[harmonie]

When developing proposals, one of the biggest challenges is determining whether a research idea is not only compelling, but also fundable. As grant writers, program officers, researchers, and support staff, we all bring different lenses to this process.

What strategies, tools, or signals do you use to identify research areas with strong funding potential?

Consider sharing insights on things like:

• How you track emerging trends or priorities

• Ways to assess alignment between an idea and a funder’s mission or strategic plan

• Indicators that a topic has strong societal, economic, or scientific relevance

• Methods for evaluating gaps in the literature or unmet needs

• How you engage PIs or stakeholders to refine concepts

• Any red flags that suggest an idea may not be competitive

Looking forward to learning from everyone’s approaches!

@onchari @gkiprotich @Benard Ondiek @Maphe @Ann Waithaka @mnkonge @Tutu @mwende

Discussion

[Desmond Angira]

Great question. To identify fundable research ideas, I usually track emerging trends through funder newsletters and sector reports, then check how well the idea aligns with a funder’s mission and past awards. I also look for clear societal or scientific relevance, evidence of gaps in the literature, and early input from PIs or stakeholders to refine the concept. Red flags include weak alignment, limited demand, or lack of innovation. Looking forward to hearing others’ strategies as well.

[Author]

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