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Frequently asked questions

Q. Does a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with partner organizations need to be submitted with the Full Proposal?

A. You are not required to submit an MoU with the Full Proposal. MoUs will need to be submitted as part of the phase one activities of approximately 3 months duration, at the commencement of project implementation, if your proposal is selected and a contract successfully signed.

Q. One of our collaborators is an ARI, keen to unite with us but is unwilling to commit 2:1 matching funds. What is the solution?

A. CPWF rules say that the total matching funding for your project must meet the minimum requirements – that is, this particular institution would not have to contribute the necessary matching funds itself if another partner was contributing more matching funds than required. Also, matching funds are not necessarily cash; they can be services in kind – staff time, lab or office space, etc.

CPWF rules also permit closely related projects (from outside the CPWF) to be “contributed” as matching funds.

Q. Can we have a co-leader for the research team? Can we use a different team leader from the one we put down in the CN?

A. No - only one project leader is allowed to ensure there is no confusion over who we are in contact with for overall project progress.

It is not desirable that you change the team leader. If it is absolutely imperative that you do so, you must have a very strong argument why the change has occurred, and ensure that the replacement leader has at least the same experience and qualifications as the team leader in the concept note stage.

Q. What is the minimum time period the CPWF Secretariat will take to decide on Second Call awards, after full proposals are received?

A. The process of external review leading to recommendation for approval should take approximately five weeks for the technical component, and another week for the financial component.

Q. How long (minimum) does it take to go from being awarded a grant to being able to commence the work

A. As long as it takes to negotiate the contract. You are able to initiate plans though where there is no cost implications.

Q. Will awardees be given 24 months to complete their work?

A. Yes.
Please note that the guidelines will provide a full schedule of the timeframe and process leading to an invitation to negotiate a contract.

Q. What are the maximum allowed percentage amounts for overhead and contingency in the budget?

The guidelines do not specify maximum limits for overhead and contingency. The budget itself will not be used primarily as a method of discrimination in the selection process. However, proposals will be judged on whether they provide value for money, according to their level of technical quality.