Open Grants for Research on Neglected Tropical Diseases: Universities & Health Agencies in Africa & Asia

Introduction

Imagine you’re a budding researcher in Nigeria, Bangladesh, or Indonesia, passionate about addressing diseases that too often fall off the research funding radar. You want to study schistosomiasis, lymphatic filariasis, or leprosy — things that affect the poorest communities but rarely make headlines. Where do you begin? Which grant programs are open, legitimate, and practical for researchers based in Africa and Asia?

In this post, I’ll walk you through the landscape of open grants (i.e. currently available or regularly cyclical funding calls) for neglected tropical diseases (NTDs), especially as they pertain to universities and public health agencies in Africa and Asia. We’ll compare major funders, look at eligibility and scope, and provide a step-by-step guide (for a newcomer) to applying. Along the way, we’ll draw key insights and share practical tips so you can navigate this space more confidently.

Let’s start by anchoring on why this matters, and then move into concrete programs and strategies.

Why Research Grants for NTDs Matter (Especially in Africa & Asia)

Neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) are a cluster of infectious diseases — such as schistosomiasis, soil-transmitted helminths, leishmaniasis, trachoma, filariasis, and more — that disproportionately afflict marginalized populations. These diseases perpetuate poverty, impair cognitive and physical development, and create long-term morbidity in communities across sub-Saharan Africa, South Asia, Southeast Asia, and parts of the Pacific.

Yet, research funding for NTDs is far lower than for diseases like HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis or malaria. According to WHO’s observatory on health research, in 2023 investments in neglected disease R&D reached about US$ 4.17 billion. But much of this is still concentrated in the “big three” (HIV, TB, malaria), leaving many NTDs underfunded.

In Africa and Asia, the burden of NTDs is among the highest in the world. Over 40% of the global burden is concentrated in Africa alone. Yet many universities and health agencies in endemic countries struggle to access research funding directly — they often rely on foreign-led consortia or external partners.

Opening more grant pathways that are accessible, locally competitive, and appropriately scaled is vital for building local capacity, supporting policy-relevant research, and sustaining progress toward elimination or control goals.

That’s the “why.” Now let’s get into which grants are out there, how they differ, and how you can realistically compete.

Comparison of Key Grant Programs & Funders

Below is a comparison table summarizing some of the major open or periodic funding sources relevant to NTD research in Africa/Asia, their scale, focus, and eligibility notes. (This table is illustrative, not exhaustive; always check the latest call documents.)

Funding Program / Funder	Typical Grant Size & Duration	Focus / Scope / Disease Areas	Eligibility (Africa & Asia)	Notes & Special Features
WHO/TDR Impact Grants (Regional Priorities)	Small to medium, often 12–24 months	Implementation research (operational, policy, health systems) for infectious diseases of poverty	LMIC institution or researcher, often requiring collaboration with national disease control programs	Strengthens institutional capacity, encourages local leadership
EDCTP (Global Health / NTD calls)	Up to grants of several million euros over multiple years	Vaccine, therapeutic, diagnostics development for malaria, TB, NTDs	African and sometimes Asian partners; consortia involving European & local institutions	Regular open calls, co-funded, rigorous peer review
ARNTD / USAID SGP (Small Grants Program)	Modest grants (tens to low hundreds of thousands USD)	Operational or implementation research to support NTD control/elimination	African research scientists, often nationals of the region	Focuses on bridging evidence-to-practice gaps
Leprosy Research Initiative — RESILIENTD	Typically €30,000 to €70,000 per year, up to 48 months	Social determinants and co-factors in skin NTDs (including leprosy)	Must include an African (mostly Sub-Saharan) component; open to multi-country proposals	Emphasis on mixed-methods, social/health determinants
Open Call: Innovations in Eliminating NTDs	Up to USD $200,000 per project, ~18 months	Novel interventions, pilot or proof-of-concept innovation in NTD control	LMIC-based or project located in endemic countries	Good for small-scale innovators or pilot trials
TMRC Network Opportunity Fund	Concept grants (smaller scale)	Capacity-building, mentoring, new research proposals in NTDs	Globally (including Africa/Asia)	Especially geared toward early-stage investigators

A few additional points to note:

The Gates Foundation remains a heavyweight funder in global health and supports drug, vector, diagnostics, and delivery innovations for NTDs.
DNDi (the Drugs for Neglected Diseases initiative) also features substantial grant programs and partnerships, including multi-year support in Africa and Asia.
Some regional or country-based research councils or ministries may also open NTD-related calls, especially in Asia (e.g. India, Bangladesh, Indonesia) — though these are often less publicized.

