Participants from the Directorate of Finance with some of the Project Principal Investigators on Monday 28th March 2022 at the Senate Building. Participants have been attending a 4-day training on Project Financial Management.
Participants have at the close of the four-day project financial management workshop been urged to always ensure value for the money in the management of public funds. “All funds and resources belong to the University. All grants should be declared, monies received should be used for the intended purpose and must be accounted for” emphasised Mr. Gyaviira Lubowa, Manager Accounts and Reporting, in the Directorate of Finance, Makerere University.
The workshop was held from Wednesday 23rd to Friday 25th and Monday 28th March, 2022 at Makerere University. During this intense training, participants covered the following areas: Understanding the Grants and Administration Policy, Role of the Grants Administration and Management Support Unit (GAMSU), Project Management Planning, Execution and Reporting, Procurement and Contract management, Monitoring and Evaluation of Government Projects, Project Financial Management and developing of an efficient and effective database.
At the same workshop, participants commended the inclusion of Principal Investigators who are the focal persons in grants management and administration. They appealed for more sensitization workshops targeting Colleges and Research Units to ensure that everyone is brought on board.
The workshop facilitator BVL Consultants defined Project Financial Management as a process aimed at ensuring efficient and effective stewardship of resources for the intended purposes, with the ultimate goal of achieving the project’s development objectives in a sustainable manner. The consultant further emphasised that a project should have a clear date of commencement and conclusion, as well as clear deliverables.
The Ag. DVCFA Prof. Henry Alinaitwe addresses participants at the close of the four-day workshop.
In line with the definition of project financial management, the establishment of GAMSU is a clear demonstration by the University Council’s and Management’s commitment to ensuring that Makerere abides by the laws governing public finances, particularly section 44 of the Public Finance Management Act, 2015.
To help facilitate this process, GAMSU is in the process of developing a Project Database Management System. Addressing participants during the workshop’s closing ceremony, the GAMSU Head of Finance, Mr. George Turyamureeba noted that management of grants should strictly adhere to procurement rules, procedures and regulations. He stressed that disclosure of projects is very important going forward, to ensure that Makerere abides by the law and provides the environment conducive for research to thrive.
Prior to inviting the Acting (Ag.) Deputy Vice Chancellor (Finance and Administration)-DVCFA, Prof. Henry Alinaitwe to deliver his remarks, the Head GAMSU, Prof. Grace Bantebya Kyomuhendo acknowledged that the Unit has been able to make strides in the two months of operation, thanks to the great support from the University leadership.
“We are moving very fast because we have the commitment of Council and the commitment of Management. The Government is also interested in us as the premier University” remarked Prof. Bantebya Kyomuhendo.
Prof. Grace Bantebya Kyomuhendo, the Head Grants Administration and Management Support Unit (GAMSU).
Earlier, the Head GAMSU had presented the proposed outline of GAMSU’s Project Database Management System. She encouraged Principal Investigators to always add their consortia and collaborating partners, as they are key incentives for attracting even more funders.
Prof. Henry Alinaitwe in his remarks thanked the Directorate of Finance and GAMSU for organizing the workshop, which comes at a time when the University Management is working on improvements to prudently support grants administration and management.
“This training in Financial Management for project staff is timely and in line with the provisions of the University Grants Administration and Management Policy which was approved by Council in 2020. Compliance with the Policy is not by choice but a yardstick by which all project activities shall be measured” he remarked.
The Ag. DVCFA thanked BVL Consultants for facilitating the training and pledged to continue supporting all efforts aimed at fully implementing the GAMSU policy, including workshops aimed at ensuring that the role of GAMSU is fully appreciated by all staff in the University.
Prof. Alinaitwe concluded by requesting all participants to put financial management systems in place, respond to user queries promptly with the reassurance that GAMSU isn’t coming to take away funding from units but rather, ensure that Makerere achieves her objective of being research-led.
Mr. Gyaviira Lubowa addresses participants during the workshop.
Delivering the closing remarks, Mr. Gyaviira Lubowa congratulated participants upon successfully concluding the training noting that they would be awarded certificates. He thanked Prof. Bantebya Kyomuhendo for being extremely supportive of the four-day training through her active participation in the different sessions.
Contributions from the audience called for involvement of research project support functions namely Finance, Grants and Procurement at all stages of the application process to ensure that the grant writing teams incorporate all the mandatory costs and procedures.
