SGCI–STISA 2034 Multilateral Research Call

SGCI Phase 3, with support from Norad and IDRC, is funding African-led, multi-country research consortia that advance the priorities of the African Union’s Science, Technology and Innovation Strategy for Africa (STISA-2034). Five thematic streams are open across the call — health; agriculture and food systems; artificial intelligence and digital technologies; energy; and environment and climate resilience — with each participating country funding only the streams its own council has committed to. Malawi participates through NCST, whose national circular invites Malawian researchers working in Agriculture and Energy to lead or join consortia. This is a two-stage competition: a short Expression of Interest now, full technical proposals by invitation only.

Open to public and private universities, public research organisations and government research institutions in participating SGCI countries; Malawi is a participating country, so UNIMA qualifies directly (no Northern partner needed or permitted as a funded party).

Each consortium needs a lead applicant institution plus at least two co-applicant institutions, drawn from at least three different SGCI countries, with no more than one co-applicant per country and up to five co-applicant institutions in total.

The nominated Principal Investigator must be in full-time employment with the applying institution; a PI may lead only one Expression of Interest but may appear as co-applicant on others.

Malawi’s eligible streams are Agriculture and Energy per NCST’s circular — confirm on the call page (select Malawi) before committing, as national annexes also set the grant ceiling and any local conditions.

Non-African organisations may collaborate but cannot receive funding directly or indirectly.

For Malawi: Agriculture and Energy

Fieldwork, laboratory work and data collection and analysis; researcher salaries and benefits; student stipends and scholarships; modest research equipment; economy-class travel; stakeholder and policy engagement, policy briefs and publications; specialist consultancies and technical expertise; capacity strengthening; indirect costs up to 13% of the budget or the national limit, whichever is lower.

Register and submit the Expression of Interest on the IDRC-managed SurveyMonkey Apply portal.

The EOI comprises four narrative sections of at most 500 words each — development challenge and context; research questions and novelty; institutional roles and capacity; methodology and work plan — plus a two-page CV for each country’s Principal Investigator, one-page CVs for up to three additional key team members, signed institutional commitment letters from the lead and every co-applicant institution, and a declaration of any generative-AI use in preparing the application.

Timeline: Portal opened: 3 July 2026 | Information webinars 23 July 2026 (held) and 13 August 2026 | EOI deadline: 25 September 2026, 23:59 EDT | Eligibility screening: 9 October 2026 | Shortlisted applicants notified: 19 October 2026 | Full technical proposal (invited only): 4 December 2026 | Results announced: 15 February 2027 | Expected award approval: 3 May 2027

Key links and contacts

• Full call document, FAQ, and an optional matchmaking platform for finding partner institutions in other SGCI countries
• Call information (IDRC)
• Application

Enquiries:

• SGCSSA@idrc.ca at least 36 hours before the deadline.
• For Malawi enquiries: Mr Lyson Kampira, Acting Director of Research, Science and Technology Development, NCST. Email: lkampira@ncst.mw