CFAs: NCDS and Mental Health Conditions Incentive Grants for Young Researchers

The goal of this call is to provide incentive grants to build the capacity of young researchers working on, and ideally based in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) to carry out implementation research to investigate integrated care pathways for the prevention and control of NCDs and mental health conditions, encompassing actions by the health sector and beyond for the whole-of-government and whole-of-society approaches to generate knowledge and support the scaling-up of proven cost-electives interventions.

Thematic Areas

• The following thematic areas can be investigated to generate evidence-based context-specific solutions and expand the knowledge base:
  • Integrated services for NCD prevention and control (integrating preventive and curative care, combining clinical and population health approaches):
    • Reducing exposure to risk factors through health promotion and primary prevention;
    • Early detection and management;
    • Surveillance to monitor trends in risk factors and diseases.
  • Integrated NCD and mental health agenda
  • Integrated NCD, mental health, and other programmatic areas (e.g. MNCH, reproductive health, HIV/AIDS, TB)
  • Integrated care across the delivery platforms (community, primary, secondary, tertiary)
  • Integrated NCD and mental health care across the life course

Expected Outputs 

• The following outputs are expected from the selected research projects:
  • Comprehensive research reports detailing findings and recommendations: These reports will provide an in-depth analysis of the research conducted, including the methodologies used, data collected, and the analyses performed. They will oOer clear, actionable recommendations based on the findings, aimed at policymakers, healthcare providers, and other stakeholders. These recommendations will be tailored to the specific needs and contexts of LMICs, ensuring they are practical and implementable.
  • Policy briefs summarizing the research outcomes and policy implications.

Expected Outcomes

• Outcome The programme aims to build the capacity of young researchers from LMICs to conduct implementation research, allowing them to act as catalysts for institutional change in NCD prevention and mental health promotion.

Eligibility Criteria

• Please take note of the following eligibility criteria for applicants:
  • Applicants must be under 35 years of age. A copy of a national passport or other valid identification may be requested for reference purposes only.
  • Applicants must be a national of LMIC and conduct research related to LMICs. Priority will be given to researchers enrolled in LMIC institutions.
  • Applicants must be enrolled in a graduate degree program (master’s in health or a related discipline) at an accredited university at the time of application. Doctoral degree candidates will be considered if they complete the project within 12 months from the date of the award.
  • Applicants must conduct research as part of their academic study.
  • Applicants must be fluent in English, as only submissions in English will be accepted at this time.
  • Applicants should be prepared to submit their Institutional Review Board approval of projects if required. In addition, the researcher must obtain a letter of permission from the thesis supervisor authorizing the conduct of the study and submission of the proposal to WHO for the incentive grant.
  • Applicants must show that they have other funding available for the project, as this grant is meant to be complementary, not the sole source of support.

Evaluation Criteria

• The following evaluation criteria will be applied:
  • Overarching:
    • The overall quality of the proposal
    • Potential impact of the research
  • Relevance:
    • The theme and scope of the proposals are well aligned with this call
    • Focus on multistakeholder action.
  • Scientific and technical merit:
    • Clear and well-defined research questions
    • Sound research design and methods
    • Qualifications of the proposed team
    • Detailed plans of activities concerning expected outputs
    • Innovative approaches.
  • Feasibility:
    • Feasible context-specific solutions
    • Realistic budget
    • Feasible implementation timeline
    • Risk assessment and management approach to the project
    • Proof of ethical and other relevant regulatory approval from an accredited institution(s).
  • Potential Impact:
    • Projected research results with the potential to influence policies and practices for NCD prevention and control and promotion of mental health and well-being at national/regional/global levels.

For more information, visit WHO.