NRF Empowers Institutions Through Landmark Grants Training Initiative

From Monday, 9th June to Friday, 13th June 2025, the National Research Fund (NRF) took a significant step toward transforming Kenya’s research and innovation landscape through its Grants Capacity Building Initiative (GCBI), held at Burch Resort in Naivasha. The intensive week-long workshop brought together 65 participants from 30 diverse institutions, underscoring a strong, collective commitment to advancing the country’s research capacity.

The GCBI workshop aimed to build institutional capacity for sustainable resource mobilization, with participants receiving in-depth training on proposal development, consortium building, and research-to-impact strategies. These areas are essential for securing competitive grants and translating research into meaningful socioeconomic change.

“This initiative is not just about skills. It’s about embedding systems within institutions that can sustain and scale resource mobilization,” said NRF CEO Prof. Dickson Andala.

The workshop was designed with a clear understanding of the growing demand for funding, the need for stronger collaborative research, and the importance of aligning research with national development priorities. It also underscored NRF’s commitment to policy-driven innovation, strengthened by key partnerships with the Kenya School of Government and ISAAA AfriCenter.

Participating institutions included strategic agencies such as the National Mining Corporation, Kenya Space Agency, Kenya Intelligence & Research University, and the National Defense University of Kenya. These organizations, representing a wide range of research interests, were recognized for their potential to shape Kenya’s future through science and innovation.

Beyond the technical training, the workshop created space for cross-sectoral dialogue, knowledge exchange, and the cultivation of a nationwide network of institutional fundraisers—a key pillar in NRF’s broader vision for sustainable research development.

The Grants Capacity Building Initiative is part of NRF’s long-term strategy to not only support research institutions but also embed resilience, accountability, and innovation into Kenya’s research funding ecosystem.