The United Kingdom's Department for International Development (DFID) is financing the Africa Community Access Programme (AFCAP) in association with African governments and other development partners. AFCAP is a research initiative designed to address the challenges of providing reliable access for poor communities in Africa. AFCAP is based around a portfolio of research, demonstration and training projects, which identify and support the update of low cost, proven solutions for rural access that maximise the use of local resources. Crown Agents have been appointed by DFID as Programme Managers and IT Transport Limited have been sub-contracted as advisors on transport services.
AFCAP Purpose : Strengthened research evidence base developed, promoted and influencing policy and practice in Africa; on sustainable rural road provision & maintenance, and affordable rural transport services.
All AFCAP projects are implemented in conjunction with national or regional authorities. Several countries are currently participating in AFCAP, and these include Ethiopia, Kenya, Malawi, Mozambique and Tanzania. AFCAP projects may, however, be implemented in any Sub-Saharan country in Africa. Funding has been committed to the AFCAP programme until 2013.
One of AFCAP's objectives is to promote transport services in rural areas. To this end AFCAP now invites Project Concept Notes (PCNs) for research projects on Rural Transport Services in sub-Saharan Africa.
Call for Project Concept Notes
Individuals, non-governmental organisations, firms, universities and similar organisations with relevant research and consultancy capability are invited to submit PCNs for research projects into Rural Transport Service. Projects must be located in Sub-Saharan Africa and it is essential that the projects meet the following criteria as a minimum:
- Relevance to AFCAP's overall goal of providing reliable access for poor communities in Africa;
- Contribution to adding to existing knowledge and research in the area of Rural Transport Services in sub-Saharan Africa and;
- Compliance with AFCAP's four way test for project proposals.
Projects may be for a duration of 2 to 24 months. Please note that AFCAP will not fund construction work, nor will it support widespread programme implementation other than for research purposes.
Selection Process
All PCNs must be submitted in English using the application form in the resources below. One form should be used for each research project proposed, however, an organisation may submit more than one PCN for consideration.
After the submission deadline an initial evaluation of the PCNs will be carried out in accordance with the evaluation criteria and weighting specified in the application form. Proposals successfully passing this stage will be shortlisted for further consideration.
Shortlisted applicants will be notified by email and requested to submit a short Research Project Proposal. Please note only shortlisted applicants will be contacted.
A final selection of research projects will be produced based on evaluation criteria which will form part of the invitation to shortlisted applicants. Contracts will be awarded to successful proposal applicants.
Timescale
Closing date for receipt of PCNs - 1700 hours (GMT) 10th December 2010
Shortlisted applicants notified - 7th January 2011
Submission deadline for Research Project Proposals - 28th January 2011
Contracts awarded - 14th February 2011
Commencement of Research projects Feb/Mar 2011
Contact details
All application forms must be submitted by email to: Mr. Salomonsen (Andreas.Salomonsen@ittransport.co.uk) or I.T.Transport (itt@ittransport.co.uk). Please include 'Submission of Project Concept Note for AFCAP' in the subject line of the email.
Any further information may be obtained from the same addresses.