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Gates Foundation – Grand Challenges Call for Applications

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The Gates foundation and its Grand Challenges partners are now accepting applications for the following grant programs – for more information please visit the grant opportunities page at www.grandchallenges.org   

1.    Grand Challenges Explorations, an initiative to encourage innovative and unconventional global health and development solutions, is now accepting grant proposals for its latest application round.  Applicants can be at any experience level; in any discipline; and from any organization, including colleges and universities, government laboratories, research institutions, non-profit organizations and for profit companies.

Proposals are being accepted online until May 13, 2015 on the following topics:

 •    Addressing Newborn and Infant Gut Health Through Bacteriophage-Mediated Microbiome Engineering
 •    Explore New Ways to Measure Delivery and Use of Digital Financial Services Data
 •    Surveillance Tools, Diagnostics and an Artificial Diet to Support New Approaches to Vector Control
 •    New Approaches for Addressing Outdoor/Residual Malaria Transmission
 •    Reducing Pneumonia Fatalities Through Innovations that Improve Pneumonia Diagnosis & Referral of Malnourished Children
 •    Enable Merchant Acceptance of Mobile Money Payments

Initial grants will be US $100,000 each, and projects showing promise will have the opportunity to receive additional funding of up to US $1 million. Full descriptions of the new topics and application instructions are available at www.grandchallenges.org

2.     Saving Lives at Birth: A Grand Challenge for Development has launched its fifth round for innovative prevention and treatment approaches for pregnant women and newborns in poor, hard-to-reach communities around the world. Saving Lives at Birth partners will fund transformative approaches that cut across three main domains: (i) science & technology, (ii) service delivery, and (iii) demand-side innovation.

The application deadline is March 27, 2015. Details on how to apply for a grant can be found at http://response.notifications.gatesfoundation.org/t?ctl=4C60472:19A41A91901EAFF6444C43CFDE96D3145B81EAEAF7CACE1D&

3.    All Children Reading: A Grand Challenge for Development has launched two grant opportunities:

 – As part of the Technology to Support Education in Crisis and Conflict Settings Ideation Challenge, it is seeking technology-supported approaches to provide basic education in one or more of the following situations: health crisis, natural disaster, and conflict zone. Proposed solutions should be usable within the first six months after the onset of the crisis or conflict and be usable within the context of a developing country.  

The application deadline is March 30, 2015.  Details on how to apply can be found at http://response.notifications.gatesfoundation.org/t?ctl=4C60473:19A41A91901EAFF6444C43CFDE96D3145B81EAEAF7CACE1D&

 – The Tracking & Tracing Books Prize Competition is seeking innovations to track books destined for early-grade classrooms and learning centers in low-income countries and allow stakeholders, ranging from parents to Ministries of Education and donor agencies, to quickly and easily access tracking information.

The application deadline is April 1, 2015. Details on how to apply for a grant can be found at http://response.notifications.gatesfoundation.org/t?ctl=4C60474:19A41A91901EAFF6444C43CFDE96D3145B81EAEAF7CACE1D&

4.    The Global Health Innovative Technology Fund (GHIT) as part of its new Grand Challenges Japan initiative has launched a Target Research Platform to fund bold ideas in drugs, vaccines, and diagnostics for a set of priority neglected infectious diseases. Applications must be from a partnership between Japanese and non-Japanese organizations.

The application deadline is March 13, 2015.  Additional Information can be found at http://response.notifications.gatesfoundation.org/t?ctl=4C60475:19A41A91901EAFF6444C43CFDE96D3145B81EAEAF7CACE1D&

We are looking forward to receiving innovative ideas from around the world and from all disciplines.  Thank you for your commitment to solving the world’s greatest health and development challenges.

The Grand Challenges Team

 

Mark Wamai

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Applications Open: Short Course in Decision Modelling for Economic Evaluation

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Applications Open for a two-week online short course on Introduction to Decision Modelling for Economic Evaluation by the Department of Health Policy, Planning and Management, Makerere University School of Public Health (MakSPH), Kampala Uganda, East Africa.

