The Science Granting Councils Initiative (SGCI) in sub-Saharan Africa call for proposals: Establishment and operationalization of the Capacity Strengthening Hub — FAQs

General Information

1. What is the purpose of this call for proposals?

This call seeks to identify one organization or consortium to establish and operate the SGCI Capacity Strengthening Hub. The Hub will coordinate, support and monitor institutional capacity-strengthening for Science Granting Councils (SGCs) across sub-Saharan Africa under Phase III of the Science Granting Councils Initiative (SGCI-3). 

2. What is the role of the Capacity Strengthening Hub?

The Hub will play a coordination and facilitation role, supporting the development of annual capacity-strengthening plans, managing a digital learning platform, supporting monitoring, evaluation and learning, and facilitating communication and knowledge sharing across SGCs. 

3. Can the Capacity Strengthening Hub be structured as a bi-country or multi-country hub?

The call for proposals does not prescribe a specific geographic configuration for the Hub. Applicants may propose organizational and operational arrangements they consider most appropriate to effectively deliver the objectives of the Hub, including collaborative or multi-country approaches.

In all cases, the lead applicant organization must meet the eligibility requirements outlined in the call documentation, including having independent legal status and being based in sub-Saharan Africa.

Applicants are encouraged to clearly describe the proposed governance structure, geographic arrangements and coordination mechanisms within their proposal.

4. What is meant by coordination of capacity-strengthening activities, and how does this differ from implementation?

The Capacity Strengthening Hub will coordinate institutional capacity-strengthening activities by:

• supporting the development of annual capacity-strengthening plans;
• managing the digital learning platform;
• supporting monitoring, evaluation and learning (MEL); and
• facilitating communication and knowledge sharing across SGCs.

Training, mentoring, peer learning and staff exchanges will be funded and delivered separately under SGCI-3 by external providers.

The Capacity Strengthening Committee (CSC) and the SGCI Programme Management Team (PMT) will provide strategic direction, approve plans and guide priorities. The Hub will support the CSC and PMT in identifying external providers for training, peer learning and staff exchange activities.

5. What activities are outside the scope of this call?

The Hub will not deliver training, mentoring, technical assistance, peer-learning activities, or staff exchanges. These activities will be funded and implemented separately under SGCI-3. 

6. Can the SGCI Secretariat connect organizations seeking consortium partners with potential applicants or consortia?

No. The SGCI team is not able to connect prospective applicants with consortium partners. Applicants are expected to independently identify and engage consortium partners when preparing their proposals.

7. Will the Capacity Strengthening Hub conduct research activities?

No. Conducting research is not part of the Hub’s mandate. The Hub’s role is to coordinate and support institutional capacity strengthening across SGCs.

8. Will the Hub deliver training or technical assistance directly?

No. The Capacity Strengthening Hub will not deliver training, mentoring, technical assistance, peer-learning activities, or staff exchanges directly. These activities will be funded and implemented separately under SGCI-3 by external service providers. The Hub will coordinate and support these activities but will not implement them.

9. Will the Hub issue calls for proposals for capacity-strengthening activities?

No. Calls for proposals to select service providers will be managed by SGCI. The Hub may support identifying appropriate service providers but will not issue calls or contract providers. 

10. How will the Hub interact with SGCs?

The Hub will work under the strategic guidance of the CSC and in close collaboration with the SGCI PMT. The CSC, composed of representatives of SGCs, will provide strategic direction and oversight.

Eligibility  

11. Who is eligible to apply under this call? 

Eligible applicants are legally registered organizations based in sub-Saharan Africa, applying either individually or as the lead organization of a consortium, with demonstrated expertise in research and innovation management and experience supporting capacity strengthening of SGCs or similar public sector science, technology and innovation (STIs) institutions. 

12. Are individuals eligible to apply? 

No. This call is open to organizations or consortia of organizations only. Individuals are not eligible to apply. 

13. Are language requirements mandatory?

Yes. Applicants must demonstrate the capacity to work in both English and French. Portuguese is considered an asset. 

14. Can the requirement to work in both English and French be satisfied at the consortium level?

Yes. The requirement to operate in both English and French may be met collectively at the consortium or implementation team level.

This does not require all consortium members or staff to be individually bilingual. Applicants are therefore encouraged to describe in their proposals how they would ensure adequate bilingual capacity within their consortium or implementation team.

15. Can newly established organizations apply as lead applicants?

Eligibility is not determined solely by the length of time an organization has been established. However, applicants must meet all eligibility requirements outlined in the call documentation.

Newly established organizations may also participate as consortium partners contributing complementary expertise, provided the lead applicant meets eligibility requirements.

16. Is eligibility limited to organizations located in SGCI priority countries?

No. The call does not include a predefined list of eligible countries. Eligible applicants must be legally registered organizations based in sub-Saharan Africa that meet all eligibility criteria outlined in the call for proposals.

17. Can international organizations legally registered outside sub-Saharan Africa serve as lead applicants if they operate offices within the region?

No. Eligibility as a lead applicant is determined by the legal registration of the organization. Organizations must be legally registered in sub-Saharan Africa to serve as lead applicants.

Organizations registered outside the region may participate as consortium partners led by an eligible organization.

18. Are regional or intergovernmental organizations eligible to apply?

Yes. Regional organizations based in sub-Saharan Africa may apply, provided they meet all eligibility criteria outlined in the call for proposals.

19. Can SGCs that are beneficiaries under SGCI participate as applicants or consortium members?

No. SGCs identified as beneficiaries under the SGCI initiative cannot participate as applicants or consortium members due to conflict-of-interest considerations.

20. Is previous experience working directly with SGCs required?

Applicants must demonstrate experience supporting capacity strengthening of SGCs or similar STI institutions. Experience working directly with SGCs is considered an asset. 

21. Are universities or research centres eligible to apply?

Yes. Universities or research centres based in sub-Saharan Africa may apply as lead applicants or consortium members, provided they meet all eligibility criteria and have the legal capacity to enter into a contract.

Budget and Funding  

22. What is the maximum funding available? 

The maximum grant amount is CAD500,000 over approximately 2.5 years, with the possibility of renewal subject to performance and availability of funds. 

23. Is a detailed budget required at the application stage?

Yes. Applicants must submit a completed IDRC budget template, along with a narrative budget justification, as part of their application. 

24. What currency should the budget be prepared in?

Applicants should prepare the budget in their working currency. However, the total budget must not exceed the equivalent of CAD500,000 over the duration of the project. 

25. Can training costs be included in the budget?

The Hub is not expected to deliver training directly. However, if limited training-related costs are required to support coordination or development of tools and materials, they may be included in the budget and refined during project negotiations if selected.

Review, Selection and Feedback  

26. How will proposals be assessed? 

Proposals will be assessed by the PMT and the CSC based on technical merit, team qualifications and budget feasibility, as outlined in the evaluation criteria in the call. 

27. Can proposals or draft concepts be submitted by email for review prior to formal submission?

No. All applications must be submitted through the online application platform. The SGCI team is not able to review or provide feedback on draft proposals submitted by email outside the formal application process.

28. When will applicants be informed of the results? 

Applicants will be notified of the outcome by May 25, 2026.