September 2019
Funders and performers of research in low-and-middle-income countries (LMICs) have an interest in quality research that delivers value for money and impact. However, challenges arise at the interfacing point of a project or programme grant: one of these is appropriate research costing that meets both funder and research institutional policies or requirements. ESSENCE on Health Research, a funder-collaborative, brought 35 participants from 19 countries, to brainstorm solutions and discuss current practices as part of an update to its research costing good practice document.
Why this project, now?
In 2012, ESSENCE published a good practice document titled “Five keys to improving research costing in low- and middle-income countries”. More than half a decade later, in 2019, ESSENCE is updating the Five Keys with fresh survey data and new case studies from both a funder and grantee perspective.
The update was prompted by a recognition of changes to the management and funding contexts in which research is taking place. ESSENCE’s goal in this project is to distil new ideas and practices shaping how research organizations price projects and manage grants and how funders approach the funding of indirect costs.
The project is currently collecting quantitative and qualitative data, through surveys, interviews and focus groups.
The updated good practice document is expected to be available in early 2020.
You can still participate
You are invited to take the survey if you did not have the opportunity to do so yet.
By completing the survey, you or your organisation can contribute to the deepening of good costing practices globally, and to be better, more sustainable research locally.
For funders: If you are a funder of research in LMICs, please click here (https://forms.gle/yZLKiuRbtmJ1hiFN9) for the survey which is available in English.
For researchers/grantee institutions: If you are a funding recipient (grantee) in a LMIC, please click here:
- English survey (https://forms.gle/ZRJi9TGXW94z4Uvd9)
- Spanish survey (https://forms.gle/YkbZGETBhDWJH83j6)
- French survey (https://forms.gle/A8frT7Qx2D2Ly8Bk6)
What is ESSENCE on Health Research?
It is an initiative that allows donors/funders to identify synergies, establish coherence
and increase the value of resources and action for research, especially in LMICs, and includes both private and public funders.
ESSENCE has led several innovative approaches to achieve harmonization and optimization of research funding, including the development of a good practice document series on topics such as evaluation of research for development, planning, monitoring and evaluation and research capacity strengthening.
Contact us
For more information on the project please contact the project coordinator at karin.dyason@signify.co.za
Read more about ESSENCE on Health Research at https://www.who.int/tdr/partnerships/essence/en/.
