1.0. BACKGROUND AND CONTEXT
Universities are the source of knowledge and have proven the capacity to tackle national agenda problems in the process so doing they become more relevant to society at large. University knowledge can be used to enhance economic growth in Uganda through technology transfer, innovation, and
business incubation. The University set aside seed funding for research and mandated the Directorate of Graduate Studies,
Research and Innovations (DGSRI) to manage the fund. The DGSRI, therefore, invites applications for the call for Competitive Small Research Grants (CSRG) in any Busitema University thematic research priority areas for the academic year 2020/2021.
The grant will last for 6 months and will support 3 categories:
Category I: Publication of manuscripts,
Category II: Critical equipment/Materials needed for completion of final year undergraduate student projects.
Proposals should have budgets of not more than UGX 10,000,000 (Uganda Shillings ten million).
2.0.OBJECTIVES AND SCOPE
2.1. Objectives
The objectives of the programme include the following:
i. To strengthen and build the research capacity of Busitema University staff.
ii. To foster interdisciplinary research within the university thematic areas.
iii. To increase the university’s visibility.
Scope The programme will support projects in the following Busitema University research priority areas:
i. Engineering
ii. Natural Sciences
iii. Education
iv. Natural Resources and Environment
v. Health Sciences
vi. Agricultural Sciences
vii. Management Sciences
Each applicant should submit only one application in one of the research priority areas indicated above. Applications will be assessed on a competitive basis, to optimize the contribution made through the
university investment towards research.
The projects should have a clear indication of their contribution to (1) Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), (2) Vision 2040, (3) National Development Plan (NDPIII).
The 2020/21 edition of the call will fund utmost three (3) CSRG projects each amounting to not more than Uganda Shillings Ten Million (UGX 10 M) through a competitive selection process.
Each grant will be assessed vigorously for value for money. The recommended duration is six (6) months;
all projects should be done by June 2021.
3.0. APPLICATION AND ELIGIBILITY
3.1. Application process
Applicants should:
i. Be a full-time Busitema University staff.
ii. Have earned at least a master’s or doctorate in an academic discipline or professional field.
iii. Have an updated link of Google Scholar profile.
iv. Undergraduate and graduate students can apply for the grant with support from a full-time academic staff.
Beneficiaries of previous calls who haven’t accounted for the funds received will not be considered. Applicants without running funding will be given priority. Electronic submission of application for a grant with supporting documents should be sent by 6th
November 2020 Time 12:00PM EAT to the: Director, Directorate of Graduate Studies, Research and
Innovations, Busitema University;
Email: dgsri@adm.busitema.ac.ug and c.c. to rbsjunior@gmail.com
3.2.ELIGIBLE EXPENSES
Acceptable expenses are those normally associated with research: data collection, analysis, report
writing, computing costs; field travel to observatories, but not travel to Conferences; development of new
research technology and domestication of technology.
Please note that requests to fund publications are welcome; only when papers are written and ready for
publication, or in the publication pipeline (submitted or accepted).
Category I grants will only carter for publications indexed in databases mentioned in the Busitema
University publication guidelines (http://www.busitema.ac.ug/publicationguidelines/)
4.0.SELECTION AND ASSESSMENT PROCESS
All submitted proposals will undergo an independent evaluation system; a technical blind peer-review
process. The selection of successful proposals will be undertaken by the Grants Management Committee
of Busitema University.
Selection of the research proposals will follow the following assessment criteria:
Innovation
Does the research involve the development of new methods, the integration of existing methods into new tools, or the application of existing methods in a novel way that improves and extends their utility?
Proposals that simply apply existing methods in conventional contexts will not be considered innovative.
Scientific Excellence and Originality
Is the proposed research potentially of very high quality concerning the highest international standards of scientific excellence in all of the sectors and disciplines that it includes? Would the project add value to
existing research on the topic of the proposal? Are the proposed methods sound and is the proposed research feasible?
Development Relevance
Does the proposed research address issues that present significant challenges to the specified field? Are the anticipated development outcomes and possible pathways to impact clearly and convincingly argued?
Have gender issues been mainstreamed in project design and objectives?
5.0. CONTRACTING AND AUDIT
Successful grant applicants will be required to enter into a research and development (R&D) grant agreement with the University and be subject to technical and financial audits as per university regulations.
6.0. REPORTING REQUIREMENTS
The successful applicant must submit a progress report every three months to the DGSRI on the progress of the project with justification and a copy of the publication(s) resulting from the project.
7.0. DISSEMINATION AND DATA SHARING
Information about research funded by the University will be made available on the University website (www.busitema.ac.ug/research). Grant holders will be expected to promote the dissemination of the results of their research as widely as possible, based on the premise that publicly-funded research data are a public good, produced in the public interest, and should be made openly available to other researchers on time to the maximum extent possible.
8.0. REVIEW PROCESS OF FULL APPLICATION
Merit Criteria
Applications will be referred to an evaluation panel. Panel members shall be required to sign appropriate non-disclosure agreements. If a member of the evaluation panel shall have a direct conflict of interest to a
proposal, he/she would be required to declare it and to abstain from participation in ranking the relevant proposal(s).
The evaluation panel will then make a detailed assessment of each proposal – which, as the need arises,
shall involve a viva voce with the research teams. The panel shall report to the DGSRI on its findings and provide recommendations regarding those proposals deemed most worthy of funding. Based on this report, and with regard to the total funds available, a recommendation will be made to the University.
Summary of Selection and Merit Criteria
No. Merit Criteria Remarks
1 Contribution to Uganda’s Development Priorities (35 marks) The detailed plan for contributing to one or more of
the objectives and targets of Uganda’s NDP III (2020/21 – 2025/26 and Vision 2040
Scientific output, employment creation
Anticipated economic social and/or environmental benefits arising from the project, period
2 Research problem and questions (15 marks) Is the problem defined?
3 Objectives (10 marks) Are the objectives linked to the
problem stated?
4 Methodology (25 marks) Are the methods appropriate?
5 Need (10 marks) Detailed justification of the budget;
Co-contribution of resources (cash and in-kind) from partners
6 Dissemination (5 marks) Will the project have a feasible
output in terms of a journal paper?
N:B All applicants will be notified of the outcome of their applications
Timetable The indicative timetable for the present Call is as follows:
No. Merit Criteria Responsible Party Remarks
1 Publication of the Call DGSRI 20th October 2020
2 Deadline for submitting applications Applicants 6th November 2020
3 Evaluation and notification of offers 20th November 2020
4 Closure of projects 30th June