African Union / World Bank Think Tank Platform Grants: Evidence-Based Policy Research in Health, Governance & Regional Integration (Up to USD $10M) — A Complete, Beginner-Friendly Step-by-Step Guide

Introduction — Why this grant matters now

If you work in research, policy, public health, governance, or regional integration in Africa or Asia, this is a moment to lean in. The African Union (in partnership with the World Bank) has launched a major initiative — the Africa Think Tank Platform (ATTP) — designed to build durable research capacity across the continent and to connect local evidence with policy decisions at national, regional and continental levels. The platform funds collaborative think-tank consortia and research institutions, with grant awards that can reach roughly USD $10 million per consortium depending on scope and duration. This is more than money — it’s a chance to shape policy, strengthen regional networks, and make local knowledge central to decisions that affect millions. The AU’s announcement and guidance detail the scope and objectives of the program. (See the official ATTP call for proposals for details.)

This guide turns that opportunity into a practical plan. Whether you are at a small university, an NGO with research ambitions, or an independent policy institute, this article shows you how to go from idea to submission with real, actionable steps — and explains why evidence-based research can change the development trajectory for whole regions.

How to read this guide

You’ll get:

A plain-English explanation of the program and its priorities.
A realistic, step-by-step application process (for beginners).
Tables and checklists for quick reference.
A sample structure for your Statement of Purpose (SOP).
Common pitfalls and how to avoid them.
FAQs tuned for African and Asian applicants.
A final compliance check explaining how the article meets Google AdSense policy requirements.

What is the Africa Think Tank Platform (ATTP)?

The ATTP is a multi-year AU initiative, backed by a World Bank funding package, that aims to strengthen the role of local research institutions in shaping policy. It does this by financing think-tank consortia that will deliver high-quality, policy-relevant research on continental priorities such as health systems, governance reforms, regional trade and integration, climate resilience, digitalization, and human capital development.

Key facts at a glance:

Sponsor: African Union Commission in partnership with World Bank funding.
Total initiative funding (example): The AU announced a large partnership package (reported in press materials as a multi-million USD initiative) to support think tanks and research consortia.
Typical grant size: Grants for consortia can be large — the public materials indicate support in the order of multiple millions, with specific calls indicating approximately up to USD $10 million per consortium for major, multi-year projects.
Eligible applicants: Consortia of think tanks (3–5 institutions), research centers, universities, policy institutes, or NGO coalitions with representation across at least two African sub-regions (for AU calls). Government research units may be partners but applicants are typically independent or academic institutions.
Priority themes: Economic transformation & governance, climate & environment, regional trade & integration (AfCFTA related), food security & human capital, digitalization, and health systems, among others.

Why the AU + World Bank collaboration is significant

Funding is only useful if it’s aligned with institutional capacity and policy demand. The AU brings continental networks and direct links to member state policy processes, while the World Bank lends financial scale and knowledge of program implementation. Together they aim to:

Build sustained institutional capacity (not one-off projects).
Convene stakeholders — ministries, regional bodies, private sector and civil society.
Ensure research outputs are actionable and used in policymaking.

One practical implication: proposals that plan sustained policy engagement (not just academic outputs) are stronger. Showing pathways to influence is as important as the method.

Why keywords and framing matter

Grant reviewers read dozens (sometimes hundreds) of proposals. Clear framing — which includes consistent use of priority themes and keywords — helps your application be quickly recognizable as relevant. In practice, this means:

Use the exact program priority phrases in your Executive Summary (e.g., “health systems strengthening”, “regional integration under AfCFTA”, “evidence-based policy research”).
Tie your indicators and outcomes directly to the keywords — if you say “regional integration,” map it to measurable outputs like policy harmonization recommendations, pilot cross-border corridor analyses, or standardized indicators for intra-regional trade.
Make sure your online materials (institution pages, CVs of PIs) also use these phrases — reviewers often cross-check.

Comparison: What makes a competitive ATTP proposal?

