Call for operational research grants focusing on research towards achieving 90:90:90 HIV goals

Stellenbosch University Collaborative Capacity Enhancement through Engagement with Districts (SUCCEED) is inviting letters of intent for research that seeks to enable the effective implementation of health programmes in South Africa to advance the achievement of 90:90:90 goals for HIV – 90% people living with HIV knowing their status, 90% linked to care and 90% adhering to care. Letters of intent will be judged on the potential of the research to make a difference in the delivery of health programmes. Other criteria that will be taken into account include value for money, institutional capacity, as well as relevance in terms of issues addressed by the research. Selected letters of intent will be invited to submit full proposals.

Proposed research projects addressing the 50 priority operational research areas outlined in the South Africa HIV and TB Implementation Research Priorities Report will be given priority consideration (http://succeed.sun.ac.za/Activities/Operational-Research/SA-HIV-TB-Research-Priorities). These operational research questions are broadly categorised in the following areas:

1. HIV Prevention;
2. HIV Care and Treatment;
3. Tuberculosis;
4. Health Systems Strengthening;
5. Strategic Information;
6. Laboratory; and
7. Civil Society.

ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA:

• Proposed research projects addressing the 50 priority operational research areas outlined in the South Africa HIV and TB Implementation Research Priorities Report.
• Research being conducted in South Africa.
• Applicants from researchers working with implementers (someone working in the health services) will be of benefit.

WHAT FUNDING IS AVAILABLE?

Grants for research studies of 9-12 months, will be of up to $5,000 (US dollars), depending on the scope and focus of the study as well as the study setting. Additional funding from other sources should be sought if the budget is anticipated to exceed this amount.

Through this call it is aimed to enhance knowledge creation to inform better implementation of existent programmes; and strengthen the capacity of decision-makers (implementers) to use research as a means of addressing implementation problems that they face in the field. In line with these aims, successful teams will receive training support to further develop and refine the research questions and research methods.

HOW TO APPLY

All submissions must be sent to the following email address: erodrigues@sun.ac.za

• Applicants must submit an initial two page letter of intent by 3^rd March 2017. This is a firm deadline. Letters of intent received after the deadline will not be accepted or considered.

• The letter of intent should include:
  • Clearly state the problem
  • Clearly spell out the proposed research including a brief description of proposed methods
  • Describe what the proposed research would achieve and how this achievement would be measured
  • Provide details of the research team including position and qualifications of the Principal Investigator and Research Partner(s).
  • Provide an estimate of the total funding requested for the project

DEADLINES:

ENQUIRIES:

Enquiries about this initiative can be addressed to Mweete Nglazi: mweete@sun.ac.za

This project is supported by the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS relief (PEPFAR) through Centres for Disease Control (CDC) under the terms of GH001536