TRAIN. APPLY. SHARE.Institutional capability that extends beyond the training room.Illustrative image
Train-the-TrainerBuild skills your team can pass on
Training + practical applicationProposed 2–3 days + 8–12 weeks of follow-up
Designed around your institutionOnline or in-person delivery by agreement
FROM INDIVIDUAL KNOWLEDGE TO INSTITUTIONAL CAPACITY
Strengthen the team behind your research ambition.
Many African universities have talented researchers but limited institutional capacity to identify, pursue and manage competitive international research funding opportunities.
A practical institutional training programme designed to help African universities strengthen their capacity to identify international research funding opportunities, develop competitive grant proposals and use generative AI responsibly throughout the research funding process.
Delivered by Afro-Technical Research Consortium and its specialist training team, the programme combines practical instruction, guided exercises, proposal development tools and follow-up mentoring.
Participants learn how to identify suitable funding opportunities, interpret calls for proposals, develop compelling research proposals, build international partnerships, prepare project budgets and use generative AI to support proposal planning, drafting, editing and review.
The Train-the-Trainer model equips research development officers, grants teams and selected academics to transfer these skills to colleagues, helping institutions develop sustainable internal research funding support.
THE CURRICULUM
Six connected areas of capability.
From finding the right opportunity to supporting the next proposal, the programme connects funding knowledge with practical institutional processes.
MODULE 01
International Research Funding and Funder Mapping
Identify relevant global funders and funding opportunities.
Understand eligibility criteria, funding priorities and application timelines.
MODULE 02
Understanding Calls for Proposals
Interpret funder requirements and map proposal sections to assessment criteria.
Identify common weaknesses in funding applications.
MODULE 03
Developing Competitive Research Proposals
Develop the research problem, aims, objectives and research questions.
Connect methodology, expected outcomes, impact and theory of change.
Plan work packages, milestones and deliverables.
MODULE 04
Responsible Generative AI for Grant Writing
Use AI for opportunity analysis, brainstorming, outlining, drafting and editing.
Review proposals against funder requirements and verify facts, references and claims.
Protect confidential information and comply with funder AI policies.
MODULE 05
Budgets, Partnerships and Project Planning
Develop realistic project budgets and justifications.
Build international research collaborations.
Understand consortium roles and project management requirements.
MODULE 06
Train-the-Trainer and Institutional Capacity Building
Train colleagues to support proposal development.
Create reusable institutional resources.
Establish practical processes for identifying and pursuing funding opportunities.
Responsible AI is part of the practice.
Human judgement, fact-checking, confidentiality and funder requirements remain central throughout proposal development.
WHO IT IS FOR
For the people developing your institution’s research capacity.
A programme commissioned for your team, with a cohort shaped around your priorities and internal training needs.
University research and grants offices
Research development and funding support teams
Directors and managers responsible for research development
Academic staff and principal investigators
Research institute staff
Selected researchers who will serve as internal trainers
HOW WE WORK WITH YOUR INSTITUTION
A programme designed for application.
The following is a proposed structure. Scope, timing, delivery format and follow-up support are agreed with your institution before commissioning.
01
Institutional needs assessment
Understand your institution
An initial needs assessment establishes your priorities, existing support and the capabilities your team wants to develop.
02
2–3 days of facilitated training
Develop practical skills
Two to three days of facilitated training bring research funding development and responsible AI use together.
03
Practical, applied exercises
Work with real funding calls
Guided exercises help your team apply the learning to funder requirements, proposal development and project planning.
04
Reusable institutional resources
Build resources your team can reuse
Templates, checklists and AI-assisted proposal development resources support consistent practice and internal training.
05
8–12 weeks of follow-up mentoring
Put the learning into practice
Eight to twelve weeks of follow-up mentoring support practical application and the transfer of skills to colleagues.
06
Institutional development review
Review progress and next steps
A final review identifies progress and recommendations for strengthening your institution’s research funding support.
Delivery may be online or in person. Hybrid requirements can also be discussed as part of your institutional proposal.
EXPECTED OUTCOMES
Stronger capability. Better prepared proposals.
The programme is designed to help participating institutions become better equipped to develop and support research funding applications.
It strengthens capability, proposal quality and institutional readiness. It does not guarantee funding awards.
Identify suitable international research funding opportunities.
Interpret funding calls and assessment criteria.
Develop stronger, funder-aligned research proposals.
Use generative AI responsibly in proposal development.
Improve proposal planning, budgeting and partnership development.
Train and support other researchers internally.
Establish more systematic approaches to research funding development.
LET’S START WITH YOUR PRIORITIES
Request a Programme Proposal
Tell us about your institution and what your team needs. We can then discuss the scope and develop a proposal for your consideration.
A tailored institutional package.
Pricing depends on the number of participants, delivery format, training duration, mentoring requirements and travel. These arrangements are agreed in the proposal.
