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Evaluation of Populations and Their Health in developing countries
   
 

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INDEPTH Cross-Site Capacity Development Grants Programme

 

  Types of Grants

 

The INDEPTH Secretariat will award two one-year seed grants, totalling $50,000 per year ($25,000 per grant), on a competitive basis for multi-site proposals over a three-year period beginning 2006 (i.e, 2006, 2007 and 2008).

 

Eligible proposals should:

  • involve at least three DSS sites;

  • have a research agenda showing how to take advantage of the cross-site design; and

  • an immediate and longer-term plan for building scientific capacity.

 

The programme will also support international exchange and co-operation and facilitate comparative studies and methodological development.  The programme will mainly serve to initiate and only partially support project activities. A core funding and cost-sharing plan (drawing on other resources) therefore has to be specified by the applicants.

 

For research training activities, the programme will facilitate cross-site activities, training courses and supervision as well as support joint proposal writing activities.

 

The grant will be awarded to one site for cross-site activities involving at least three sites.

Although collaborations across countries are highly encouraged, sites within the same country may also apply.

 

 

Illustrative Activities

In line with the objectives of this programme, awardees would be expected to undertake capacity building activities such as but not limited to the following:

 

A. DSS Data

 

Data Managers

DSS sites require much work to share their data effectively, efficiently and accurately. The successful sites would be required to organise workshops for their data managers to provide a forum that will facilitate sharing of experiences, solutions, and other related issues to ensure that the data is readily provided for network-level activities. Key objectives would be:

 

  • Capacity building for Data Managers at INDEPTH sites;

  • Strengthen and share good practices within the Network;

  • Improve communication between and among Data Managers;

  • Improve communication between the Secretariat and Data Managers in order to enhance Network activities; and

  • Promotion of site visibility and information dissemination through websites.

 

Generating and Sharing DSS Data

The successful sites would be required to develop/strengthen capacities in various issues related to data systems. Efficient handling of the complex data generated DSS is an important factor for sites to produce good quality data. The sites would also be required to engage in the discussion on dissemination of the generated DSS data.

 

Improving Data Quality

The successful sites would be required to engage in training activities that would enable them maintain high quality data systems with efficient mechanisms for extracting that data.

 

B. Scientific Writing

DSS sites generate relevant population-based data that must be analysed and published. The successful sites would be required to help their young scientists publish their work in international peer-reviewed journals. Specifically, the objectives could be to:

 

-  help scientists in INDEPTH sites develop the ability to communicate their thoughts effectively through writing;

-   build skills for writing in peer-reviewed journals;

-   understand how the peer-review process works and to gain some experience of peer-review on own writing;

-  facilitate peer-review and feedback on a set of DSS focused papers among developing country researchers and practitioners; and

-   contribute to collaborative research for higher degrees.

 

C. Proposal Development

The successful sites would get their scientists to develop grant proposals that are capable of attracting funding from the donor community.

 

D. Methods Standardisation/Harmonisation

The successful sites would be required to participate in activities to continually improve and standardise/harmonise the methods and technologies used by INDEPTH sites to ensure all participating groups have access to the most valid and appropriate methodologies available.