The EPSILON ecosystem will nurture and promote world-class epidemic and pandemic sciences research and innovation in Africa, building a critical mass of experts across the continent to address ongoing health challenges whilst strengthening capabilities to respond to future infectious diseases health threats. Activities will contribute to developing communities of practice across academia and industry that may be leveraged for long-term collaboration and during future outbreaks to respond to urgent research and policy needs. 

Applicants must provide an outline budget for five to six years. The figures should reflect the costs being requested from SFA Foundation only and should not include contributions from other sources. The outline budget should include a core budget of up to USD $4 million, plus specific additional elements detailed on Pages XXX.

Applicants should be aware that the SFA Foundation team will undertake a rigorous budget review when determining those to be invited to submit full applications. At the preliminary stage applicants should budget only in USD. At the full application stage applicants may be expected to show conversions from local currencies where appropriate.

The budget narrative should be clear and detailed enough to support the calculated costs by budget line.

The indicative budget lines, with guideline notes, are detailed below.

(insert link to SFA policy on allowable and disallowable costs)

 

1. Personnel

This denotes personnel who directly support the research initiative. The level of effort (FTE) will be indicated as a percentage of actual salaries paid and applicable institutional benefits for the positions included in the budget request. The personnel budget is expected to include a minimum of a senior scientific investigator, two senior postdoctoral researchers, and two support staff, or at least 5.0 FTE in total.

Salaries

The Principal Investigator and co-applicants may request a salary. Salary recovery for staff at institutions in low- and middle-income countries can be considered. If no appropriate scale exists, the salary requested should be at a level commensurate with individuals of an equivalent status, employed locally or at other organisations in the relevant country.

Fringe benefits

Fringe benefits are allowable as a direct cost (if not included as an indirect cost) in proportion to the salary charged to the award. These benefits may include compensation for occupational injuries, life insurance, pension, health insurance, training, and staff development. They should be in line with the relevant applicant’s institutional policy for renumeration and benefits, and with approved pay scales.  

 

2. Materials and Consumables

These denote initiative-specific consumable items such as animals, lab supplies, clinical supplies, glassware, chemicals, reagents, etc. 

 https://scienceforafrica.foundation/policies/policy-on-materials-and-consumables

 

3. Equipment

This refers to items that have a useful life longer than one year. It includes the cost of purchasing equipment - including laptops and software - and related costs such as installation that are required to deliver the research. These items shall be charged at cost. Depreciation costs are not allowable.

https://scienceforafrica.foundation/policies/policy-on-assets-and-equipment

4. Travel

Travel shall include a breakdown for accommodation, air travel, ground transfers, meals during travel, visas, and other travel-related expenses. Air travel shall be strictly budgeted in economy class, regardless of institutional guidelines or exceptions.

The budget should include planned meetings for the consortium, and/or travel to external conferences and workshops. At this stage it is anticipated that travel costs for large annual meetings that bring together all EPSILONs are to be borne by SFA Foundation and PSI.

https://scienceforafrica.foundation/policies/participant-travel-and-expense-policy

 

 

5. Communications

These are costs that will be incurred to meet the direct communication needs of the initiative as defined by the scope of the application. Applicants should refer to the communication guidance offered by SFA Foundation. 

 Deborah-Fay to add

6. Office Support Costs

These are costs that will be required to ensure that the initiative runs smoothly. They should cover all direct administrative costs for managing the initiative within the consortium. Direct office support costs include, but are not limited to, monitoring and evaluation costs, office supplies, stationery, direct utility bills, direct rental spaces, and audits.

 

7. Indirect costs

These denote costs incurred centrally for the benefit of common or joint objectives for an institution and which ultimately benefit all activities. They are not directly related to any single project or activity but are a necessary part of the associated costs. These should not be included as part of office support costs.

Applicants should budget for indirect costs at a maximum rate of 10% of all direct costs. Indirect costs cannot be charged on capital assets over USD $1,000 per unit. Costs associated with procurement and maintenance of equipment during the initiative may be charged as direct costs.

The calculation for indirect costs should be supported by appropriate institutional evidence as a percentage or a breakdown of individual costs / activities. SFA Foundation shall review applicants’ institutional policies for indirect costs.

 

Inflation  

Applicants should include an inflation factor per year. The inflation rate should be supported and evidenced by Central Bank data.

 

Additional budget

1. Catalyst grants

Applicants should include a budget for at least 25 grants of between USD $10,000 to USD $15,000 each, as per the call guidelines, up to a total of USD $375,000. These costs are in addition to the USD $4 million core budget.

 

2. Research and Innovation Fellowships

Applicants should include a budget of at least 15 competitive research and innovation fellowships at approximately USD $40,000 each, as per the call guidelines, to include travel, accommodation, subsistence and research costs up to a total of USD $600,000. These costs are in addition to the USD $4 million core budget.

 

3. EPSILON exchange awards

Applicants should include a budget for at least 15 exchange awards at approximately $10,000 each, up to a total of USD $150,000. These awards would cover relevant costs for a single individual for up to six weeks. These costs are in addition to the USD $4 million core budget.