The U.S. National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine is pleased to announce the 3rd U.S.-Africa Frontiers of Science, Engineering, and Medicine Symposium in partnership with and hosted by the Republic of Rwanda. The upcoming meeting will be held on February 18-20, 2025 in Kigali, Rwanda. The application is now open for scientists, engineers, and medical professionals from the United States and African Union member countries to submit their application online before the deadline of July 7, 2024, 11:59 PMET (Washington D.C. time).
This program brings together outstanding early/mid-career scientists, engineers, and medical professionals (within 15 years of most recent degree), from the United States and the member countries of the African Union for a series of symposia to discuss exciting advances and opportunities in their fields. The goal of these meetings is to enhance scientific exchange and dialogue among early-to-middle career researchers in African countries and the United States, including the African science diaspora, and through this interaction facilitate research collaboration within and beyond the region. Another unique aspect of the Frontiers events is the pluri-disciplinarity of the participants’ backgrounds and research interests.
One of the main objectives of this Frontiers symposium is to advance our understanding of cutting-edge S&T trends in the U.S. and Africa and to foster dialogue and collaborations across disciplines. The upcoming symposium will address the following topics:
Session I: New Solutions for Decarbonization
Session II: Biotechnology
Session III: Precision Agriculture
Session IV: Advances in Space Research
Session V: Smart and Connected Cities
We encourage early-career scientists, engineers and medical professionals working on related research to apply to this multidisciplinary meeting, as long as they fulfill the eligibility criteria. Each general participant will also have the opportunity to present their research during poster sessions. Travel of selected participants will be covered. More details on the symposium, organization, and program can be found on the symposium webpage.
Please submit your application online by 11:59 PM ET on July 7, 2024. For more information on the U.S.-Africa Frontiers Program, please visit our program website. Please email USAfricaSTEM@nas.edu with any questions.
Mobility for Clean Energy Solutions to promote energy independence and environmental well-being through collaboration and innovation, addressing climate challenges across Africa.
Background:
Africa, a continent brimming with potential, faces a critical challenge: ensuring energy access and tackling climate change. Over 50% of its population lacks electricity, and relying on unsustainable practices threatens their health and the environment. Yet, Africa possesses a wealth of untapped renewable resources – a golden key to unlocking a brighter future. The Homegrown Clean Energy (HCE) Solutions Project steps in to address these challenges with a vision driven by African ingenuity. We are empowering universities, the private sector, and local communities to develop clean energy solutions tailored to their specific needs.
The objectives of Homegrown Clean Energy:
Promote the development of Homegrown Clean Energy (HCE) solutions for underrepresented communities.
Facilitate knowledge sharing and technology transfer among participating institutions.
Enhance entrepreneurship skills in clean energy solutions for climate change adaptation and mitigation in Africa.
Promote gender equality and social inclusion in clean energy solutions.
Participating Institutions:
Federal University of Technology Minna (FUTMIN), Nigeria
Makerere University is pleased to announce a vacancy for the position of Assistant Administrative Officer (REC Administrator) within the School of Biomedical Sciences Research Ethics Committee (MakSBSREC). This is an excellent opportunity for qualified individuals to contribute to the ethical oversight of research involving human participants.
Duration: 1 Year, renewable upon satisfactory performance
Duty Station: Kampala
Qualifications, Desired Skills, and Experience:
Bachelor’s degree in Social Sciences and Humanities, Medicine and Surgery, Ethics and Human Rights, or any related field.
Master’s degree in Bioethics (an added advantage).
Up-to-date training in Human Subject Protection or Good Clinical Practice.
Proficiency in English (both spoken and written).
Prior experience in regulatory work in research studies or projects.
Excellent communication, organizational, and interpersonal skills.
Ability to work independently with minimal supervision and meet deadlines.
How to Apply:
Qualified and interested candidates are invited to submit a soft copy of their application documents and a motivation letter to deansbs.chs@mak.ac.ug with the subject line “Application for the position of Assistant Administrative Officer (REC Administrator)”. Address your application to the Dean, School of Biomedical Sciences.
Deadline for submission: July 2, 2024, by 5:00 pm Ugandan time.
Please provide a reliable 24-hour phone contact. Only short-listed candidates will be contacted for interviews.