Prof. Imasiku A. Nyambe Director

Directorate of Research and Graduate Studies

Coordinator, UNZA IWRM Centre

inyambe@gmail.com; inyambe@unza.zm

1. Experiences and Best Practices for attracting

Research Grants

2. Setting up and Running Research Offices in

universities

17th March 2017

Radisson Blu Hotel, Lusaka, Zambia

DIRECTORATE OF RESEARCH AND GRADUATE STUDIES

(DRGS)

RESEARCH AND GRADUATE STUDIES PROGRAMMES

RESEARCH (Definition)

“The systematic investigation or study of a

specific topic in order to establish facts and

reach new conclusions” Adopted from Henry Njapau

“Of an investigation: according to rules laid down in

exact science for performing observations and testing

the soundness of conclusions”

The Concise Oxford Dictionary, 8th Edition, 1990

SCIENTIFIC (Definition)

PRODUCTS OF RESEARCH

• Discovery (new knowledge)

• Enhancement of knowledge

• Solutions [answer(s) to question(s)]

modified from Henry Njapau

• Innovation (a process and outcome – new

idea, device, or method)

• Policy decision

Best practice (Definition):

a method or technique that has been generally accepted as

superior to any alternatives because it produces results that

are superior to those achieved by other means or because it

has become a standard way of doing things, e.g., a

standard way of complying with legal or ethical

requirements.

Best practices are used to maintain quality and can be

based on self-assessment or benchmarking.

Best practice is a feature of accredited management

standards such as ISO 9000 and ISO 14001.

Experience (Definition):

the knowledge or mastery of an event or subject gained

through involvement in or exposure to it.

The concept of experience generally refers to know-how or

procedural knowledge, on-the-job training rather than book-

learning.

A person with considerable experience in a specific field can

gain a reputation as an Expert.

BOTTOM-UP AND TOP-DOWN FOR POLICY EFFECTIVENESS

6

POLICY

Translate Research Results & Field knowledge into Policy Messages

<Opportunities for research>

Translate Policy Objectives

into Effective Intervention Tools (for Policy-Implementation consistency)

Research Results &

Field Experiences

Participation in Policy Dialogue and Framework Discussion

Adopted from Denis Banda

CHANGES IN GOAL POSTS IN RESEARCH

FUNDING MODALITIES

MORE MONEY IN OUTCOME BASED RESEARCH

NO MONEY IN RESEARCH FOR THE SAKE OF IT OR MERE PROMOTIONS

Adopted from Denis Banda

8

Grants (Definition):

are non-repayable funds or products disbursed by

one party (grant makers), often a government

department, corporation, foundation or trust, to a

Recipient, often (but not always) a nonprofit entity,

educational institution, business or an individual.

Within project grants, there are:

fellowships, scholarships, research grants, training grants, experimental and demonstration grants, evaluation grants, planning grants, technical assistant grants, and many others.

Research Funding connotes funding obtained through a

competitive process, in which potential research projects are

evaluated and only the most promising receive funding – a

Research Grant.

Normally a grant is received through some form of "Grant Writing" - often called a proposal or an application is required.

Experiences and Best Practices

To ATTRACT Research Grants, my Experience

is that, (1) a granting agency can inquire about:

These grants require a lengthy process.

SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH PROPOSAL (Definition)

A document detailing, a systematic investigation of a specific topic

(question), according to scientific rules of performing observations

(experiment) and testing the soundness (statistics) of conclusions

(hypothesis), put forward to …. for consideration (funding). Adapted from

Henry Njapau

Institution having its own

equipment can help – UNZA

IWRM Centre – 104 Trained Remote Sensing / GIS

room

(i) Researcher(s)'s background,

(ii) Facilities to be used,

(iii) Equipment needed,

(iv) Time involved,

(v) Overall potential of the scientific

outcome.

11

2. Most grants fund a specific project and require some level of

compliance and reporting, which requires a GRANT WRITING skill

Experiences and Best Practices continued

Leading to submitting the proposal – Once the grant proposal

is submitted there may be a need to follow up with the funding organization.

Often a Grant Research proposal should

have:

• Sustainable outcomes and outputs

• Some growth outcomes for research / teams

• Competitive outcomes so as to attract

funding

Once Approved – you should

adhere to the rules, conditions,

deadlines etc.

The Call had specific Task Requirements prescribed in Germany

The Task Description

Financial Plan

Principal Investigator (PI) Contact Details

Declaration

THEREFORE at 1st SASSCAL Tranche Preparatory

Retreat - 13th-15th Dec, 2012

MESVVTEE Conference Room, Maxwelll House, Los

Angeles Boulevard, Lusaka

For Example: A call for proposal came through a well prescribed Southern African Science Service Centre for Climate Change and adaptive Land (SASSCAL)

3. Sources for Research Grants

• Go to Internet

• Example is:

Most research funding comes from two major sources:

(a) Corporations - through Research and Development, and

(b) Government (primarily carried out through universities and

specialized government agencies; often known as research

councils) – in Zambia – National Science and Technology

Council with its Strategic Research Fund (SRF)

OTHERS are:

(a) Charitable foundations also give some scientific research grants

e.g. for cure of cancer, malaria and AIDS.

14

Search Grants.gov for funding opportunities

Setting up and Running of Research offices in Universities

1

• FOR WHAT? MORE INCOME? RELEVANCY TO SOCIETY, GOVT., PRIVATE SECTOR or FOR SHOWING OFF? - IT CAN BE A DRAIN OF YOUR INCOME YOU GENERATE FROM STUDENTS

2

•CAN THE ESTABLISHMENT OF A RESEARCH OFFICE / CENTRE BE THE BRIDGING GAP TO CHALLENGES OF R & I IN ZAMBIA?

3

•WHAT ARE THE REQUIREMENTS IN THE UNIVERSITY CONTEXT?

15

As an institution you should put in place:

1- A strategic plan which among others - recognizes the

importance of research in the advancement of

knowledge, provision of a repertoire of evidence-based

information and facilitation of international academic

collaboration – policy, legislation, devel. plans, vision.

2. Define what you want to do in R and I – so called

Research Agendas

Establishing a Research Office

3. Human resource capacity – experience cadre to

undertake research – those that understand

infrastructure

5. Put in the softies e.g. University Research and Intellectual

Properties Rights Policies – for strengthening the scientific and

technological capability of researchers and foster collaboration

with other universities and other research institutes and forge

links with the industry/private sectors.

4. Research Infrastructure - Research Infrastructure

for undertaking the research

6. Research Funding – UNZA has relied on fewer

sources which include both internal and external

sources.

7. Dissemination of Findings – for uptake of Research Outputs

– create platforms e.g. Postgraduate Seminars at UNZA

TERM II 2016/17 Academic Year Sunday 5th March, 2017 Arrival of all students

Monday 6th March, 2017 Classes begin (8 Weeks)

Friday 28th April,2017 Classes end

Monday 1st May,2017 to

Friday 5th May, 2017 Study Break (1 Week) / Postgraduate Seminar Week

Monday 8th May, 2017 to

Friday 26th May, 2017 Mid-Year Examinations (2 Weeks)

Saturday 27th May, 2017 Term Break (2 Weeks)

TERM III Sunday 11th June, 2017 Arrival of All Students

Monday 12th June,2017 Classes Begins (9 weeks)

Friday 11th August, 2017 Classes End

Monday 14th August,2017 to

Friday 18th August, 2017 Study Break (1 Week) / Post Graduate Seminar Week

Monday 21st August,2017 to

Friday 8th September, 2017 Final Examinations (3 Weeks)

Saturday 9th September, 2017 Vacation Begins

Wednesday 13th September, 2017 to

Friday 15th September, 2017 Deferred Examinations (3 days)

Monday 25th September, 2017 School Graduate Studies Committees sit to consider Examination

Results

Monday 2nd October,2017 Board of Graduate Studies Meeting to consider Examination Results

Wednesday 9th September, 2017 to

11th September, 2017 Supplementary Examinations (3 days)

Mainly disseminated by UNZA academic members of staff at local

and international floras but we need to do more local.

DRGS was established in 1984 basically to

COORDINATE TWO Functions:

DIRECTORATE OF RESEARCH & GRADUATE STUDIES (DRGS)

RESEARCH

UNIVERSITY OF ZAMBIA

RESEARCH BOARD

POSTGRADUATE

PROGRAMMES

GRADUATE BOARD

UNZA established 1966

Currently 2,612 employees out of which 674 Academic staff, 50

Professors, 1,938 are technical / support staff, and 26, 000

students

1. DRGS AT UNZA

4. Functions of DRGS a) Coordinating, monitoring and organising the research and

postgraduate programmes of the university;

b) Carry out the administration of research grants and research

contracts by controlling and disbursing the research funds to the

schools and units.

c) Serve as a research link between the University of Zambia and

other research institutions including industry;

d) Administer the Research Affiliation Scheme of the University of

Zambia so as to ensure that, among other things, external

researchers follow correct Visa application Protocols and not

come in as tourists;

e) Facilitate linkages between the University of Zambia and other

universities within and outside the SADC region; facilitate

linkages between the University of Zambia and political

leaderships, Members of Parliament (MPs) and Government

Ministries, and

g) Maintain research records pertaining to the University’s research

activities.

DEFINE THE REQUIREMENTS e.g. No Maters or PhD student can

graduate without giving a PG Seminar; Publishing an article

Postgraduate Side

Guidelines on how to Prepare Manuscripts to

submit to the DRGS Journals are also available

UNZA Journals – All are welcome to these Journals

Research side combined with PG programmes

Research Problem

Research Concept

Research

Challenge

Ideas

Research

Results

Solutions

Unanswered

questions

Dissemination

of results

Journal Papers

Technology

Development

Products

Processes

Services

Business

Development

Research

Process Utilisation

Basic and Applied Research – finding

innovative solutions Technology Transfer

THE RESEARCH AND INNOVATION CYCLE

……….investing in key competencies and expertise will build a good research profile,

develop new knowledge and attract public funding. Innovation is vital to success and

sustainability…………………..

Research Ethical Clearance

DIRECTORATE OF RESEARCH AND GRADUATE STUDIES

(DRGS)

1. Developed Research

Policy and Intellectual

Property Rights 2009

2. Developed Research

Policy Implementation

Manual

3. Ethical Clearance of

Research Proposals by

Research Ethics

Committees under DRGS

namely:

a) Humanities and

Social Sciences

Research Ethics

Committee

b) Biomedical Research

Ethics Committee

c) Natural and Applied

Sciences Research

Ethics Committee

4. Affiliating Research

Fellows from within and

outside Zambia

5. Conducting

Workshops on

Capacity Building in

Research such as

methodologies and

grants and proposal

writing

6. Provision of Research

Funds to enable

Academic Staff to

conduct Research:

SEED MONEY

ranging from K20,000

per School

7. Facilitation of School

Symposia K45,000

per School – Given 2

Schools per year.

Capacity building

Workshop

What has DRGS DONE TO ENCOURAGE RESEARCH?

What has DRGS DONE TO ENCOURAGE RESEARCH?

8. Subscription to Research Africa

(Pty) Limited on-line databases for

funding opportunities for research,

fellowships and scholarships. UNZA

has subscribed for a Silver Licence.

Through Corporate Graduate Link (CoGL)

Programme ZACCI has established a DESK as a

focal point for universities to interact with Industries in

Zambia in terms of Postgraduate Research, interns,

curricula, consultancy and other opportunities

For UNZA, DRGS will assume the entry point for

ZACCI and its partners

Main objective of CoGL is to build a Graduate

Knowledge Transfer Link for Job Markets for

Graduates in the industry

What has DRGS DONE TO ENCOURAGE RESEARCH

continued?

COGL linked to UNZA Website

• CLICK on the Corporate Graduate Link Progr…

• Brings you to Home Page

• Register as a Student or as a Company

Incubator

EDUCATION AND TRAINING:

1. POSTGRADUATE IWRM DIPLOMA, MASTERS IN IWRM BY RESEARCH ONLY AND

PHDS.