From this comparison, a few patterns emerge:

Many grants are small-to-moderate scale (USD tens to a few hundred thousands), especially the ones open to LMIC-based institutions.
Consortia or partnership models are common — often a local institution collaborates with foreign or regional partners to build credibility or capacity.
Implementation / operational research is heavily prioritized in many calls, rather than purely basic science. This is because many funding bodies aim to directly accelerate control and program impact.

Step-by-Step Guide: From Idea to Winning a Grant (Newbie Edition)

If you’re beginning from scratch, here’s a roadmap you can follow to increase your chances of securing a grant in NTD research. Treat this as a template you can adapt for different calls.

Step 1: Define a Clear, Relevant Research Question

Start with local gaps in surveillance, treatment, control, or “delivery science.” Don’t try to reinvent basic parasitology unless you’ve strong lab capacity.
Engage national or regional disease control programs to ask: what evidence would help decisions?
Align with ongoing elimination campaigns (e.g. schistosomiasis mapping, mass drug administration effectiveness).

Step 2: Scan Current Calls & Funding Portals

Regularly check WHO/TDR, EDCTP, ARNTD, and foundations.
Set up alerts (e.g. via email or RSS) on “neglected tropical disease funding.”
Read previous call documents (including successful proposals, if available) to see structure, evaluation parameters, and budgets.

Step 3: Form a Strong Consortium (if required)

Partner with institutions that bring complementary strengths: lab capacity, field implementation, statistics, policy links.
Try to include at least one local or national disease control program or health agency in your consortium — many calls favor “embedded” research.
Clarify roles (who leads, who partners, who handles finances, ethics, logistics).

Step 4: Prepare a Proposal Outline & Budget

Create a concept note or brief outline and have it internally reviewed.
Draft objectives, methodology, timeline, deliverables, risk mitigation.
Build a realistic budget with allowances for logistics, field travel, equipment, capacity building, data analysis, dissemination.
Ensure compliance with the funder’s budget rules (cap percentages for overhead, personnel, partner costs, etc.).

Step 5: Address Ethics, Permissions, and Risk

Make sure ethical approval timelines are feasible (local IRB, national approval).
Factor in import permits, customs clearance for reagents, community consent, data security.
Describe sustainability: how will the results be taken up by national programs? Will there be capacity left behind?

Step 6: Write a Clear, Persuasive Narrative

Use simple language. Avoid jargon unless necessary, and define terms (e.g. “operational research” = research on how interventions are delivered).
Include a “Theory of Change” or logical framework showing how your activities lead to outcomes (impact).
Demonstrate local relevance and how funding will close a gap.
Incorporate risk assessment and mitigation strategies.

Step 7: Peer Review, Feedback, and Iteration

Share draft with senior colleagues or mentors, ideally those with grant experience.
Ask for critique: clarity, feasibility, coherence, budget realism.
Revise accordingly, paying attention to clarity and flow.

Step 8: Submit, Follow up, and Prepare for Revisions

Submit ahead of deadline (don’t wait until last minute).
Be ready to provide additional clarifications or budget adjustments if requested.
If rejected, seek reviewer feedback, revise, and resubmit or try the next call.

Step 9: Implementation & Reporting (if funded)

Set up strong project management (Gantt charts, milestones, financial tracking).
Ensure ethical reporting, data sharing and open communication with stakeholders.
Plan publications, policy briefs, and dissemination to national programs.

Step 10: Sustainability & Legacy

Think about follow-up funding, scale-up, and institutionalization.
Build capacity in younger staff, transfer knowledge, share tools.
Document lessons learned to support your credibility in future grant rounds.

This stepwise guide offers a scaffold — adapt to the specifics of each call. For many NTD grants, “embeddedness” (i.e. linking with national programmes) and feasibility often tip the scale in reviews.

Key Insights & Practical Tips

1. Start with “smaller” grants, build track record

Small grants (USD 20,000–100,000) may feel humble, but they often are entry points. Having one or two successful grants helps you become more competitive for mid- or large-scale consortia awards.

2. Emphasize cost-effectiveness, scalability and policy relevance

Funder portfolios often prioritize research that can have tangible impact or inform national programs. If you can show your study has the potential for scale, you’ll stand out.

3. Network and stay plugged into NTD communities

Joining networks like ARNTD, TDR communities, or NTD research forums helps you get insider notice of calls, consortia invitations, and informal mentoring.

