In celebration of World Field Epidemiology Day 2023, , EMPHNET is pleased to announce that the Eastern Mediterranean Non-Communicable Disease Research and Prevention Center (NCDsRC) is launching the “Eastern Mediterranean Region (EMR) Operational and Implementation Research Studies” Mini-grants Opportunity.

This initiative is being implemented by the NCDsRC at EMPHNET with technical support from the World Health Organization- Regional Office for the Eastern Mediterranean (WHO-EMRO) and the US CDC Global Health Center’s Office of Global Noncommunicable Diseases (NCDs).

The mini-grant opportunity is aimed at addressing the burden of NCDs in the EMR by supporting the implementation of mini-grant projects related to gaps in NCDs' response.

Applications will be accepted via an online application system between September 7 and November 30, 2023.

Results will be announced at the beginning of January 2024. Projects should be implemented from February to July 2024. FETP residents and graduates, researchers, public health professionals, and individuals from EMR countries are welcome to apply by completing the form by 5:00 PM GMT +3, November 30, 2023.

Background

NCDs account for a considerable majority of deaths globally^[1]. In the year 2016, deaths from NCDs accounted for an equivalent of 71% of all deaths globally, with 85% of premature NCD-related deaths occurring in low-and middle-income countries (LMICs)^[2]. The prevalence rates of NCDs in the EMR are alarmingly high. In 2019, 79% of all deaths in the Middle East and North Africa Region were a result of NCDs; ranging from 75% to 89% in 13 of the 22 EMR countries.^[3] More than 1.7 million people in the EMR die from cardiovascular diseases (CVDs), cancer, chronic respiratory diseases, and diabetes annually, and this is expected to increase to 2.4 million deaths by the year 2025 unless prompt action is taken.^[4] A substantial proportion of the NCD burden in the region is caused by modifiable risk factors, including tobacco use, physical inactivity, and unhealthy diet. This highlights the need for local operational and implementation research, to provide useful approaches and tools to characterize barriers and develop country and context-specific solutions for translating evidence and broad strategies into action.

With the overall goal of generating local evidence to inform policymakers in the development of intervention programs, and policies to tackle the growing burden of NCDs in the EMR, the NCDsRC at GHD|EMPHNET will support operational and implementation research studies aimed at improving the response to NCDs in the EMR.

Objectives

The overall objective of the mini-grants initiative is to accelerate the application of scientific methods and evidence to reduce the burden of NCDs and enhance the translation of scientific evidence into policy and interventions for the prevention of NCDs by involving a wide network of stakeholders. The mini-grants funding opportunity announcement aims to engage researchers, FETP graduates, and other public health professionals in priority EMR countries to achieve the following objectives:

• Support countries in identifying the main barriers affecting the implementation of evidence-based NCDs programs, interventions, and best buys and propose potential evidence-based solutions.

• Use local-level knowledge and experience to guide policy, strategy, and decision-making to improve the response to the NCDs burden and impact.

• Appraise the NCD needs of vulnerable populations, especially in conflict/displacement situations, and identify effective responses, assess the key NCD response interventions in humanitarian emergencies and chronic crises, and recommend action to address current gaps and constraints.

Eligibility

Proposal

Public health professionals, FETP residents, and graduates will have the opportunity to propose operational and implementation research studies for potential funding and implementation in targeted countries. Proposals need to address priority issues related to NCDs including implementation of ‘best buys’ measures and should be approved by the Ministry of Health of the respective country, as applicable.

The call for proposals is not limited to any specific group, and any eligible applicants can apply for funding. Only one completed application per priority area will be funded.

Although countries should avoid submitting multiple proposals for the same priority, multiple proposals for different priorities will be accepted from the same country. The selection committee will fund only one project per country.

