application forms
- Details of intellectual property management
- Research communication practices
While facilitators will use real-world funding applications as examples, they will not assist participants with their specific proposals.
Format of the Programme Series
The programme will consist of online sessions held as follows:
- Monday, June 30 to Friday, July 4, 2025: Daily 3-hour online sessions from 08:30 – 11:30 GMT
- Monday, September 1 to Wednesday, September 3, 2025: Daily 3-hour online sessions from 08:30 – 11:30 GMT
Time Zone Conversions:
- WAT: 09:30 – 12:30
- CAT: 10:30 – 13:30
- EAT: 11:30 – 15:30
- Cape Verde: 09:30 – 10:30
Participants will receive appropriate learning materials, including preparatory exercises, before and between sessions. All sessions will be conducted in English via Zoom, with interaction in both online groups and offline subgroups.
Expenses
AREF does not provide funding for equipment or internet access needed for participation. Moreover, there will be no reimbursements for any expenses incurred related to the programme or any per diem payments.
Expectations of Participants
Participants are required to:
- Attend all online sessions: Attendance is mandatory to receive a certificate of completion.
- Engage actively: Participation is fundamental as the sessions are interactive.
- Prepare: Allocate approximately one additional hour each day for reading and assignments.
- Work on a draft proposal: Dedicate significant time between sessions to develop a draft research proposal for use in the final three sessions.
- Ensure good technical setup: Have access to stable internet and a computer or laptop suitable for Zoom. Access to a smartphone for simultaneous usage is also recommended.
Outputs
Participants will also be expected to partake in AREF’s monitoring and evaluation surveys to assess programme outcomes.
Scope of the Programme
AREF welcomes applications from researchers addressing challenges in human health who are experienced in one or more of the following fields:
- Biomedicine
- Physiology and pharmacology
- Clinical sciences
- Epidemiology
- Mathematics and statistics
- Environmental health
- “One Health” (veterinary science)
- Behavioural and mental health
- Public health
- Data science for health
- Social and economic sciences
- Health policy and systems research
Eligibility Criteria
Applicants must provide evidence that they:
- Are citizens of an African country.
- Are early in their research careers.
- Either:
- Have earned a research doctorate (PhD/DPhil/MD) from a recognized institution within the last six years (awarded on or after January 1, 2019).
- OR possess a clinical/medical qualification and a research-relevant Master’s degree, both awarded within the last six years (on or after January 1, 2019).
- Are employed in Africa by a recognized university or research institution.
- Have not previously engaged in equivalent grant-writing training with AREF.
- Devote a significant portion of their roles to conducting health research.
- Do not currently hold a significant portfolio of international research grants (combined value exceeding £250,000).
Selection Criteria
Applicants will be evaluated on their ability to benefit from the programme, including:
- Research experience, outputs, and achievements as emerging researchers.
- How they plan to use training to achieve personal scientific development.
- Their strategy for sharing gained knowledge and skills with others.
- Proficiency in English.
A shortlist will be established based on these criteria, and only those meeting the capacity to benefit will be considered for final selection.
Diversity and Inclusivity
To promote equity among research organizations, no more than two participants from any single employing institution will be selected. AREF aims to ensure a gender and language-balanced participant selection across programmes.
How to Apply
Interested candidates should visit the AREF portal at AREF Application Portal to access and complete the Application Form. Registration for an account is required to gain access.
Additional resources, including the 2025 AREF GWP Online Application Form Guidance and FAQs, are available to assist in completing the application.
Key Dates
- Call Launch: March 19, 2025
- Application Deadline: April 14, 2025
- Applicant Notification: By May 14, 2025
Contact Information
For inquiries related to portal registration, please email programmes@africaresearchexcellencefund.org.uk with the subject line “Portal Registration”. Emails directed to other AREF addresses regarding applications may not receive timely responses.
Tips for Successful Applications
- Highlight relevant experiences and achievements in your research career.
- Clearly articulate how the training will contribute to your future success and impact on health research.
- Demonstrate a clear plan for sharing your learnings with others and advancing collective knowledge in your field.
- Ensure your application is meticulously prepared, following all specified guidelines.
