NRF Joint Research Fellowship for South African and Jamaican Researchers, 2024

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NRF Joint Research Fellowship for South African and Jamaican Researchers, 2024

South Africa’s National Research Foundation (NRF) – in partnership with the Jamaican National Commission on Science and Technology (NCST) is inviting Joint Research Fellowship applications for South African and Jamaican researchers. These fellowships are available to conduct research for three years from January 2024 to December 2024.
The aim of the fellowships is to contribute to scientific advancement in both countries through the funding of joint research activities in specific research fields.
South Africa’s National Research Foundation (NRF) is the intermediary agency between the policies and strategies of the Government of South Africa and South Africa’s research institutions.
Course Level: Fellowships are available to pursue research.
Study Subject: Fellowships are awarded in the following fields:

  • Indigenous Knowledge Systems
  • Water Research

Scholarship Award: These fellowships will cover the followings:

  • South Africa: While NRF funding levels are not fixed the total amount of funding requested should not exceed R900 000. Funding will be made available for a maximum of three years, to be paid in annual instalments (R300 000 per year) and exclusively for research activities commencing in 2024. This amount excludes the Principal Investigator’s costs (travel and accommodation) of attending both the launching and closing workshop organized by the funders. The cost for the Principal Investigator’s participation in these two workshops will be a top-up of a maximum amount of R200 000 per project (and should be included in the project application). Principal Investigators may make use of this amount to also invite the young researchers (i.e. PhD students) who will be involved in the joint projects and undertaking short-term placements.
  • Jamaica: The total amount of funding requested should not exceed JMD $7.5 million. Funding will be made available for a maximum of three years, to be paid in annual instalments (JMD $2.5 million per year) and exclusively for research activities commencing in 2024. This amount excludes the Principal Investigator’s costs (travel and accommodation) of attending both the launching and closing workshop organized by the funders. The cost for the Principal Investigator’s participation in these two workshops will be a top-up of a maximum amount of JMD $2 million per project (and should be included in the project application). Principal Investigators may make use of this amount to also invite the young researchers (i.e. PhD students) who will be involved in the joint projects and undertaking short-term placements.

Numbers of Scholarships: Maximum three fellowships are available.
Scholarship can be taken in South Africa and Jamaica
Eligibility: Applicants must meet the following area for the scholarship:

  • South Africa: This call is open to employed researchers residing in South Africa and affiliated with a recognised higher education or research institution such as a university, university of technology or science council. The South African PI (Principal Investigator) must be in possession of a PhD.
  • Jamaica: This call is open to employed researchers residing in Jamaica and affiliated with a recognized higher education, public or private non-profit research organization or unit. Commercial and private education institutions are not eligible to apply under this programme. The Jamaican PI must be in possession of a PhD.
  • An application must designate two Principal Investigators (PIs), one in South Africa and one in Jamaica, who will bear the main responsibility for the project including its technical and administrative coordination as well as scientific and financial reporting.

Nationality: South African and Jamaican applicants can apply for these fellowships.
College Admission Requirement
Entrance Requirement: Applicants must be PhD.
English Language Requirement: Applicants need to demonstrate that they have a good level of written and spoken English.
Research Scholarship
How to Apply: Applicants can apply via online mode.

  • South African and Jamaican applicants shall write a joint application to be submitted to both NCST and the NRF. The joint application must be written in English.

South Africa:

  • Select the call for which you are applying for: Jamaica / South Africa Joint Science and Technology Research Collaboration Call for Project Proposals 2024.
  • Complete all compulsory sections and the CV sections in full.
  • Please attach all required documents in PDF format in the following order: CV of partner, budget of partner, a signed letter from the Partner Principal Investigator, work plan and a student exchange programme plan.
  • Remember to submit your application on completion.
  • Complete applications will go to the host institutions for verification before being forwarded to the NRF for further processing.
  • Incomplete applications will not be considered.
  • Applications that do not meet the eligibility criteria will not be considered (please refer to the above section called “Who may Apply” for details on eligibility).
  • Please contact your research office or Designated Authority if you have any queries.
  • Applications submitted outside the NRF Online Submission System will not be accepted.
  • No hard copies will be accepted and will automatically be disqualified by the NRF.
  • Only applications endorsed by the research office or its equivalent at higher education or research institutions will be accepted.

Application Form for Africans
Jamaica:

  • Application forms must be completed electronically.
  • Please attach the required documents in PDF format in the following order: CV of partner, budget of partner, a signed letter from the Partner Principal Investigator, official endorsement from Head of the PI’s organization, work plan and a researcher/student (in the case of HEI) exchange programme plan
  • Email the application form and supporting documents in PDF to ncst-at-mset.gov.jm under the subject SA-JA JOINT CALL 2024.
  • Remember to complete all sections in full.
  • Incomplete applications will not be considered.
  • Applications that do not meet the eligibility criteria will not be considered (please refer to ‘who Can Apply?’ above for details on eligibility).
  • Applications submitted outside of the guidelines above and/or after the deadline will not be accepted.
  • Hard copies will not be accepted and will automatically be disqualified by the NCST.
  • Please contact the NCST if you have any queries

Application Form for Jamaicans
Application Deadline: The application deadline is June 20, 2024.
Scholarship Link