Introduction 

The Science for Africa Foundation (SFA Foundation) is a pan-African, non-profit, and public charity organisation that supports, strengthens, and promotes science and innovation in Africa. The SFA Foundation is committed to improving African people's quality of life and promoting research uptake in communities, industry, and the public sector. We serve the African research ecosystem by designing, funding, and managing programmes that support excellent science and innovation; and that build and reinforce environments that are conducive for scientists to thrive and produce quality research that impacts development. SFA Foundation is distinctive in that it focuses on the ecosystem surrounding research and the production of research itself. It also supports initiatives that directly influence the quantity, quality, and impact of research. SFA Foundation operations are hosted within the International Centre of Insect Physiology and Ecology (icipe) as a programme in the Republic of Kenya. 

Overview  

One of our core mandates is to provide grants to support scientific research, innovation, and capacity-building initiatives. SFA’s grant management process must be robust, adaptable, and effective to manage a diverse grant portfolio. To enhance our grant management strategy, policies, and operational processes, SFA seeks a highly qualified Consultant with extensive experience in the research funding ecosystem. The specialist will provide strategic insights, conduct in-depth analysis of grant-making trends, and recommend improvements to SFA’s grant structures, processes, and policies. 

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Objectives of the Assignment  

The primary objective of this assignment is to strengthen SFA’s grant-making and management framework to ensure alignment with best practices in research funding. The specialist will:  

• Review and refine SFA Foundation grant policies, develop standard operating procedures (SOPs), and workflows.  
• Assess and recommend improvements in the grant-making process, ensuring efficiency, compliance, and impact-driven funding.  
• Benchmark SFA Foundation grant model against global best practices in research grant funding.  
• Ensure SFA Foundation grant framework is suitable for managing both small ($4,000) and large ($5M) grants to downstream partners.  
• Identify key risks and propose mitigation strategies in the grant cycle.  
• Develop guidelines for structuring and monitoring research grants effectively.  

Scope of Work  

The Consultant will undertake the following tasks:  

Grant Policy and SOP Review  

• Review existing grant policies, procedures, and workflows.  
• Identify gaps and propose refinements to enhance efficiency and compliance.  
• Ensure policies cater to both small and large-scale grants.  
• Provide recommendations for integrating research-focused best practices.  

Grant Management Strategy and Benchmarking  

• Assess and benchmark SFA Foundation grant-making processes against international research funding bodies.  
• Identify best practices for managing research grants, particularly for Africa-based research institutions and downstream partners.  
• Recommend improvements in grant administration, including selection, disbursement, and reporting.  

 Due Diligence – Financial and Non-Financial  

The specialist will develop and refine SFA’s due diligence framework, ensuring compliance in both financial and non-financial areas:  

 Financial Due Diligence

• Ensure grantees meet financial requirements for grant eligibility.  
• Assess the financial health and governance structures of potential partners.  
• Identify financial risks and propose mitigation measures.  
• Strengthen financial reporting requirements for grants.  

Non-Financial Due Diligence

• Research integrity & ethics: Ensure grantees follow ethical research guidelines and international research integrity standards.  
• Governance & organisational capacity: Assess the governance structures and operational capacity of research institutions.  
• Safeguarding & risk management: Evaluate safeguarding policies for vulnerable populations involved in research.  
• Legal & compliance requirements: Ensure alignment with intellectual property rights, data sharing policies, and human subject protection regulations.  
• Project execution readiness: Assess whether grantees have the necessary institutional resources, staffing, and partnerships for successful project implementation.  
• The consultant will develop tools and checklists to standardize non-financial due diligence procedures.  

 Risk Assessment and Compliance  

• Identify risks in the current grant-making cycle and propose mitigation strategies.  
• Ensure compliance with international donor requirements and financial regulations.  
• Develop guidelines for ensuring research integrity and ethical grant management.  

 Capacity Strengthening and Knowledge Transfer  

• Provide training sessions for SFA Foundation staff on research grant management best practices.  
• Develop toolkits, checklists, and templates for streamlined grant management.  
• Advice on monitoring, evaluation, and learning (MEL) frameworks for research grants.  

How to Submit Your Proposal

1. Proposal to be sent by email to: [email protected] on or before 10 June 2025 at 5.00 pm East African Time (EAT).

2. Protect your proposal with a password and share the password on 11 June 2025 by 8.00 am East African Time (EAT). 

3. The proposal to be marked as follows on the subject line:  

REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL (RFP) FOR CONSULTANCY SERVICES FOR GRANT MANAGEMENT CONSULTANT-RFP/018/2025

DOWNLOAD THE FULL RFP HERE