West Africa Grant Writing Workshop

Presented by the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases and the Government of Ghana, in coordination with the company Grant Writing Mentors.

The collaborators will convene a series of grant writing workshops for researchers in West Africa. The workshops aim to teach West African investigators best practices for writing and submitting grant proposals to the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and will be organized and facilitated by instructors from Grant Writing Mentors.

Phase I - Virtual

Dates: May 8, 2024, May 15, 2024 and May 22, 2024. 

This phase will consist of three virtual workshops which will be 2 hours each. These will be introductory grant writing sessions, and are open to all investigators from countries in West Africa. Participants will learn about the strategies, skills, and knowledge needed to write their own research grants. 

Next Steps:

Phase I participants are encouraged to continue their education on the grant writing process and apply to NIH Notices of Funding Opportunities (NOFOs). For a current list of available NOFOs and to be notified when new NOFOs are published, participants can subscribe to the NIH Guide: https://grants.nih.gov/funding/subscribe.htm

Select funding opportunities highlighted during Phase I include:

  • Global Infectious Disease Research Administration Development Award for LMIC Institutions (G11)
    https://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/pa-files/PAR-23-300.html

Phase II - Virtual

Dates: July 24, 2024 and July 31, 2024. 

Through an application process, 20-30 participants from Phase I will be selected to move onto the didactic sessions, which will go into more depth about grant writing process to prepare selected participants for the in-person workshop.

Phase III - In Person

Dates: August 26, 2024 through August 29, 2024.  

Participants from Phase II will travel to Accra, Ghana for the final phase of the Grant Writing Workshop. This phase will cover aspects of grantsmanship that are key to preparing a competitive application. Hands-on writing sessions will provide opportunities for participants work in small groups to develop their NIH-style Biosketch and Specific Aims. This phase will include one-on-one mentoring from and discussions with Grant Writing Mentors.

Note: NIAID has limited funding available to support travel of participants to attend the workshop in Ghana.

Priority may be given to Phase II/III applicants who may fit any of the following criteria:

  • Qualify as early-stage investigators (ESI);
  • Are ready to apply for a grant;
  • Have not previously received an NIH grant;
  • Are conducting research in the areas of allergy, immunology, and infectious disease;
  • Are affiliated with institutions that have previously participated in a G-11 program and/or are applicants for the Emerging Global Leader Award (K43); or
  • Represent broad participation across countries in West Africa