Call for the 2025 MUBAS Internal Research Grants

  1. Preamble 

The Malawi University of Business and Applied Sciences (MUBAS) invites applications under its second call for Internal Research Grants for the 2025 to 2026 fiscal year. The internal research grant provides up to MK50,000,000 per research proposal over a period of three (3) years. The grant has been established in recognition of the importance of collaborative research and commitment to fostering mentorship and professional development. The research themes and focus areas for this call shall be based on and guided by the MUBAS Strategic Plan, National Research Agenda, Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and Malawi Implementation Plan (MIP) 1.  

  1. Aim of the grant 
  • To support the development of transdisciplinary and collaborative research teams that shall accelerate national development and advance evidence-based policy, practice, and improved wellbeing of society. 
  • To facilitate professional growth and development of junior faculty members and early-career researchers at MUBAS by pairing them with experienced mentors within the groups. At least one junior researcher or early-career faculty member must be included in the team to promote mentorship and inclusiveness.  
  • To create a supportive environment that promotes knowledge exchange, skill development, and successful grant proposal writing.  
  1. Who can apply 

The MUBAS Internal Research Grant is an open call for MUBAS-based research groups. 

  1. How can you apply? 

All applicants must submit their application through the MUBAS Research Grant Application online system: Click here to access the online submission portal. 

  1. Eligibility 
  • Applications must be submitted by the Research Group Lead (i.e. a Professor, Associate Professor or Senior Lecturer).  
  • The research group shall have between 5-10 team members (co-investigators), with at least a Professor, Associate Professor, or Senior Lecturer (in the currency of research), as team lead/principal investigator. 
  • The research group shall include junior faculty members, early-career researchers and experienced mentors from various disciplines within MUBAS. These could be from the same or different schools. Female researchers are encouraged to join the research groups.   
  • Applications should address research gaps as outlined in the Malawi Implementation Plan (MIP1), Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the Malawi National Research Agenda.   
  • Application deadline is Friday 8th August, 2025, by 23:59 (CAT). 
  1. Research proposal details 
  • Applicants are required to submit a detailed proposal for their research idea.   
  • Applicant must complete the Internal Grant Application Form (IRG-Form 001) click here, which should be filled using Arial 12-point font with 1.5-line spacing. The form should be saved as a PDF document and uploaded to the Grants Portal Click here for submission. Applicants are expected to adhere strictly to the word or space limits provided in each section of the form  
  • APA referencing approach should be used throughout the research proposal. References should be listed at the end of the document (not as footnotes) and must not exceed one page.  

The research proposal must include the following sections with clearly marked headings within the case for support: 

  • Title of the proposed project (Provide a concise and descriptive title for the project) 
  • Provide a simple, easy-to-understand summary of the proposed research. This summary should explain the main purpose, goals, and expected results of the project in plain language, avoiding technical or specialist terms. It should also highlight why the research matters, describing how it could benefit society, inform policies, or address important community or national challenges. 
  • Background and rationale (provide problem statement, significance of the research project, literature review in brief). Applicants must clearly define the problem statement, justify the significance of the research, and provide a concise but adequate literature review. 
  • Indicate which Research Pillars/Themes are addressed in the proposed research and how the proposed research contributes to the National Research Agenda. For research proposals targeting SDGs, clearly show which SDGs are targeted and their alignment to MIP1. 
  • Aims and Objectives (Specify research objectives and goals that the project aims to achieve).  
  • Proposed methodology: The proposal must clearly describe the research design, data collection methods, analysis plan, and feasibility of implementation. 
  • Anticipated timeline (including key milestones and deadlines). 
  • Anticipated outputs, including (but not limited to) anticipated manuscripts published in peer reviewed journals, additional proposals, conference presentations, composition of a play, poem or musical art, short stories and language corpora. 
  • Impact of the research beyond academia (explain the potential broader impact of the research project on society, policy, or practice). 
  • Consideration about equitable partnerships where applicable 
  • Ethical considerations (detail any ethical concerns and how they will be addressed, including obtaining necessary approvals from institutional ethical committees e.g. MUBASREC). The proposal must demonstrate clear understanding of ethical implications. Where applicable, tailor ethical considerations to the research context and indicate planned training or awareness strategies. 
  • Dissemination/public engagement: This section should include detailed dissemination plan, identifying specific stakeholders, dissemination channels, and anticipated outreach outcomes. An outline of plans to engage with non-academic stakeholders as well as plans for the dissemination of findings to all stakeholders (i.e. how will the research findings be shared? Publications, conferences, etc.) 
  • Sustainability/Innovations: Any possibility that the research project’s impact be sustained post-funding? Clearly articulate how the proposed research will create sustained impact beyond academia, and explain mechanisms for ensuring sustainability of outcomes. 
  • Alignment justification: Applicant must clearly state how the proposed research aligns with the MUBAS Strategic Plan, National Research Agenda, SDGs, and MIP1, and justify this alignment.  
  1. Letters of Support Required 

It is a requirement to present a letter of support from Executive Dean of the school where the research group leader belongs or Head of Department (for non-academic departments) The letter should confirm that the grant will be used for the intended purposes within the stipulated time period. In addition to the Dean or HoD’s support letter, applicants are encouraged to seek letter of intent or corroboration from non-academic stakeholders, where relevant. 

  1. Budget information 

Provide a detailed budget, including justifications for each line (i.e. Item, Cost, Justification). Participation in proposal budgeting workshops is recommended prior to submission. 

  1. What the grant will provide: 
  • Research expenses : Note that costs for research assistants and/or laboratory technicians should be included as research expenses where necessary. 
  • A training budget if necessary 
  • A local travel budget if necessary (e.g. to support data collection) 
  • Procurement of research equipment and laboratory disposables if necessary 
  • Research dissemination budget 
  1. What the grant will not fund: 
  • Research group members’ salary 
  • Non-research related activity costs 
  • Furniture such as office and laboratory furniture 
  • Utilities such as water and electricity  

Value for money is an assessment criteria and budgets (in MK) must be fully justified and commensurate with the grant objectives.  

  1. Curriculum Vitae (CV) 
  • Upload your CVs through the portal by clicking here. Please, include CV’s for the members in your research group only.  
  • CVs for all members of each research group should be uploaded as one document in pdf. 
  • The CV should highlight recent research experience and relevant expertise to the proposed study, where relevant. 

CVs must not exceed 3 pages. Items should be listed in reverse chronological order with the most recent first 

  1. Qualification for Tranche 2 Funding 

To qualify for tranche 2 funding, research groups must show how they intend to exhaust research funds by March 2026. In addition, they must indicate the key milestones they plan to achieve (such as publications, innovation prototypes, software, policy briefs, etc.) before the next funding cycle. Groups must demonstrate realistic timelines with clear milestones. Including Gantt chart to show deliverables and progress tracking. 

13.  Capacity Building and Mentorship  

Proposals that actively promote mentorship, particularly of junior faculty and early-career researchers, will be viewed favorably. Please describe mentorship roles and capacity-building strategies within the team.   

Please Note:  

  • Once you submit your application, you will no longer be able to edit the form. 
  • After you submit your application, you will receive an automated email confirmation from the administrator. 

     For any questions, please contact rsu@mubas.ac.mw 

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