Makerere University School of Public Health, through the Department of Health Policy, Planning and Management, is accepting applications for a two-week online short course on Introduction to Decision Modelling for Economic Evaluation.

The course will introduce participants to the principles and practical application of decision modelling in economic evaluation, covering Markov modelling, evidence synthesis, model development, validation, sensitivity analysis and interpretation of results to inform policy and resource allocation.

Convened by Dr. Elizabeth Ekirapa, Associate Professor of Health Economics at MakSPH, the course will feature Dr. Joseph Babigumira, Managing Consultant at GHE Consulting, as Guest Lecturer.

The training targets health professionals, researchers, policymakers, students and other individuals interested in applying decision modelling to economic evaluation.

Dates: 9–20 November 2026
Time: 3:00–6:00 PM EAT
Mode: Online via Zoom
Fees: UGX 800,000 (Ugandans) | USD 270 (non-Ugandans)
Application Deadline: 1 November 2026

Apply now: https://t.ly/sKdts

For inquiries:
Ms. Edith Namuleme, Short Course Coordinator
Email: carvell.andy@gmail.com
Tel: +256 759 761 161

John Okeya

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Makerere University and Xiangtan University Advance Strategic Partnership in Chemical Engineering

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Prof. Barnabas Nawangwe (C) with Prof. Dingyu Ou (4th R) and R-L: Mr. Fei Tang, Prof. Gilbert Gumoshabe, Prof. Fang Hao, Prof. Zhuoqiong Xia, Ms. Hawa Ndagire Kajumba, Ms. Miao Yang and Ms. Betty Nabisubi after the meeting on 12th October 2026. Visit by a delegation from Xiangtan University headed by Professor Dingyu Ou, in company of Mr. Tang Fei and Professor Gilbert Gumshabe, the Chinese and Ugandan Directors of the Confucius Institute at Makerere University respectively, to update 20-year academic partnership, with new focus on joint Master's degree program in Chemical Engineering 12th October 2026, French Embassy, Kampala Uganda, East Africa.

Makerere University and Xiangtan University are set to update their close to 20-year academic partnership, with a new focus on launching a joint Master’s degree program in Chemical Engineering and expanding student and staff exchange initiatives. 

The commitment was reaffirmed during a recent visit by a delegation from Xiangtan University to Makerere University headed by Professor Dingyu Ou, in the company of Mr. Tang Fei and Professor Gilbert Gumshabe, the Chinese and Ugandan Directors of the Confucius Institute at Makerere University respectively. 

While addressing the delegation, Professor Nawangwe highlighted that this initiative is part of a broader strategy to diversify academic offerings and contribute to national development through training in Chemical Engineering. Through this new initiative, the University will better prepare graduates for the petrochemical industry and support the country’s industrial growth.

The meeting in session. Visit by a delegation from Xiangtan University headed by Professor Dingyu Ou, in company of Mr. Tang Fei and Professor Gilbert Gumshabe, the Chinese and Ugandan Directors of the Confucius Institute at Makerere University respectively, to update 20-year academic partnership, with new focus on joint Master's degree program in Chemical Engineering 12th October 2026, French Embassy, Kampala Uganda, East Africa.
The meeting in session.

The Vice Chancellor appreciated that the proposed collaboration aims to address Uganda’s growing need for industrial expertise, particularly as the country develops its petroleum sector. The two universities here are working toward a 1+2 training model, which will enable Makerere students to gain practical experience and access advanced laboratory facilities at Xiangtan University.

Professor Nawangwe further reiterated that “our relationship with the people of China, not just for Makerere but also for a big part of Uganda, has been opened wider by the establishment of the Confucius Institute, considering that many other collaborations like one being discussed now have come through this collaboration.”

The head of the Xiangtan delegation, Professor Dingyu Ou, expressed appreciation for the meeting, and acknowledged the history between the institutions. “As mentioned, we have a very long relationship and a very stable friendship between our two universities.” 

