We are pleased to announce the Research Seed Grants for Researchers under the Joint Faculty Development (JFD) Program, a partnership between Moi University and the University of Toronto, under the Africa Health Collaborative in partnership with the Mastercard Foundation.
The Research Seed Grants are designed to support equitable and collaborative research partnerships between researchers across participating institutions. Successful applicants may receive up to CAD $5,000 in seed funding to advance collaborative research projects, strengthen academic scholarship, build research capacity, and foster long-term institutional partnerships.
About the Joint Faculty Development Program
The Joint Faculty Development (JFD) Program is an Africa Health Collaborative initiative between the Moi University School of Public Health (MUSPH) and the University of Toronto’s Dalla Lana School of Public Health (DLSPH), in partnership with the Mastercard Foundation. This program aims to strengthen academic leadership, teaching excellence, and research capacity among public health faculty while promoting equitable international research partnerships.
Funding and Benefits
Successful applicants will receive:
- Seed funding: Up to CAD $5,000 to support collaborative research activities.
- Mentorship opportunities: Participation in a cohort with integrated peer-to-peer mentoring.
- Professional development: Access to workshops and learning opportunities focused on collaborative leadership, research writing, knowledge mobilization, and related topics.
- Research collaboration: Opportunities to engage with researchers across Moi University, African Institute for Mathematical Sciences, Kenya Medical Research Institute (KEMRI) & the University of Toronto.
Eligible Activities
Seed grants may support activities that generate new knowledge, preliminary findings, or lay the foundation for larger future research proposals.
Examples include:
- Pilot data collection
- Project co-design activities
- Methodological consultation meetings
- Implementation science activities
- Literature reviews and background research
- Knowledge user and community consultations
- Proposal development and partnership-building activities
Projects will commence on 1 October 2026 and may run for a maximum of 12 months.
Eligible Expenses
Funding may be used for:
- Trainee stipends and research assistant support
- Travel and networking activities
- Proposal development activities
- Knowledge mobilization activities
- Project management costs
- Other eligible project-related expenses
Eligibility Requirements
Applicants must meet the following criteria:
- Have less than 15 years of experience following their first faculty appointment or completion of their PhD.
- Be affiliated with one of the following institutions:
- University of Toronto (U of T)
- Moi University School of Public Health (MUSPH)
- Kenya Medical Research Institute (KEMRI)
- African Institute for Mathematical Sciences (AIMS)
Applications must include at least one collaborator from a different participating institution.
Priority Areas
While proposals from all areas of global health are welcome, priority consideration will be given to teams intending to develop proposals aligned with the Africa Health Collaborative Research Fund 2026.
Important Note: Applicants do not need to apply for the Africa Health Collaborative Research Fund to be eligible for this opportunity.
Assessment Criteria
Applications will be evaluated based on:
- Scientific quality
- Alignment with the goals of the Joint Faculty Development Program
- Strength of collaboration
- Trainee involvement
- Feasibility of the proposed project
- Potential for future funding and impact
How to Apply
Applicants must complete the JFD Research Seed Grants Application Form.
Applicants are encouraged to use the budget template provided as part of the application process, although the budget may also be completed directly within the online application form.
In addition, applicants must submit:
- A letter of support from a Department Chair, Head of Department, Associate Dean of Research, or other appropriate institutional representative.
(The letter should confirm institutional support for the proposed project and identify any in-kind contributions provided.)
Letters of support should be submitted to:
juniorfacultydev.dlsph@utoronto.ca
Key Dates
- Call Launch: Monday, 10 August 2026
- Application Deadline: Monday, 14 September 2026 at 9:00 AM Eastern Time
- Notification of Results: Monday, 28 September 2026
- Project Start Date: Thursday, 1 October 2026
For enquiries: juniorfacultydev.dlsph@utoronto.ca
This opportunity is delivered through the MUSPH-DLSPH Joint Faculty Development Program, University of Toronto under the Africa Health Collaborative (AHC), in partnership with the Mastercard Foundation.
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