Background:
Feed the Future Ethiopia Growth through Nutrition Activity is USAID’s five-year flagship (Sept 1, 2016 to August 31, 2021) multi-sector nutrition and WASH project. The project aims to improve the nutritional status of women and young children in Ethiopia’s four productive regions, focusing on the first 1,000 days (from conception to age two). Growth through Nutrition builds off ENGINE’s success, and will expand and strengthen its effective and promising interventions, and make significant investments in the agriculture and WASH sectors to further enhance the GoE’s multi-sectoral approach to reducing stunting.
As part of the project overall learning agenda strategy, with a view toward building capacity and supporting local researchers, a small research grant program has been developed by Tufts University. This program will help in providing support to local researchers conducting research that aligns with the research goals and interests of Growth through Nutrition in improving programming and policy around Nutrition, Agriculture and WASH. The program will provide up to three awards per year at approximately $5,000 USD per award through a competitive application process. These awards are not designed in theory to be large enough to cover the cost of a large full-size research study, but rather to be used to supplement other funds or provide support to researchers’ time for small scale research, dissertation work, etc.
Researchers selected for the award will be expected to share a report or manuscript of their findings and participate in dissemination activities to share the results of their findings at project learning events. Benefits may also include technical support and guidance, feedback on analysis and interpretation, and promotion of research on project websites and events.
Who is Eligible to Apply?
All research proposals should be led by an experienced researcher with a relevant academic background. Junior researchers and students may apply with a collaborating advisor or senior research advisors listed on the study team. Researchers do not have to be affiliated with an academic or research institution. Female researchers are encouraged to apply. Staff members on Growth through Nutrition project are not eligible due to conflict of interest.
Application Requirements:
A complete application will include:
Applications that exceed 10 pages (excluding CVs) and do not meet the full requirements of the application guidelines will not be accepted. Applicants are encouraged to apply early.
Proposals will be evaluated against the quality and rigor of the research and the contribution to the body of literature around crucial topics in the fields of Nutrition, Agriculture and WASH. Priority will be given to proposals that deal with questions relevant to achieving the Growth through Nutrition Intermediate Results and the Learning Agenda priority topics.
Growth through Nutrition Intermediate Results
Learning Agenda Priority Topics
Screening Process
Applications will first be screened to ensure that all required components of the application are included and that the applications meet all the advertised requirements including budget. They will also be evaluated based on the relevance of the topic to the advertisement, and whether or not their research methods are technically sound. A shortlist will be created of all applications that pass the screening and will be sent on to the review committee for further review.
Selection Process
Applicant proposals that pass the initial screening will be evaluated based on the quality of proposed research and applicability to the priority themes above. A selection committee will review and rate submissions. Questions or modifications may be requested of the applicant if needed to inform the scoring process.
The top highest scoring proposals will be selected for an award. Final selections will be notified via email by end of March. Researchers with proposals that were shortlisted but not selected may be invited to resubmit for a future round of awards.