Developing IFS Research Proposals AuthorAID Proposal Writing Workshop June 2011

Read the Guidelines... and Get the Reader on your Side Proposal evaluators are, like scientists, extremely busy people They are human beings Writing a good proposal is not just a scientific exercise, it is a psychological exercise also.

Writing Project Proposals Get the Reader on Your Side Clarity of expression Avoid abbreviations, jargon, colloquialisms Short words are better than long ones Avoid repetition, redundant expressions Logical Order Be precise No spelling mistakes, please!

A good proposal is always readable, well-organized, grammatically correct, and understandable.

Summary of Evaluation Criteria Applicant's training and experience Realistic goals and time plan Well-formulated hypothesis/research question Up-to-date knowledge of the field Sound experimental design/ research methods Relevant to local and regional priorities and needs Likely to produce new knowledge Available and requested resources

The IFS Research Grant Application Form

Project Title Title should be informative and clear. A non-specialist scientist should be able to understand from the title what your research is about.

Project Title Use a working title for later modification Appealing to an audience that has a general (and specialised) knowledge of the field. It encourages the reviewer to keep reading.

The Summary Should be short Normally the most important part of your proposal Should be the best-worded, most concise and most appealing part of your proposal Is sometimes the only part of the proposal that is carefully read by reviewers

Suitable Summary content is: Your credibility (you and your organization’s abilities to carry out the research) – a capability statement Background/problem or need you wish to address The research objectives The procedures and methods that will be used Special resource needs of the project The likely outcomes and benefits to be derived from the research

Training and Experience Sections 8.1 – Do you have a record of publications in the proposed area of research? 8.2 Describe your results relating to your proposed project 8.3 Do you have strong institutional support? 8.4 Are you in contact with other researchers working on similar topics? 8.5 Have you indicated that you would like to establish contacts with leaders in the field?

Training and Experience 8.1 Do you have a record of publications in the proposed area of research? If needs be, cite reports, papers in press etc. If needs be, cite the less relevant publications Don’t leave this section blank.

Training and Experience 8.2 Describe your results relating to your proposed project Another opportunity to demonstrate your experience in the research topic. How does the proposed research relate to your experience? If no relevant experience, where does the topic come from? Try not to leave it blank!

Training and Experience 8.3 Do you have strong institutional support? Mention the mandate of your institute. How does the research topic link to the mandate and work in your department? Say how your colleagues might help you with e.g. any techniques with which you are not so familiar. Do not give the impression you are working alone at your institute. If you are, say why.

Training and Experience 8.4 Are you in contact with other researchers working on similar topics? This section indicates the level of national and international collaboration Please include contacts’ direct address!

Training and Experience 8.5 Have you indicated that you would like to establish contacts with leaders in the field? You will find these people in publications and.... Googling helps to find these people also… Please indicate their direct !

Literature Survey Up-to-date knowledge of the field Sections 9.2 – 9.3 Have you convinced the reviewer that you are familiar with the state of research in this field? Both locally and internationally? Your research should lead to new knowledge that complements what has already been done Should further elaborate why the problem is important not just in your country but if relevant, in other parts of the world. Say what is known and not known

Objectives What you want to achieve by your research/activities (normally what specifically will be achieved if the hypothesis is shown to be true - e. g. to provide some specific, new knowledge that can help the farmers in your country) Should specify the measurable outcomes of your project. NOT the goals which are more conceptual, ultimate and abstract (e.g. food security, poverty reduction)

Realistic objectives and time plan Sections 9.4, 9.6, and 9.12 Can the work be done in the time allocated? Are the objectives of the project likely to be reached? Many projects fail because they are overly ambitious

Desired outcomes resulting directly from your research Should address need or problem statement Should be brief, focused, to-the-point No more than two to five objectives Each should flow logically to the next No one objective should make or break the others or the overall project Project Objectives

What is it good for? It is a statement of an objective in such a way that it can be tested by experimentation A hypothesis – prediction or explanation of the relationship between one or more independent variables A hypothesis translates the objective into a clear, precise prediction of expected outcomes. All variables relevant to the study should be identified when formulating a hypothesis A well-reasoned hypothesis focuses the mind on what has to be done in order to meet the objectives of the project Scientific Hypothesis

Objectives/Hypothesis - example Objective: To increase maize yields by application of green manure Scientific Hypothesis: Application of green manure will increase yields of maize

Scientific Hypothesis Better hypothesis for this objective: The use of green manure in maize cultivation will be economically competitive or superior to the current fertiliser regimes used by farmers The use of green manure will be environmentally sound

Check the logic of the sequencing of activities Check that the activities reflect all your objectives Consult a statistician – do not leave it until after the experiment Methods/Experimental Plan

Reasonably accurate or notional? 11.1 Equipment – cost and suitability 11.2 Expendable supplies 11.3 Literature – books, reasonable internet costs 11.4 Local travel (justify in 11.6). Do not include conferences or scientific meetings 11.5 Extra manpower costs (justify in 11.6) Major budget lines justified?? (see 11.6) Some applicants simply state e.g. USD 5,000 for field costs – no justification.... Budget

Finally, share your proposal with your colleagues for feedback

Preparing for the next time – Revising your project If not funded, don’t give up! Ask sponsor for reviewer’s written comments, if available (IFS provides written these). Ask if it would be worth submitting another proposal in the future. When revising, be responsive to reviewer comments.

Thank you! International Foundation for Science Karlavägen 108, 5th floor SE Stockholm Sweden web: tel: