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Process

A.1 Objective

To maintain a live pipeline of relevant and fundable opportunities aligned with THiNK's strategic priorities, ensuring that proposal development begins from a position of preparedness rather than in response to tight deadlines.

A.2 Roles and Responsibilities

Role

Responsibility

Team Lead (Brian)

Sets strategic funding priorities and makes the final Go/No-Go decision on applications.
Advises on indirect cost rates, cost-share requirements, and institutional commitments before proposal development begins.

Grants Maintainer (Conrad Kabuye)

Maintains the funding opportunity tracker, manages funding alerts, conducts first-pass eligibility screening, and coordinates grant pipeline reviews.

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Step 2 – Build and Maintain a Funding Opportunity Tracker

Maintain a continuously updated grants database containing, at minimum:

FIELD

  1. Funder

  1. Programme Name

  1. Award Amount

  1. Letter of Intent Deadline

  1. Full Proposal Deadline

  1. Eligibility Requirements

  1. Strategic Fit Score (1–5)

  1. Indirect Costs Allowed

  1. Cost-Sharing Requirements

  1. Programme Officer Contact

  1. Website/Link

  1. Current Status

  1. Assigned Lead

  1. Notes

Suggested status categories include:

  • Identified

  • Under Review

  • Eligible

  • Go Decision Pending

  • Proposal Development

  • Submitted

  • Shortlisted

  • Awarded

  • Awaiting Agreement

  • Awaiting Disbursement

  • Implementation

  • Closed

Step 3 – Monitor Strategic Funding Channels

Funding opportunities should be monitored across multiple channels, including:

Government and Public Funders

  • National research funding agencies

  • Ministries responsible for science, innovation, and digital transformation

International and Multilateral Organizations

  • IDRC

  • UNESCO

  • World Bank

  • WHO

  • United Nations Agencies

  • Regional Development Banks

  • UK Research and Innovation (UKRI)

Foundations and Philanthropic Organizations

  • Gates Foundation

  • Wellcome Trust

  • Ford Foundation

  • Mastercard Foundation

  • Mozilla Foundation

Regional and Pan-African Funders

  • African Academy of Sciences (AESA)

  • APHRC

  • TWAS

  • Masakhane Research Foundation

  • African Union programmes

Corporate and Industry Research Programmes

  • Google Research

  • Google.org

  • Microsoft Research

  • Open-source AI initiatives

  • Technology accelerators and innovation programmes

Funding Aggregators

  • Pivot-RP

  • GrantForward

  • Research Professional

  • GrantStation

  • Candid Foundation Directory

  • Grants.gov

Professional Networks

  • Funder newsletters

  • Professional associations

  • Conference announcements

  • Academic and practitioner networks

  • Collaborator referrals

Step 4 – Establish Passive Monitoring Systems

Funding searches should not depend solely on manual monitoring.

Establish:

  • Saved searches across funding databases.

  • Google Alerts for strategic keywords.

  • Subscriptions to funder newsletters.

  • Calendar reminders for recurring annual opportunities.

  • Automated deadline notifications where possible.

Examples of useful search terms include:

  • Responsible AI grants

  • AI Africa call for proposals

  • AI governance funding

  • Digital transformation research grants

  • Emerging technology funding opportunities

  • AI policy fellowships

Step 5 – Conduct a 15-Minute Opportunity Triage

Every opportunity should undergo an initial screening process assessing:

  1. Eligibility requirements.

  2. Deadline feasibility.

  3. Budget suitability.

  4. Strategic alignment.

  5. Institutional capacity.

  6. Existing funder relationships.

  7. Reporting and compliance obligations.

Applications that fail mandatory eligibility requirements should be immediately removed from consideration.


Step 6 – Make the Go/No-Go Decision

Evaluate each opportunity using the following criteria:

Criterion

Score

Strategic Alignment

1–5

Team Capacity

1–5

Competitiveness

1–5

Budget Adequacy

1–5

Probability of Success

1–5

Existing Relationships

1–5

Expected Impact

1–5

Borderline decisions should be discussed collectively rather than determined by a single individual.

Step 7 – Confirm Timelines and Commitments

Before committing to an application:

  • Assign proposal leads.

  • Confirm collaborator availability.

  • Establish internal deadlines.

  • Schedule required reviews and approvals.

  • Update the funding tracker accordingly.

Step 8 – Invest in Funder Relationships (Ongoing)

THiNK should actively cultivate relationships with priority funders by:

  • Attending webinars and office hours.

  • Introducing THiNK's work to programme officers.

  • Seeking feedback on unsuccessful applications.

  • Sharing publications and project outcomes when appropriate.

  • Participating in relevant research and policy communities.

Relationship-building should be viewed as a long-term investment rather than an activity that begins immediately before a funding call.

A.4 Review frequency

Activity

Frequency

Funding Alert Review

Weekly

Opportunity Tracker Review

Monthly

Funding Strategy Review

Quarterly

Funding Priorities Review

Annually

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