Call for Applications: Research and Innovation Systems for Africa (RISA)

RISA, a multi-country Foreign and Commonwealth Development Office (FCDO)-funded programme, invites applications from eligible organizations in RISA priority countries for projects that support Research and Innovation systems strengthening in Africa.

This procurement will be conducted under open competition, in accordance with UK Government Grant Standards and the procedures in the RISA Funds Management Manual. Successful applicants must be operational and legally registered in: Ethiopia, Kenya, Rwanda, Ghana, Nigeria and South Africa. Applicants must have the experience, presence and organizational mandate to operate in the country and contribute to the regional goals and objectives of the FCDO SRIA and ATIP programmes.

The Research and Innovation Systems for Africa (RISA) Fund is a multi-country FCDO-funded programme that aims to support research and innovation systems strengthening in Africa by bringing together two FCDO Research and Evidence Division (RED) programmes under the RISA Fund umbrella: Strengthening Research Institutions in Africa (SRIA) and the African Technology and Innovation Partnerships (ATIP).

Objectives

To achieve its vision, RISA has three objectives:

• Research institution and system strengthening (SRIA): To support research organisations to have the capabilities necessary to produce relevant, high-quality research and to create an enabling environment for researchers and research organisations.
• Innovation system strengthening (ATIP): To strengthen the enablers for the scaling of new and emerging technologies with the high potential for poverty reduction and inclusive growth.
• Strengthening synergies between research and innovation systems (SRIA and ATIP): To identify and support linkages between research and innovation systems that will improve their integration and coordination. This will be funded through both programmes.

Funding Information

• RISA anticipates a total of approximately £1.8 million to be available for this funding opportunity.
• Additional funds may be available in subsequent financial years rounds. Individual applications should not exceed £300,000.
• Funding for projects under this call for Concept notes will be a minimum of 12 months and a maximum of 15 months with December 2023 being the cut-off date for implementation.

Target countries

Ethiopia, Kenya, Rwanda, South Africa, Ghana and Nigeria.

Eligibility Criteria

• Organisations eligible for RISA Funding must be registered with relevant authorities and have been operating for at least three years. These include:
  • International and national universities
  • Research institutions
  • Think tanks
  • International and national NGOs or CSOs.
  • Private sector organisations
• The organisation must be organised or recognised in accordance with the laws of and conduct operations in one or more of the following countries: Ethiopia, Kenya, Rwanda, South Africa, Ghana and Nigeria.
• The following considerations will cut across the eligibility criteria design when designing the fund solicitation approaches in the RISA focus countries:
  • Alignment to SRIA, ATIP or synergies and traction objectives.
  • Partnerships – Project demonstrates the ecosystem approach to addressing the research and innovation barriers including detailed mapping of relevant stakeholders, partners, institutions etc. that will engage during implementation.
  • Additionality of the RISA investment and clarity of attribution to the RISA fund where a project is being funded by multiple donors.
  • Value for Money considerations i.e., projects that can demonstrate maximum impact (Number of target beneficiaries reached and the positive change observed) from the RISA funding.
  • Sustainability -Project demonstrates ability to ensure that gains realised through RISA funding are sustainable in the long term through building and strengthening local capacity and leveraging co-funding from local sources e.g., private sector, local authorities e.t.c
  • GESI – Project Demonstrates efforts to mainstream gender and social inclusion across the life cycle of the project and seeks to strengthen gender equality and the social inclusion of specific marginalised groups.

Notes:

• Government departments, ministries and agencies are not eligible for direct funding; these entities can only receive Technical Assistance from an implementer selected by the Fund Manager.
• Prospective partners must be organisations with a reputation for integrity and the highest standard of conduct, with a proven track record in their area of expertise.
• They should demonstrate a respect for human rights, gender sensitivity, inclusion of people with disabilities, fair labour practices and environmental consciousness.
• All partners must meet standard FCDO procurement policies for financial management and audits.

Deadline: 31 July 2022

For more information, visit https://risa-fund.org/funding/call-no-risa-01-2022-research-and-innovation-systems-for-africa-risa/

Source: FundsforNGO