Grants and proposal writing skills are invaluable assets for organizations committed to making a lasting impact on human lives. No single entity can address complex challenges such as healthcare, education, poverty, and environmental sustainability alone. These skills empower organizations and institutions to secure vital funding needed to develop, implement, and scale innovative solutions; transforming ideas into impactful actions that can change lives and foster sustainable progress on a broader scale.
Against this backdrop, Purpose Rwanda participated in a Grant Writing Workshop, organized by the African Population and Health Research Center (APHRC) and the 7th Annual Conference of the East Africa Research and Innovation Management Association (EARIMA) between September 22 – 25 in Entebbe, Uganda. Themed “Driving Research and Innovation for Socio-economic Transformation,” the EARIMA conference convened research and innovation leaders from across East Africa to explore funding ecosystems, research impact, the next generation of researchers, and the role of culture in fostering innovation.
Held over four days, the Grant Writing workshop brought together 40 participants from African institutions who are engaged in APHRC’s Good Grant Practice Virtual Academy (GGP-VA) initiative. Hosted within the EARIMA conference, the program combined intensive technical training with opportunities for participants to join select conference sessions, including the official opening. This dual format allowed participants to strengthen grant acquisition skills while also engaging in regional dialogue on research and innovation.
A capacity-strengthening initiative, GGP-VA seeks to enhance grant management, governance, and institutional sustainability across African research and non-research institutions. This is achieved by equipping institutions with the necessary tools, knowledge, and systems to enhance transparency, accountability, and efficiency in managing donor funds within the framework of the Good Financial Grant Practice (GFGP Standard).
GGP-VA delivers this support through a combination of self-paced courses through the APHRC Virtual Learning Academy, virtual sessions (webinars), in-person workshops, technical assistance, and a Community of Practice (CoP). The initiative is also facilitating institutions to conduct GFGP self-assessments on the Global Grant Community (GGC) portal to determine the baseline capacities of the institutions and thereafter support toward GFGP certification.
Purpose Rwanda’s Participation
For Purpose Rwanda, a non-profit dedicated to youth capacity building and psychosocial support, the workshop was a timely opportunity to sharpen skills in proposal development and resource mobilization.
“This training has provided us with practical tools to design compelling proposals and manage grants effectively, empowering Purpose Rwanda to expand its impact among young people and communities in Rwanda,” – Steven Tumusime, Strategic Partnerships Lead, Purpose Rwanda.
Participation in both the training and the conference reflects Purpose Rwanda’s commitment to contributing to Rwanda’s research and innovation landscape while advancing its mission of building purposeful, positive, and addiction-free lives among youth.
Purpose Rwanda extends its gratitude to APHRC and EARIMA for this opportunity. The inspiration, knowledge, and skills gained from this experience constitute true empowerment: aligning with Purpose Rwanda’s core mission: to create purposeful, positive, and addiction-free citizens, thereby contributing to self-sustainability and socio-economic transformation in Rwanda.
Purpose Rwanda, registration No. 151/RGB/NGO/LP/10/2017, operates in Rwanda as a capacity-building and psychosocial nonprofit organization focused on purpose development and support among youth. We also work to promote positive, addiction-free living among citizens.