1. TWELVE MASTERS STUDENTS – 3 COMPLETED IN PHASE I, AND 8 TO

COMPLETE IN 2012. 5 TO BE ENROLLED IN PHASE II (2012-2013)

WE HAVE 7 MASTER STUDENTS ON SELF SPONSORSHIP. 20 POSTGRADUATE

DIPLOMAS - 20 COMPLETED – 15 ENROLLED IN 2012

2. TWO PHDs IN PHASE I AND 3 ENROLLED IN PHASE II – 2 OF THESE ARE

ALREADY MEMBERS OF STAFF AT UNZA FOR THE SUSTAINABILITY OF THE

CENTRE

3. DEVELOPED CURRICULUM WITH UNIVERSITIES OF SIEGEN,

GERMANY AND COPPERBELT UNIVERSITY – ENVIRONMENTAL

ENGINEERING AND MONITORING MANAGEMENT – THE GERMAN

ACADEMIC EXCHANGE SERVICE (DAAD) SUPPORTED.

4. DEVELOPED CURRICULUM WITH UNIVERSITIES OF

SIEGEN, GERMANY, DAR-ES-SALAAM, TANZANIA,

KENYATTA, KENYA, MAKERERE, UGANDA – INTEGRATED

SANITATION MANAGEMENT – ACP – EU COOPERATION

PROGRAMME IN HIGHER EDUCATION (EDU -LINK).

2. UNZA – INTEGRATED WATER RESOURCES MANAGEMENT (IWRM) CENTRE

Master Students doing field

mapping

7. IN-SERVICE COURSES (INCLUDING SPECIALIZED COURSES):

PARTICIPATED IN THE DEVELOPMENT AND TRAINING OF DRILLERS

FROM THE WATER MINISTRIES AND PRIVATE SECTOR – ON COURSE

CALLED BASIC GEOLOGY AND HYDROGEOLOGY

APPLIED AND COLLABORATIVE RESEARCH

APPLIED IWRM RESEARCH PROJECTS:

1. COMMISSIONED 13 APPLIED RESEARCH PROJECTS ON VARIOUS ASPECTS

OF WATER

2. INSTITUTE FOR BIOGEOCHEMISTRY AND POLLUTANT DYNAMICS, ETH-

ZÜRICH AND SURFACE WATERS – RESEARCH AND MANAGEMENT, EAWAG,

SWITZERLAND ON COLLABORATIVE RESEARCH ON AFRICAN DAMS

PROJECT: ADAPT - 3 ZAMBIANS STUDENTS INVOLVED – ONE GRADUATED

IN 2011 AND 2 TO COMPLETE IN 2012.

3. TIGER PROJECT ID 21: PROGRAMME TO DEVELOP IWRM IN ZAMBIA. THE

SATELLITE DISH TO RECEIVE SATELLITE IMAGES – EUROPEAN SPACE

AGENCY SUPPORTED.

4. THE COMPETING FOR WATER IN NAMWALA: CONFLICT AND COOPERATION

PROJECT (2007- 2011) - A COLLABORATIVE COMPARATIVE RESEARCH

PROGRAMME WITH THREE DANISH PARTNERS - DANISH INSTITUTE FOR

INTERNATIONAL STUDIES (DIIS) AS THE LEAD, NORDECO AND DHI WATER

AND ENVIRONMENT JOINTLY UNDERTAKEN IN FIVE COUNTRIES; BOLIVIA,

DENMARK, MALI, NICARAGUA, VIETNAM, AND ZAMBIA. DANIDA

SUPPORTED.

5. SIGNED MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING WITH UNIVERSITY OF

MICHIGAN, ANN ARBOR, USA, BOISE STATE UNIVERSITY, BOISE, USA,

CENTRAL STATE UNIVERSITY, OHIO, USA.