Below is a table comparing proposals across three tiers (Pilot, Standard, Consortium) so you can see what reviewers will expect at each funding level. This table helps you choose the right scale for your institution.

Feature / Tier	Pilot ($150k–$500k)	Standard ($500k–$2M)	Consortium (up to ~$10M)
Project Scope	Single country, targeted pilot	Multi-site within 1–2 countries	Multi-country, multi-theme program
Team Composition	Small PI + 1–2 researchers	PI, co-PIs, local partners	Consortium of 3–5 think tanks + universities + govt partners
Policy Engagement	One policy brief + workshop	Series of policy briefs, workshops with ministry	Policy dialogues, secondments, fellows, sustained engagement
M&E	Basic indicators, baseline	Clear MEL with indicators & midline	Full MEL, impact evaluation and knowledge repository
Duration	6–18 months	18–36 months	2–5 years
Expected Outputs	Pilot data & brief	Policy tools, datasets, capacity building	Regional reports, digital knowledge hub, fellowships, training
Risk & Complexity	Low	Medium	High — but high impact
Best for	New research teams testing methods	Established teams scaling regionally	Multi-institutional networks seeking transformational outcomes

Use this table to determine which lane fits your capacity. If you’re a small NGO, consider starting at the Pilot or Standard level with strong university partners.

Key policy areas and sample research questions

Below are examples of research questions that align well with the AU/World Bank priorities. These can be adapted to country or regional specifics:

Health Systems

What financing reforms increase equitable access to primary health care in rural districts?
How can country disease surveillance systems be modernized to detect outbreaks faster?

Governance

What are effective mechanisms to increase transparency in public procurement across decentralized local governments?
How can gender-responsive budgeting be institutionalized at the regional level?

Regional Integration & Trade

What non-tariff barriers most constrain intra-regional trade for SMEs under AfCFTA, and what policy solutions are practical?
How can cross-border transport corridors be made climate-resilient?

Climate Resilience & Food Security

What policy instruments improve smallholder farmers’ adaptive capacity to drought?
How does regional coordination affect transboundary water management?

Digitalization

How do digital ID systems affect financial inclusion and cross-border payments?
What regulatory approaches best balance data protection with innovation?

Pick one focused question for your concept note — reviewers favor depth and plausible measurement over overly broad ambitions.

H2: Step-by-Step Application Guide — From idea to funded project (Beginner friendly)

Follow these steps to prepare a competitive application.

Step 1 — Scan the official call and eligibility criteria (Do this first)

Read the ATTP call carefully and note deadlines, eligible applicants, required consortium composition, eligible expenses, and submission portal requirements. (The AU’s call for proposals and the World Bank project documentation are authoritative starting points.)
Save the call documents (PDF, ToR, FAQ). Read every annex.

Step 2 — Choose the right scope and partners

Decide which tier you can credibly deliver (see the comparison table).
Identify 2–4 partner institutions to form a consortium. Aim for geographic spread (e.g., West Africa + East Africa) and complementary strengths (academic rigor + policy access + community engagement).
Secure a lead institution that will act as the grant recipient. Smaller NGOs should partner with a university for fiduciary capacity.

Step 3 — Draft a compact concept note (3–5 pages)

Your concept note should include:

Title and lead institution.
Clear problem statement and why it matters now.
Research question(s) and objectives.
Short methodology (data sources, sampling, comparative approach).
Policy engagement plan (who will use the research, what policy windows exist).
High-level budget estimates and duration.
Names and short bios of key team members (or proposed profiles).
Risk summary and mitigation.

Why start with a concept note? The ATTP process commonly invites a two-stage submission: first a concept, then a full proposal for shortlisted applicants. A crisp concept can dramatically increase your chance to be invited.

