1. Introduction to grants
writing
Day 7 of NIMELSSA National webinar series
May 27, 2023
FORTUNE EFFIONG
African Community for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analyses (ACSRM)

2. OUTLINE
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4
3
2
Pre-writing, Writing and Post-writing Phases
PREPARING A GRANT PROPOSAL
DO’S AND DON’T’S
GENERAL TIPS
SOME FUNDING
OPPORTUNITIES
FUNDING SOURCES
WHY DO YOU NEED A GRANT?
WHAT IS GRANT WRITING?

3. What is
grant
writing?

4. WHATISGRANTWRITING?
• Grant writing is the process of
making a written financial
request to a grant making body.
• The written document is then
called a grant proposal.

5. WHY DO
YOU NEED
A GRANT?

6. SOCIAL IMPACT
To fund a social impact
initiative
TRAVEL AND AWARDS
To fund travel to a conference
RESEARCH:
To fund a research Idea
WHY DO YOU NEED A GRANT?

7. PREPARING A GRANT
PORPOSAL

8. PREPARING A GRANT PROPOSAL
PRE-WRITING PHASE
1
WRITING PHASE
2
POST-WRITING PHASE
3

9. PRE-WRITING PHASE:
BEFORE THE GRANT CALL

10. BUILD A VISIBLE AND
MEASUREABLE TRACK
RECORD
DEVELOP YOUR
WRITING SKILLS
HAVE AN INCUBATED
IDEA
FOLLOW RELEVANT
NETWORKS AND
PLATFORMS
PRE-WRITING PHASE:
BEFORE THE GRANT CALL

11. PRE-WRITING PHASE:
AFTER THE GRANT CALL

12. AFTER THE GRANT CALLL – THINGS TO CHECK!
05
04
03
02
01
OTHER INFORMATION
REQUIREMENTS
DEADLINE
EXPERTISE/ELIGIBILITY
SCOPE

13. THE WRITING PHASE

14. ESSENTIAL ELEMENTS OF A GRANT PROPOSAL
1
PROBLEM
STATEMENT
STATEMENT
OF NEED
BACKGROUND
INFORMATION
2
PROJECT
DESCRIPTION
METHODS
TIMELINE
EXPECTED
OUTCOME
3
BUDGET
AMNT
REQUESTED
BUDGET
BREAKDOWN
4
REFEREES
5
ADDITIONAL
INFORMATION
ABOUT
LINKS

15. • BACKGROUND SHOULD CONTAIN:
• What is the problem you're addressing?
• How is it true?
• Why is it important?
• Why is now the best time to address it?
• Research Questions?

16. QUESTION:
• IS IT NECESSARY TO CITE
CONSULTED SOURCES?

17. • STATE YOUR METHODOLOGY
• WHAT IS YOUR PROPOSED SOLUTION?
• WHAT MAKES IT INNOVATIVE AND SCALABLE?
• EXPECTED OUTCOME
• TIMELINE
• LIMITATION
• TIPS:
• Be as clear as possible.
• Your plan should be SMART goals. Don’t be
overambitious!
• Feel free to adopt an already established method.

18. • HOW WILL YOU USE THE GRANT FUNDS?
• LIST ANY LINE ITEMS WITH ASSOCIATED COSTS
• TIPS:
• THE FORMAT VARIES WITH GRANT CALLS.
• SOMETIMES YOU ARE EXPECTED TO GIVE A
BRIEF JUSTIFICATION FOR EACH GRANT ITEM.
• DON’T OVER ESTIMATE OR UNDERESTIMATE!
• BE CLEAR AND SPECIFIC!

19. QUESTIONS:
• SHOULD YOU INCLUDE
REMUNARATION/PERSONAL
TIME?
• SHOULD YOU INCLUDE
MISCELLANEOUS?

20. • When citing your referees avoid
these mistakes:
• Using people you know but who don't
know you well enough
• Using people who are not aware you
are using them as referees
• Using someone you may have had a
strained relationship with, someone
you may have had a feud with

21. • OTHER INFORMATION
• Links to Socials
• How will this grant
further your
career?
• Etc.

22. Post-writing
phase

23. • Editing: Editing focus on making
your text more readable by
assessing clarity, style, and
citations.
• Proofreading: Proofreading focus
on eliminating errors and mistakes
in grammar, punctuation, spelling,
and formatting.

24. • REVIEW
• SUBMIT!

25. GENERAL
TIPS:
DO’S AND DON’T’S

26. GENERAL TIPS – DO’S AND DON’T’S
Don’t Be too Ambitious
Demonstrate Cost-Effectiveness/
Value for Money
Present proves to back up your
Need statement – if possible
Write Clearly and Readably
Be organized and start early!
Show scholarly and critical
thinking/Include resources
Show why you need it, at this
time
Seek a funding source that
matches your goals

27. GENERAL TIPS – DO’S AND DON’T’S
Double Check
Obtain feedback – from grant
team/peers/mentors
Go after grants of all sizes!
Get assistance if you need one
DON’T EXCEED WORD
LIMIT!!!
Pay attention to detail!
Don’t Give up
Don’t Leave Important
Information out

28. WHERE TO access
FUNDING
opportunities?

29. Potential Sites of Funding Sources
• Colleagues, mentors, and administrators
• Grant offices at some institutions
• Acknowledgments in journal articles
• Published or posted announcements (calls for
proposals)
• Email lists in your field or at your institution
• Published or posted guides
• Internet searching

30. PLATFORMS
Opportunities for Youths
After School Africa (ASA)

31. Some Online Lists of Opportunities
 AuthorAID (https://authoraid.info/funding/)
 Newton’s List (http://newtonslist.crdfglobal.org/)
 Terra Viva Grants Directory (http://terravivagrants.org/)

32. OTHERS
 Dedicated WhatsApp Platforms
 Dedicated Facebook pages
 Twitter: ACSRM; Events Central

33. SOME FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES
 The World Academy of Sciences (TWAS) (https://twas.org/)
 International Foundation for Science (IFS) (http://www.ifs.se/)
 Partnership for Enhanced Engagement in Research (PEER)
(http://sites.nationalacademies.org/pga/peer/index.htm)
 Organization for Women in Science for the Developing World (OWSD)
(https://owsd.net/)
 TDR at the World Health Organization (http://www.who.int/tdr/en/)

34. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME!
+2349097015368
Fortune Effiong
on all SM handles
(FB, LinkedIn, Twitter)
effiongfortuneb@gmail.com
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