Postgraduate Diploma

Students graduating

Satellite Dish for

receiving satellite

images

Competing for Water

Stakeholders Workshop

Competing for Water Research

Team Conducting interviews

Student visit at LWSC Treatment

PlantsAt Manchinchi and in Kafue

Student participants at International

Water Forums

Student presenting his Study

Findings

Master Students doing field mapping

PhD and Master Students

Doing field work

30

Examples of a mix of Reseach Funding – Prof. Nyambe a) Sept. 2016 – Dec. 2019 (new): Collaborative Project EU-Horizon 2020 –

DAFNE: Use of a Decision – Analytic Framework to explore the water-energy-

food Nexus in complex and trans-boundary water resources systems of fast

growing developing countries to start in May, 2016; Euro 188, 395:00. 1 PhD

& 2 Masters

b) Jan. 2016 – Dec. 2019 (new): Towards Demand Driven Teaching in Uganda and

Zambia (DDT) Project among universities of Makerere, Uganda, Siegen, Germany

and Zambia with Partners from Chambers of Commerce and Private Sector.

Zambia Country Coordinator. Incubator Centre at DRGS funds from DAAD

c) July 2015 – Dec. 2019: Capacity building in IWRM at PhD, Masters, Postgraduate

Diploma, and short courses at IWRM Centre. Funded by World Bank through

Department of Water Affairs, Ministry of Mines, Energy and Water Development.

Prof. Imasiku A. Nyambe - UNZA IWRM Centre Coordinator. (Quarter 3, 2015).

US$600,000. 2 PhDs, 4 Masters, 10 IWRM Postgraduate Diploma

d) Mar. 2015 – April, 2017: Development of novel magnetic sorbents modified with

Moringa seed protein for the extraction of nitro based explosives, poly aromatic

hydrocarbons and heavy metals in surface water bodies in the copper mining areas

of Kitwe, Copperbelt Province, Zambia. Funded by National Science and

Technology Council of Zambia. Prof. I. A. Nyambe - Principal Investigator.

(Quarter 1, 2015). ZMK140,000 ($20,000).

31

Examples of a mix of Reseach Funding – Prof. Nyambe e) Aug. 2013 – Dec 2016: Task ID 191: Developing water quantity and quality

database for Western Zambia under the Southern African Science Service Centre

for Climate Change and Adaptive Land Management (SASSCAL) with support

from the Germany Government. Prof. I. A. Nyambe - Principal Investigator.

Euro 309,258:00. One PhD and two Masters. – one MSc graduated 24/02/17

f) July 2013 – Dec 2016: A Sanitation Project on “Characterisation of pit contents

and developing a scientific understanding of processes occurring in onsite dry pit

latrines systems in low income urban areas in Zambia”. Funds secured from

Water Resources Commission (WRC) of South Africa as a sub-contractor of the

WRC for the Belinda and Bill Gates Foundation Grant Project. Prof. I. A.

Nyambe - Principal Investigator. US$200,000. One PhD and one Masters.

g) Jan 2012 – Dec 2016: Climate Change and Rural Institutions Project (CCRI)

among Danish Institute for International Studies (Lead) and institutions in

Uganda, Nepal and Vietnam. Prof. I. A. Nyambe - Country Coordinator.

DKK1,028,639:00 ($180,463:00) . One PhD student.

h) 2008 – Dec 2014: Establishing the UNZA IWRM Centre through the MEWD –

capacity building in IWRM (Postgraduate Diploma, Masters and PhD in IWRM)

funded by Danida. Prof. I. A. Nyambe – Proposer. Coordinator of UNZA

IWRM Centre – US$ 5million.

Factor Driven Economy

Zambia

Efficiency Driven

Knowledge Driven Economy

Zambia ‘s Competitiveness

• GOAL is “to establish an effective and efficient National Science, Technology and Innovation System for increased productivity and competitiveness” with a strategic focus that will enhance linkage between research and industry, increase human resource capacity in R&D institutions and improve the infrastructure and equipment.

Because of our limited scientific and

innovation record.

Implementation is lacking

Conclusion

• Know the requirements of the Organisation you are targeting your grant proposal

• Understand the call • Follow the set-out procedures and guidelines

On Research Offices / Centre: Mongu University

College and Nkwame Khruma University College

Announcement, Call for papers, deadline of abstracts April 15, 2017