Window IX – Partnerships and Multi-Stakeholder Collaboration

Overview

Window IX is NRIF's most collaborative funding mechanism, designed to break down siloes between government, academia, the private sector, and civil society. It funds complex, multi-stakeholder research and innovation initiatives that require the combined expertise and resources of at least three organisations from at least two different sectors. Window IX recognises that Gambia's most significant development challenges require solutions that cross disciplinary, institutional, and sectoral boundaries.

Consortium Requirements

• Minimum 3 institutions must be named in the application, each with a substantive role and financial allocation
• Minimum 2 sectors must be represented (e.g., university + private sector, government + civil society + academic)
• A formal Consortium Agreement must be signed by all partners before grant disbursement
• A clear lead institution must be identified for fiduciary and contractual purposes

Eligible Research and Innovation Areas

Window IX proposals are welcome from all thematic areas but must demonstrate genuine cross-sectoral value-add — i.e., why does this initiative require a multi-stakeholder approach? Proposals that merely aggregate activities from single-sector windows without genuine integration will not score well. Particularly encouraged are:

• Innovation ecosystems development (academia-government-private sector collaboration)
• National data and statistics systems (government-academic-civil society)
• Climate resilience and environmental governance (multi-ministry, multi-sector)
• Health systems strengthening (academic-government-community)
• Economic diversification research (government-private-academic)

Consortium Eligibility

• Minimum of three (3) formally registered institutions, each from a different organisation
• Institutions must represent at least two (2) of the following sectors: government, academic/research, private sector, civil society/NGO
• Each consortium member must have a substantive role and a budget allocation of at least 10% of the total grant
• All consortium members must be legally registered and in good standing in The Gambia or, for international partners, in their country of registration

Lead Applicant Requirements

• The lead institution must be registered in The Gambia and will bear fiduciary responsibility for the entire grant
• The lead must have a functional financial management system and a track record of managing grants or contracts of similar scale

Documentation

• A draft Consortium Agreement outlining roles, financial arrangements, IP ownership, data sharing, and dispute resolution must accompany the application (the final signed agreement will be required before disbursement)