Hello everyone

Thank you to all who joined our Grant Writing 101 session with Dr. Zawadi Mageni Mboma (Business Development & Partnerships, Ifakara Health Institute). The Q&A was so rich that we wanted to bring the conversation here so we can keep learning from each other.

Here are the four questions that came up most, with a quick recap of the guidance:

1. Should I declare my use of AI in a proposal?
Yes. Funders don\'t want to risk backing an AI-generated application unless the call asks for one. Review everything carefully so that if you\'re shortlisted, you can defend every part of it. You are the implementer, not your AI tool.

2. Research vs. side hustle: is it worth it?
Research takes passion. Success rates are low, and you need persistence to get through the rejections before the win. But the wins are worth the wait.

3. Should I go for big or small grants?
Start small. Small grants teach you how institutional systems, ethics approvals and partner relationships work. When the big opportunity comes, you\'ll already have a track record.

4. How do I deal with rejection?
Try, and try again. We usually only see other people\'s awards, but most recipients have many declined proposals behind them. Keep refining your application.

Now over to you!
Pick one question and share in the comments:

@benard Ondiek, to add to what Nonvicks said, I will focus on credibility: how convincing the proposal is, shows the team can deliver.What makes a proposal compelling is a sharply defined problem backed by local evidence, objectives, methods and outcomes that…

@Benard Ondiek A compelling research proposal does not just explain what you want to do; it persuades the funder that your project is urgent, feasible, high-impact, and uniquely suited to your team. Funders invest in outcomes, clarity, and risk management not…

What makes a research proposal compelling enough for a funder to want to invest in it, and what do you think are the most common mistakes that weaken an otherwise good proposal?

@Charles Bawate, \"writing proposals to sound honest rather than confident\" is a shift many of us talk about but few actually make. Rebuilding a smaller, honestly scoped project instead of repeating the same pitch louder takes real nerve. One layer will…

@harmonie, this is a question I wrestle with constantly. In addition to Desmond\'s framework: the strongest signal is not just whether a topic aligns with a funder\'s stated priorities, but whether it aligns with what they are worried about and the…

Thanks for raising this, @harmonie Desmond has covered the funding landscape well.One thing I\'d add: framing matters as much as topic. The same water pollution research can go to very different funders depending on whether you lead with public health,…

Thank you for sharing these materials @benard I work on the WFP Home Grown School Feeding project, and the PICO-Gap framework was the most immediately useful thing I\'ve encountered on this platform so far.What struck me is how the framework…

Thank you for this opportunity. I am a social science researcher with a particular interest in issues related to sustainable development, environment and health, gender, and social inclusion. I am seeking mentorship to further strengthen my skills and professional impact across…

Fortunate, your emphasis on agreeing goals, milestones and timelines upfront actually maps almost exactly onto a framework I encountered just this week that I think sharpens what you\'re describing. At an APHRC webinar convened by the Afrique Research Support Hub,…

@benard Ondiek Thank you for opening this space.I\'d also like to express interest in mentorship specifically in grant writing and proposal development. While I\'ve had exposure to research methods, I\'d value guidance on translating a research idea into a competitive…

@All, two things I\'d add to what\'s been said:First, mentorship doesn\'t have to come from a senior PI. Peer review exchanges; pairing with another early career researcher to critically read each other\'s proposals can catch unclear objectives, weak justification, or…

@Charles I really appreciate this push, especially regarding the Purpose Rwanda context. You’re entirely right asynchronous pre-work isn\'t a one-size-fits-all solution; it requires a baseline of safety and confidence that can\'t be assumed from day one.The idea of scaffolding that stage…

Two things I\'ve found useful that haven\'t come up yet:First, stress-test each budget line from the reviewer\'s perspective. Ask: \"If this line were cut, what activity would break?\" If nothing breaks, it either needs stronger justification or shouldn\'t be there.…

@Benard Ondiek and colleagues, thank for bringing this.I am excited about this mentorship initiative and would love to express my interest in receiving guidance in both qualitative and quantitative data analysis. As I work to strengthen my analytical skill set, I…