IRAD researchers build capacity on grants applications.

It is part of the activities of the Improvement of Family Farming Production and Poverty Reduction project, known by its French acronym, APAFReP. The workshop has as objectives to train researchers on the logical framework approach in the preparation of grant applications (how to build the problem tree, the objective tree, the results chain, etc.); train researchers on how to develop a budget based on the logical framework matrix; and train the researchers on cost eligibility and the general principles related to contract modification.

Speaking at the opening of the workshop, the National Coordinator of PDTIE, Etobe Jean Merlin, said research cannot be carried out without financing, adding that grants and subventions are thus needed to do proper research.

Etobe noted that the researchers are thus being trained on how to raise financing for research projects by applying for grants.

Meanwhile, representing the Director General of IRAD, the Deputy Director General, Dr Ngome Francis, said the researchers will be trained to be able to attract funding from international donors.

“We know that you are rich in research ideas. We therefore want to transform these research ideas that are sleeping in you, into research and development projects like the APAFReP project, through the capture of competitive funds from international donors,” he told the participants.

“It must be said that Cameroon pays annual contributions in the framework of multilateral cooperation and sometimes does not capitalise on these contributions in the framework of calls for proposals because some of our researchers do not know the expectations of donors,” Dr Ngome added. 

He further told the researchers that: “We are making this training more about making your workplaces intense with research and innovation activities. We know that you are rich in imagination and capable of capturing important funding if you understand the expectations of donors”.

“State subsidies are not always sufficient to meet all the concerns of scientific research. This is why researchers are called to seek external funding. Here is a good opportunity that is offered …through this training to understand the assembly of the files of calls for proposals and to attract international funding,” the Deputy Director General said.

“The trainers are experienced researchers who have successfully written numerous projects throughout their careers,” he noted.

He went ahead to assure the researchers that they will benefit from the rich experience of trainers

“This training comes at an opportune time, because the APAFReP project has launched a call for proposals for micro-projects and the knowledge acquired during this training will be useful not only to better compete, but especially you will be better equipped and edified to respond to other calls for proposals during your scientific career,” he disclosed to the participants.

One of the participants, Dr Dazak Doumba, said she was pleased to be part of the training as she thinks it will go a long way to boost her career as a researcher.