Prof. Barnabas Nawangwe (L) presents an assortment of Makerere Souvenirs to Prof. Dingyu Ou (R). Visit by a delegation from Xiangtan University headed by Professor Dingyu Ou, in company of Mr. Tang Fei and Professor Gilbert Gumshabe, the Chinese and Ugandan Directors of the Confucius Institute at Makerere University respectively, to update 20-year academic partnership, with new focus on joint Master's degree program in Chemical Engineering 12th October 2026, French Embassy, Kampala Uganda, East Africa.
Prof. Barnabas Nawangwe (L) presents an assortment of Makerere Souvenirs to Prof. Dingyu Ou (R).

Professor Ou extended appreciation for the support provided to the Confucius Institute at Makerere, the care shown to his colleagues, and looked forward to the successful start of the Chemical Engineering collaboration.

Assuring the delegation of Makerere’s readiness for the collaboration, Ms. Hawa Ndagire Kajumba the Lead, Partnerships and Stakeholder Engagement, Makerere University Advancement Office, aligned with the Vice Chancellor’s emphasis of University goal to have both theory and practice imparted to the students. 

She said “the curriculum of the university and Uganda as a whole is moving towards competence-based education training to ensure students are equipped to demonstrate those skills in the actual field, particularly regarding petroleum exploration.” 

Prof. Barnabas Nawangwe (L) presents an assortment of Makerere Souvenirs to Prof. Zhuoqiong Xia (R). Visit by a delegation from Xiangtan University headed by Professor Dingyu Ou, in company of Mr. Tang Fei and Professor Gilbert Gumshabe, the Chinese and Ugandan Directors of the Confucius Institute at Makerere University respectively, to update 20-year academic partnership, with new focus on joint Master's degree program in Chemical Engineering 12th October 2026, French Embassy, Kampala Uganda, East Africa.
Prof. Barnabas Nawangwe (L) presents an assortment of Makerere Souvenirs to Prof. Zhuoqiong Xia (R).

Ms. Ndagire Kajumba also emphasised a shift in strategy for the partnership office, saying, “we are moving away from just signing MOUs that collect dust, and moving towards those that are more collaborative to benefit our faculty and students, just like this one.”

Professor Gilbert Kumushabe aligned his remarks with those of the Vice Chancellor and Ms. Ndagire Kajumba, and described the method used at Xiangtan University as “actually competence-based teaching.” 

Based on his recent visit, Prof. Gumoshabe shared that students in China are divided into groups with dedicated teachers to perform practical, hands-on work beyond the theoretical lecturers. He expressed gladness that the same was being adopted for the Ugandan context.

Both institutions are now working to finalise the specific agreements for the joint degree and exchange programs. Beyond academic training, the collaboration will advance cultural and professional exchange.

Elvis Lubanga, Makerere University, Kampala Uganda, East Africa.
Elvis Lubanga

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Job Opportunities: NETOMA Study

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Kickoff training for teams tasked with collecting data for the Uganda Population-Based HIV Impact Assessment (UPHIA) 2024-2025, held 19th May 2025, Makerere University School of Public Health (MakSPH) Auditorium, Main Campus, Kampala Uganda, East Africa.

Makerere University School of Public Health invites applications from suitably qualified candidates for three positions under the Wellcome Trust-supported NETOMA study, which examines the coexistence of health worker shortages and unemployment among qualified health professionals in Africa.

Available Positions

  1. Research Officer
    To coordinate longitudinal research, data management, quality assurance, and statistical analysis across study sites.
    Full details and application: https://sph.mak.ac.ug/careers/?view_job=21465
  2. Policy Scientist
    To undertake health workforce policy research, evidence synthesis, qualitative analysis and knowledge translation.
    Full details and application: https://sph.mak.ac.ug/careers/?view_job=21468
  3. Research Assistants
    To support participant recruitment, field data collection, research documentation, and analysis.
    Full details and application: https://sph.mak.ac.ug/careers/?view_job=21470

Application deadline: Friday, 16 October 2026, at 11:59 p.m. EAT .

Mak Editor

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