Background
Established in 2008, the Tanzanian Partnership Program (TPP) is a long-term, collaborative alliance of local and international organizations dedicated to improving local livelihoods. TPP’s mission is to promote resilient communities in developing countries and create a model for sustainable prosperity. TPP has initiated work in six interrelated and strategic priorities that cut-across TPP’s research, development, and education abroad programs.
Purpose of TPP Research Grants
In light of TPP’s mission and MSU’s ‘world-grant ideal’, TPP’s research agenda unites development, education, and research that advance the frontiers of knowledge and the role of universities in transforming local communities and the lives of individuals. TPP Research Grants support:
Eligible applications must include interdisciplinary workgroups that are co-led by a faculty member from MSU and a faculty member from a Tanzanian university or research institution. To foster TPP’s long-standing relationships among partner institutions (Michigan State University; University of Dar es Salaam; the Dar es Salaam University College of Education, Sokoine University of Agriculture; and the Aga Khan Foundation) applications with workgroup members, especially faculty co-leads, from these institutions will be prioritized. Competitive applications will articulate the relevance of intended outcomes to TPP mission, strategic research priorities, and ongoing development initiatives. Research activities should occur in, nearby, or in an area in Tanzania with relevance to TPP partner communities (Milola in Lindi Rural District and Naitolia in Monduli District, Arusha Tanzania).
A TPP Research grant provides funding for two years with a total amount not exceeding $25,000. Funds may be used toward travel costs to develop relationships (both for MSU faculty and their partners coming from abroad), group meetings, workshops, campus visits for potential collaborators and seminar speakers, site visits for preliminary research (e.g. data collection, developing proof of concept), travel to funding agencies, identification of and responses to grant opportunities, etc. The MSU applicant faculty member’s college, department, and other institutes will be expected to share a cumulative 20% of the costs of the proposed activities to ensure that the commitment to long-term partnering is shared by departments and colleges.
The application deadline is April 23, 2018. Proposals should be submitted to .
All application materials should be submitted as one single PDF file, except for the budget, which should be completed from the template provided on the website and submitted as an Excel file.
Each TPP Research Grant proposal should include the following:
Note: Sample application materials and forms and FAQs are available on the TPP website including a Budget Template (updated 28 March 2018), the Current and Pending Support Form, a Sample Biosketch Outline, and a Sample 2-Page CV.
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Criterion |
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Alignment of proposed activities with TPP mission, strategic research priorities, local context, and development initiatives in partner communities |
20 |
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Interdisciplinary nature of workgroup membership and commitment to an inclusive, adaptive design approach yielding broader impacts (e.g. human-centered design) |
20 |
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Fostering new, innovative collaborations between MSU and Tanzanian organizations, especially among existing TPP partner universities, as well as other key stakeholders (local communities, governments, NGOs, and industry) |
10 |
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Intellectual merit /scientific design of proposed activities |
25 |
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Commitment to and likelihood of group members successfully pursuing external funding opportunities |
25 |
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Feasible, appropriate budget and budget justification |
Yes/No |
An interdisciplinary committee will review the proposals. Proposal feedback and funding decisions will be communicated within four weeks of the application deadline. The funds are expected to be spent within the funding period, July 1, 2018 – June 30, 2020.
Support: MSU and In-country TPP staff will provide logistical support for the operation of the workgroups. This would include training in human-centered design, facilitating in-country research clearance, assistance with travel logistics, access to Smartsheet project management software, contact for English-Swahili translation services, space for group meetings that include technology for virtual participation, inclusion in TPP’s emerging communication strategy for knowledge dissemination, grant intelligence, and assistance with proposal development.
Adaptive Learning: With the TPP staff and assessment experts, in the first quarter, each workgroup is expected to co-create a self-sustaining workplan that promotes regular interaction, reflective learning of internal workgroup processes, and utilization of funding over the entire funding period to meet team goals. Reporting from this process will inform project adaptations and understanding of interdisciplinary teamwork, which TPP believes is critical toward developing a model for sustainable prosperity, TPP’s mission. TPP staff will also continue to monitor the progress of the group after the initial two years of funding for our own records.
Reporting: Each workgroup is required to submit a progress report every six months and a final report after two years, outlining the activities, expenditures, and achievements of the workgroup. A final report is due two months after the 2-year anniversary of the awarding of the funds.
Annual meetings: TPP will hold annual meetings (likely in September/October or May) for workgroup representatives to present progress reports and discuss workplans. Meetings will provide opportunity for workgroups to interact with other workgroups and with TPP partners. In line with the participatory nature of these grants, it is expected that the majority of a workgroup will participate in these meetings, in-person or virtually, as feasible within budget constraints.
TPP Strategic Research Priorities:
2023 Annual Report
PROJECT HIGHLIGHT:
Ngwenya Temporary Health Clinic
PROJECT HIGHLIGHT:
Naitolia Retention Pond
FY2019-20 Research Grant Awardees