Submitted proposals need to focus on one of the following scopes of work:

• NCDs screening and prevention measures, models, programs, interventions, policies, or innovations within the public health systems 
  • Priority topics: Improving the early detection of diabetes, hypertension, and/or cancer; Mental health and NCDs (considering mental health in risk stratification, how effective and what value could be added)

• NCDs surveillance measures, models, programs, interventions, policies, or innovations
  • Priority topics: Indicators use and gaps in monitoring, especially at the Primary Health care level; Effective data use to improve health systems

• NCDs health promotion measures, models, programs, interventions, policies, or innovations to promote behavior change regarding any of the following:
  • Consumption of tobacco
  • Physical activity
  • Healthy lifestyles
  • Good nutrition
  • Salt intake
  • Sugar intake
  • Trans-fat intake

• NCDs health promotion measures, models, programs, interventions, policies, or innovations to advocate for policy change regarding any of the following:
  • Smoke-free environment
  • Banning of trans-fat
  • Clear nutritional labeling

• NCDs and chronic disease measures, models, programs, interventions, policies, or innovations for complex settings and protracted emergencies

• Evaluation of NCDs measures, models, programs, interventions, policies, or innovations within health systems

• Scaling up approaches of evidence based NCD measures, models, programs, interventions, policies, or innovations

• Measures, models, programs, interventions, policies, or innovations to increase capacities (human, financial, structural, etc.) in NCDs priority areas

• Measures, models, programs, interventions, policies, or innovations to improve management and control of NCDs on a national level 
  • Priority topics: Reducing the complications of diabetes and hypertension through self-management and therapeutic education; Monitoring of patient’s adherence to treatment. 

• Identification of barriers and potential solutions to the implementation of NCDs best buys and NCD agenda.
  • Priority topics: Effective multisectoral action, what works and what does not work. 

• Models to enhance the translation of scientific evidence into policy and interventions for the prevention of NCDs
• Measures, models, programs, interventions, policies, or innovations to integrate NCDs prevention and care in primary health

• Digital solutions to tackle NCDs
  • Priority topics: Use of digital technology and innovative solutions in management and monitoring.

Regardless of the project focus area, the projects shall generate data for evidence-based decisions related to responding to NCDs.

Eligible Countries

Countries in EMR and Bangladesh

Budget

The duration of the grant period is a maximum of six months from the date of release of funds. The proposal must indicate that the budget requested is essential, and the itemized expenditures in the budget must be matched with items presented in the proposal narrative. The maximum grant award per project is $5,000.  

Deadlines

• Applications must be submitted here no later than 5:00 PM GMT+3, November 30, 2023

• The Steering Committee will complete the review of protocols and make funding decisions by the end of December 2023

• Notifications of awards and the release of initial funds will be made by the first half of January 2023

• Awarded projects must be completed by July 2024 and final reports must be submitted by July 30, 2024

Important Notes

• If the proposal is selected for funding, the project lead must ensure the country’s Ministry of Health or relevant institution will provide assistance as needed for the duration of the project.

• Projects that involve cost-sharing and/or collaborative undertakings are strongly encouraged and should be indicated in the application

• The mini-grants may not be used to fund salaries or honorariums. At least 80% of the fund must be used to support the implementation of project activities as detailed in the submitted budgets.

Project Implementation

• During the implementation of the project, each team lead must provide a monthly progress report to the NCDsRC at GHD|EMPHNET until the implementation of the research is completed.

• The final report should be submitted by June 30, 2024, the final report should include:
  • A maximum of 300 words summary of the project
  • A detailed description of the project implementation process
  • Evaluations or feedback from involved parties
  • Any audio and/or visual materials

• The findings of the project must be shared with the relevant authorities at the national and regional levels to serve as a reference for decision-making and policy revisions.

• The completed project will have the opportunity to be published as a supplement in a peer-reviewed journal on NCDs.

All technical questions should be directed to Randa Saad, MD, Technical Specialist, rsaad@emphnet.net

[1] World Health Organization (WHO). World health statistics 2020: Monitoring health for the SDGs, sustainable development goals. Geneva: World Health Organization 2020.  Available at: CIP data are available at http://apps.who.int/iris.

[2] World Health organization (WHO). Global health estimates 2016: deaths by cause, age, sex, by country and by region, 2000-2016. Geneva, World Health Organization; 2018.  Available at: (https://www.who.int/healthinfo/global_burden_disease/estimates/en/).

[3] World Bank NCD Mortality Data. Available at: https://data.worldbank.org/indicator/SH.DTH.NCOM.ZS?view=chart

[4] WHO Noncommunicable diseases. WHO, Regional Office for the Eastern Mediterranean. Available: http://www.emro.who.int/noncommunicablediseases/diseases/diseases.html