The Research Partnership Grant (RPG) aims to supports Swiss researchers in seeding or strengthening existing collaborations with researchers in Africa by funding early-stage joint activities that lay the groundwork for larger collaborative projects and position the collaboration to secure subsequent external funding.
Eligibility
Lead applicant: Researchers at any career stage affiliated with a Swiss higher-education institution (cantonal universities, Swiss federal institutes of technology, federal and cantonal research institutes, universities of applied sciences and universities of teacher education).
The Swiss lead applicant must be employed as a scientist before, during and on the project completion date. The Lead Applicant shall submit the jointly prepared proposal, developed in collaboration with the African partner. All project-related correspondence with the Leading House will be handled exclusively through the Swiss lead applicant.
Eligible Partner Countries
All African countries except the Maghreb region and Egypt.
Eligible Scientific Domains and Methodologies
Open to every scientific field and supports an extensive range of research approaches and methods including laboratory research, desk studies, fieldwork, feasibility or pilot studies, archival work, qualitative interviews, surveys, artistic practices, design thinking, and other collaborative formats.
Funding
The mutual commitment of the applicants in Switzerland and the African country will serve as an indicator of the strength of the partnership and the project’s financial sustainability. This includes financial co-funding and in-kind contributions by all partners and possibly third-party contributions.
Maximum Eligible Budget (by Research Career Stage)
Early Career: up to CHF 15,000
Intermediate Career: up to CHF 25,000
Advanced Career: up to CHF 40,000
Project Duration
Early Career: 3 – 10 months
Intermediate Career: 3 – 12 months
Advanced Career: 3 – 10 months
Evaluation and selection
- Scientific relevance and excellence
- Mutual interest of the project at national and international level
- Originality of the aims and objectives
- Appropriateness of the methodology
- Feasibility of the project
- Capacity building
- Experience and past performance of applicants
- Strength of collaboration and complementary skills of research partners with respect to the project
- Budget (Cost sharing)
- Contributions by all involved partners, including funding and in-kind contributions