WRITING A SUCCESSFUL RESEARCH GRANT’S PROPOSAL BY: PROFESSOR ADEOLA ADENIKINJU Director, Centre for Petroleum, Energy Economics and Law University of Ibadan
Contents ❖ Introduction ❖ Overview Of Grant Proposals ❖ The Project Time-line ❖ The Budget ❖ Budget Justification ❖ Conclusion
Introduction A proposal is an outline or a description of the intended research. It is expected to address the following basic questions • What is the problem to be investigated? • Why is the problem socially and scientifically important enough to be worth studying? • What objectives will be achieved through the research?
Introduction • How will the research process be carried out? • What types of results are expected from the research? • Who are the potential beneficiaries of these results? Note • Research proposals are used to assess your expertise in the area in which you want to conduct research • Your knowledge of the existing literature • The quality and originality of your ideas and the feasibility of the research project.
Introduction contd.. Some factors to consider in successful grant application; ➢ Increasingly competitive environment ➢ There is a changing paradigm: ➢ Increasing preference for multidisciplinary proposals ➢ Increasing preference for collaborative research ➢ Impactful proposal – problem solving and innovative ➢ Strict adherence to grant requirements
Introduction contd.. ➢ Some Donors require shared funding: institutional contributions (in-kind) ➢ Past experiences and publications in similar area ➢ Donors can be classified into two: ➢ General Purpose grant donors ➢ Specialised donors
Types of Grant Funded Proposals There are two major types of grant-funded proposals. These are solicited and unsolicited proposals. Solicited Grant Proposals This usually come in form of announcement ( flyers/brochures/posters/websites) and inform applicants on the following: • The donor/funding agency and its priorities • The background to the projects and its objectives
Types of Grant Funded Proposals • The scope of the research • Eligibility issues and structure of the proposal • Grant award procedure • The submission process • Who and where to contact for further information
Solicitations • First step to submit a proposal is to identify a solicitation. The most common research funding solicitations include Research Funding Announcements(RFAs), Request for Proposals(RFPs), Proposal Announcements(PAs), and Funding Opportunity Announcements(FOAs) • Among the importance of solicitations is to state whether the budget is flexible or fixed. • To clarify any question related to the budget, the best resources for this are the Office of Sponsored Projects(OSP), Research Grant Managers(RGMs) or Department Research Administrators(DRAs).
Unsolicited Grant Proposals ➢ This type of grant proposal is usually not advertised. The applicant must therefore provide the grant agency with an justification for the proposal. It should provide evidence that the problem exists and that the proposed project will contribute to a solution Steps in writing Unsolicited Grant proposals Step 1: Formulating the project idea (the existence of a problem, an unmet need, condition that requires change. Step 2: Developing and writing a Concept paper. An unsolicited research proposal usually starts as a concept paper or a letter of intent.
Steps in writing Unsolicited Grant Proposals Cont d. Step 3: Features of the Concept Paper/ Letter of Intent: • The research problem and the need to address it • The objective of the study/methodology • Anticipated results and its value-added to knowledge and/or policy-making Step 4: Obtaining peer group reaction and support of collaborating individuals or agencies Step 5: Identifying and communicating with potential donors Step 6: Writing a full proposal/ follow-up action
Criteria often Considered in Assessing Grant-Funded Proposal • Scientific merit (relevance) • Novelty of concept • Quality and clarity of written application • Identification of the research problem • Focus of research objectives • Overall methodology • Research viability • General mastery of the subject matter • Research experience of applicant and strength of collaboration
Tips on Wining a Research Grant • Adequate knowledge of the funding agencies • Adequate knowledge of the research agenda of the funding agencies ( please note that the funders are not always inclined to fund projects that do not address the key/issues in their research agenda • Adequate knowledge of the general and specific guidelines for the development of the project document • Knowledge of some past proposals that have received funding from the agencies • Information on the foregoing can be obtained on the website of the funding agencies
Structure of a Grant Proposal ➢ A research proposal may include the following sections: • Title page • Introduction/executive summary • Brief literature review • Statement of the research problems • Research objectives • Methodology • Expected result • Time-line • Budget • References
Project Time-Line This provides the reader with a timeline that shows the chronological order in which the activities listed under each goal heading will be undertaken and/or completed. • It also include information about how/when funds that are awarded will be spent to support each activity. It is also a graphic (tabular) description of the project implementation plan. It lists all project-related activities, persons responsible for their execution, and the time frame for their implementation. • The timeline and budget estimates are important components of any proposal. Their importance stems from the fact that they may serve as a determining factors in the success or failure of the proposal itself
Importance of Project Time-Line • Helps reviewers determine how thorough the investigator is in conceiving and implementing project-related activities • Lists major milestones of the project and when they are to be accomplished • Serve as a road map in project implementation to track progress • Means of accountability since it sets out who is responsible for which activity
Sample of a Project Timeline September October August Activity 10 11 12 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 Week Number Phase 1 Data design/Desktop Research - Sampling size - Number of questions - Target respondent - Literature Survey Phase 2 Data Collection -Administering of questionnaire -interviews -focus group Discussion -Collection of secondary data from various sources Phase 3 Data Analysis - Inputting data -Analyze data with different Techniques Phase 4 Data report -Finding -Policy Recommendation -Conclusion Phase 5 Presentation of Draft -Sending First Draft Phase 6 Correction -Correction of Draft report -Submission of Complete Report
Tips For Developing a Realistic Project Time-line • Develop activities in the time-line that correspond with those in the body of the proposal. • Follow closely the guideline provided by funding agency • Write time-line after completion of entire proposal • Develop a simple and easy to understand time-line. • Make time-line realistic: reflect the available time the researcher is willing to commit to the project
Budget Administration Process • Every budget should start with budgeting for the whole grant and where applicable a budget for each phase of it or according to the pattern of funding expected from the grantor/donor agency. • The budget must state in clear terms what is to be done at each level • The budget must be achievable, practicable and easily understood • Expenditure should be planned to coincide with amount to be available at each stage • There should be no expenditure commitment in year one for money expected to be received for year two • The budget must be detailed.
Characteristics of a Good Budget Planning • A good budget is constructed around the project plan/methodology • Project plan is built around what you need to do to get the job done • The budget should reflect the spending you need to do to get the job done • Personnel costs - What skills do I need and for how long? • Equipment – does the project have specific equipment costs that can’t be met from existing equipment; should I hire, borrow or buy? • Project maintenance e.g. survey costs, postage, catering for workshops, incentive payments for participants). • Travel & Accommodation (car hire, airfares, taxi, per diem, accommodation) – where do I need to go and how long do I need to be there?
Tips for Writing a Good Budget • Be comprehensive: Take time to list out all activities that have budget implications including hiring of personnel, purchase of equipment, travels etc. • Be reasonable: add only what you need to successfully execute the project. Remember that your budget will be assessed by experienced reviewers who know what is reasonably required to implement the project, • Be realistic: your figures should be a reflection of the reality of the situation as at the time of writing proposal. It may be necessary to conduct a market survey to determine actual price of items
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