Step 4 — Build the full proposal (if shortlisted)

Full proposals usually require:

A detailed methodology (mixed methods are strongly encouraged).
A theory of change showing how outputs lead to policy uptake.
Comprehensive MEL plan (indicators, data collection, baseline).
Workplan with timelines and roles.
Detailed budget (line items, justifications).
Letters of support / MOUs from partner institutions and key stakeholders (ministries, regional bodies).
Evidence of fiduciary capacity and procurement procedures.

Step 5 — Develop a policy engagement strategy

Spell out:

Who your primary policy audiences are (ministry, regional body, parliamentary committee).
How you will engage them (policy briefs, workshops, secondments).
The timing of engagement (align with policy/legislative cycles).
Capacity building components (trainings, fellowships, policy labs).

Step 6 — Set up monitoring, learning, and evaluation (MEL)

A robust MEL plan should include:

Clear indicators (quantitative and qualitative).
Baseline and endline measurements.
Learning loops (regular reviews to adapt the project).
Dissemination metrics (number of briefings, downloads, media mentions).
Plan for data sharing (open data where possible).

Step 7 — Budgeting and value for money

Be realistic and transparent. Budget reviewers look for well-justified items, not padded expenses.
Include commodity costs, salaries, travel, workshops, publication costs, and a contingency.
Plan for sustainability (how will activities continue after the grant?).

Step 8 — Internal review and external peer review

Have colleagues, an external researcher, and a policy practitioner read the draft.
Use feedback to refine clarity and fix gaps.

Step 9 — Finalize and submit

Follow the portal instructions exactly (file types, naming conventions).
Submit all required attachments.
Keep signed original documents and offline backups.

Step 10 — If shortlisted, prepare for negotiations

Be ready to adjust your budget and timeline during negotiations.
Expect due diligence from the funder — prepare institutional documents (audits, financial statements, registration certificates).

Table: Sample Budget Allocation (Example for a $2,000,000 project over 3 years)

Category	% of total	Amount (USD)	Notes
Personnel (PI, researchers, admin)	35%	700,000	Salaries + benefits, incremental hires
Fieldwork & Data Collection	20%	400,000	Surveys, travel, enumerators
Capacity Building & Workshops	12%	240,000	Training, policy workshops, dissemination
Institutional Strengthening	10%	200,000	IT systems, procurement support
MEL & Learning	8%	160,000	Baseline, midline, endline
Publications & Knowledge Repo	5%	100,000	Reports, open data hosting
Administrative & Overhead	7%	140,000	Institutional overhead
Contingency (5%)	3%	60,000	Unexpected costs

Note: This is a sample allocation. Smaller projects will have different percentages (e.g., pilots allocate more to data collection and less to overhead).

Your Statement of Purpose — A simple, strong structure

Your SOP (for the lead institution or PI) should be concise (1–2 pages) and organized as follows:

Opening paragraph — Who you are, the institution’s mission, and a one-sentence summary of the proposed project and its policy relevance.
Track record — Highlight 2–3 prior projects or outputs that show capacity to deliver (policy briefs, prior funded projects, publications, government partnerships).
Project fit — Explain why this grant and the ATTP priorities align with your institution’s strategy and the country/regional policy agenda.
Impact plan — How the research will influence policy within the grant period and beyond.
Institutional sustainability — Briefly state how you will sustain the work after funding ends (e.g., blended finance, government uptake, new revenue streams).

Keep it specific, concrete, and evidence-oriented. Avoid generic statements.

Key Insights & Strategic Advice (from reviewers’ perspective)

Demand-Driven Research Wins: Proposals that respond to a clearly stated policy demand (a ministry request, a legislative window, or a regional agenda) are much more compelling.
Partnerships Are Not Decorative: Letters of support must be real commitments. If you say a ministry will co-host a workshop, include a signed MOU or a dated letter.
Capacity Building Is Core: Funders want institutional uplift — show plans for skills transfers, systems upgrades, and career pathways for junior researchers.
Data Management & Ethics: Provide clear plans for ethical review, data protection, and open access where appropriate.
Gender & Inclusion: Show how your research will account for gender, youth, and marginalized groups — both in methodology and policy recommendations.
Sustainability & Exit Strategy: How will knowledge and benefits persist when funding ends?

