IMMANA Grants

Round 4 Competitive Research Grants to Develop and Validate Innovative Methods and Metrics for Agriculture and Nutrition Actions

The Call for Applications for Round 4 of IMMANA Grants is now open!

Deadline for submission of concept notes is 21 January 2021. The application portal can be found here.

The IMMANA Competitive Research Grants are aimed at accelerating the development of innovative and interdisciplinary methods, metrics and tools to advance the scientific understanding of the linkages between agriculture and food systems and health and nutrition outcomes, in order to better inform policy and programmatic actions to improve nutrition outcomes in low and middle-income countries (LMICs). 

This workstream of the IMMANA programme is led by the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine. This is the 4th and final funding round for the IMMANA grants. Each IMMANA grant will be a maximum of £250,000 and up to 8 grants (4 development and 4 validation) are expected to be awarded through a competitive selection process.

Eligibility

In order for applications to be deemed eligible, they must fulfil the following criteria:

• Demonstrate the ability to conduct research to international standards of excellence in the topic proposed. Researchers and institutions from both developed countries and LMICs are eligible as lead institutions.
• Demonstrate strong and equitable partnerships. Concept notes must clearly show meaningful, collaborative relationships with LMICS evidenced by management and scientific contributions and capacity and learning exchange. The roles and responsibilities of all named applicants should be defined accordingly, together with a description of the added value arising from the bringing together of complementary expertise and partnerships.

For details on the priority research topics and approaches and eligible costs, please consult the call for applications and the frequently asked questions.

Selection process

The proposed research is expected to generate innovative and high quality methods, metrics and tools for application in the short to medium term for improving agriculture and food systems’ contributions to nutrition and health in low and middle income countries.

Applications will be reviewed in two main stages:

1) Review of concept memos:

Assessment of concept memos will be undertaken by IMMANA management team with oversight from the Co-Chairs of the Independent Panel of Experts.

The following criteria will be applied:

• innovation
• scientific excellence 
• research uptake plans and pathways to impact 
• collaborative approaches

Only those shortlisted were invited to submit a full proposal.

2) Review of full proposals:

Full applications will be subject to a peer-review process using the same criteria as the concept memo stage. The Independent Panel of Experts will assess the full proposals and the peer-review reports and recommend applications for funding. The review process will be overseen by the IMMANA Steering Committee, which will also be responsible for approving the Panel’s recommendations for funding.