Window II – Cross-Cutting Capacity Strengthening

Overview

Window II addresses the foundational human capital and institutional capacity gaps that constrain research and innovation across all sectors in The Gambia. It funds training programmes, academic curriculum development, professional development initiatives, mentorship schemes, knowledge-exchange platforms, and systems that strengthen the ability of Gambian institutions to produce, absorb, and apply knowledge for development.

Thematic Priorities

• Higher education curriculum reform to embed research and innovation competencies
• Postgraduate scholarship and research fellowship programmes
• Faculty development and academic staff training (research methods, academic writing, grant management)
• Institutional research management systems (ethics committees, IP management, data governance)
• Gender and inclusion mainstreaming in research and innovation ecosystems
• Science communication and public engagement with research
• Knowledge management platforms and open-access repositories

Expected Outcomes

• Increased number of trained researchers, innovators, and technical specialists in The Gambia
• Strengthened institutional capacity across universities, government, and civil society
• More inclusive research ecosystems with improved gender and youth participation
• Enhanced linkages between knowledge producers and policy/practice communities

Cross-Cutting Requirements

All proposals under this window must include explicit strategies for gender mainstreaming, youth inclusion, and disability-inclusive programming. At least 40% of direct beneficiaries should be women or girls. Proposals must also include a clear knowledge-sharing plan for disseminating lessons learned to the broader sector.

Eligible Lead Applicants

• Universities and higher education institutions accredited in The Gambia (e.g., UTG, GAMCOTRAP, American International University West Africa)
• Government agencies with a mandate for training, human resource development, or education
• Local Government Authorities with documented capacity development mandates
• Registered civil society organisations with demonstrable experience in capacity building

Consortium Requirements

• Consortia of two or more institutions are strongly encouraged and will receive additional consideration during scoring
• At least one consortium member must be a knowledge-producing institution (university or research body)

Eligibility Conditions

• Applicants must have been legally registered and operational for at least two years
• Proposals must demonstrate that capacity gaps have been assessed and documented prior to submission
• Activities focused exclusively on physical construction are ineligible under this window