Common Mistakes — And how to avoid them

Too broad a scope
Fix: Narrow to a specific research question and realistic deliverables.
Weak policy engagement plan
Fix: Map policymakers, timing, and concrete engagement products.
Unrealistic budget
Fix: Provide market-based cost estimates and justify high expenses.
Poor consortium governance
Fix: Create a clear governance table (roles, decision rules, finance lead, data lead).
Missing evidence of institutional capacity
Fix: Include prior audits, sample publications, and CVs of key staff.
Assuming publication = policy uptake
Fix: Add implementation pilots, policy dialogues, and secondments.

Real-World examples (illustrative, not exhaustive)

The ATTP builds on many global examples where local research institutions influenced policy:

A think tank that collaborated with a ministry to redesign a national health insurance subsidy, then piloted it in two districts before scale-up.
A regional trade study that identified non-tariff barriers along a corridor and worked with customs unions to redesign documentation — decreasing delays and increasing trade volumes.
University-led evidence reviews that informed parliamentary debates on decentralization and public procurement.

These examples show that research + sustained engagement = policy change. Your proposal should lay out the same pathway.

Monitoring, Learning & Evaluation (MEL) — Practical tips

Indicator mix: Combine output (e.g., briefs, trainings), outcome (e.g., number of policy changes influenced), and process indicators (e.g., stakeholder engagement frequency).
Baseline data: Funders expect baseline measurement to make causal claims.
Learning agenda: Build in adaptation — quarterly reviews where teams refine methods based on early findings.
Data transparency: Where possible, commit to open data but ensure ethical protections (especially with health or personally identifiable data).

FAQs (Concise but useful)

Q: Can institutions outside Africa apply?
A: For AU calls, priority is African think tanks; non-African partners can be collaborators but check eligibility for lead organizations.

Q: Is co-funding required?
A: Not always, but demonstrating co-financing or in-kind contributions strengthens competitiveness.

Q: Will the AU help with matchmaking?
A: The program has provided platforms and FAQs to help consortia formation; check the ATTP portal for partner directories. africathinktankplatform.africa

Q: How long before decisions are made?
A: Timelines vary. Many multi-stage processes take several months from concept to award; plan accordingly.

Q: Are small grants available for early-career researchers?
A: Some windows may support smaller pilots or fellowships; check specific calls and their eligibility details.

Ethics, Data Protection & Safeguards

Seek ethics approval early (university IRBs or national boards).
For health data, follow local privacy laws and WHO guidance on data protection.
Include community consent processes, especially when working with vulnerable populations.
Ensure gender-sensitive and non-exploitative practices in data collection.

From Submission to Implementation — what to expect

If awarded:

Negotiation & Due Diligence: Funders will request legal, financial, and project documents.
Implementation Start: Hire staff, finalize MOUs, and set up financial systems.
Early Engagement: Hold stakeholder mapping sessions and baseline data collection.
Adaptive Management: Use MEL to course correct; keep funder informed.
Dissemination & Uptake: Prioritize accessible products (policy briefs, executive summaries) and high-level policy dialogues.

Conclusion — The opportunity and the ask

The Africa Think Tank Platform backed by the World Bank represents a strategic investment in local evidence and policymaking. If you’re serious about influencing policy on health, governance, or regional integration — and you can assemble a credible, geographically balanced team with a clear policy pathway — this program is an exceptional opportunity.

Start small if necessary: pilot, build credibility, and scale into consortium proposals. Align your research strictly with policy demand, prove that you can measure and encourage uptake, and keep partnerships real and operational.

Your next steps (quick checklist):

Read the AU/ATTP call documents now. African Union+1
Choose a focused research question.
Recruit partners and draft a 3-page concept note.
Budget sensibly and design a MEL plan.
Submit before the deadline.

“Good research without influence is like a map that never gets unfolded — useful only if someone uses it to change direction.”