4. Leverage multidisciplinary approaches

Many breakthroughs in NTDs come from combining epidemiology, social science, geospatial mapping, vector biology, and implementation science. Don’t shy from combining methods across disciplines.

5. Be realistic about infrastructure and timelines

Many LMIC settings face delays (permits, procurement, ethics). Pad your timeline and make budget allowances for common hassles.

6. Maintain transparency, accountability, and ethical integrity

Funder audits or partner confidence often depend on strong financial tracking, ethical data handling, and clear reporting — don’t leave this to an afterthought.

7. Partner with local disease control programs from the start

Inclusion of national control programs signals to funders that your research is relevant and has a pathway toward policy uptake.

8. Don’t rely on a single funder or call

The landscape shifts. Always maintain a “pipeline” of proposals and alternate options.

Real-World Examples & Case Stories

The RESILIENTD grant, offered by the Leprosy Research Initiative (LRI) with Anesvad, invites research proposals on social determinants of health regarding skin NTDs, with at least half of the project in Sub-Saharan Africa. Typical funding is €30,000 to €70,000 annually, up to 48 months.
EDCTP3, the current funding program under the European–Developing Countries Clinical Trials Partnership, includes calls (2025 work programme) with a total budget of €214 million, and supports development of therapeutics and vaccines for neglected tropical diseases.
The ARNTD Small Grants Program (SGP VII), funded under the USAID “Ending Tropical Diseases through Operational Research” agreement, supports African researchers to address operational challenges in NTD control and elimination.
The TMRC Network Opportunity Fund supports early-stage NTD research capacity and concept development globally, helping train and mentor the next generation of NTD scientists.
Gates Foundation actively invests in NTD elimination, contributing over US$1.84 billion in grants globally, especially focusing on neglected disease tool development and mass drug administration delivery.

These examples show that both large and small grants are active, and that funders are opening calls targeted to LMICs, capacity building, and implementation research.

Your Statement of Purpose — A Simple, Strong Structure

Your statement of purpose (also called narrative or research pitch in the application) is where reviewers assess clarity, relevance, and your capacity. Here’s a streamlined structure:

Opening / Context — Begin with a concise problem statement: What is the NTD burden locally? Why is your topic pressing?
Research Gap — What is unknown or inadequately addressed, especially in the local programmatic context?
Aim & Objectives — State your overall aim and break down 2–4 SMART objectives.
Methodology & Approach — Describe your design (qualitative, quantitative, mixed), sampling, data collection, analysis, and innovation.
Implementation & Timeline — Show phases, milestones, dependencies.
Capacity & Institutional Strength — Highlight your team’s relevant experience, lab/field capabilities, institutional support.
Link to Policy / Sustainability — Explain how results could be taken up by national program or policy, and how you’ll foster sustainability post-project.
Budget Narrative & Risk Management — Justify major costs and show thinking through potential pitfalls.
Conclusion — Reiterate why your project is timely, feasible, and high-value.

This structure provides clarity, flow, and lets reviewers follow your logic without confusion.

Common Mistakes — And How to Avoid Them

Mistake	Why It Hurts	How to Avoid It
Overly ambitious scope	Reviewers doubt your feasibility	Narrow your aims, focus on a pilot or key intervention
Weak institutional or team details	Raises questions about your ability to deliver	Describe leadership, infrastructure, previous projects
Vague methodology	Makes your scientific rigor suspect	Be explicit about sampling, analysis, tools, and quality control
Under-budgeting logistics	You’ll encounter delays, gaps in execution	Include travel, procurement delays, field allowances
Poor links to policy or uptake	The funder questions your downstream impact	Engage disease control programs early; build uptake plan
Low-quality English / writing	Reduces credibility	Have drafts reviewed by native speakers, mentors
Late submission or missed requirements	Automatic disqualification	Prepare ahead, use checklists, respect all formatting rules
Ignoring ethics, permits, regulatory concerns	Project may be blocked later	Map out IRB, national approval, import/export early

By being aware of these pitfalls, you can improve both your proposal quality and your success rate.

FAQs (Concise but Useful)

Q: Are LMIC-based (African/Asian) institutions eligible to apply directly?
A: Yes — in many grant schemes, LMIC-based institutions are eligible either as lead applicants or key partners. But some consortia calls require that an institution from a donor country co-leads or acts as a coordinating partner, so always read eligibility criteria carefully.

Q: How much overhead (indirect cost) can I budget?
A: It depends on the funder. Some allow 10–15 % of direct costs, others more. Always check the call guidelines — proposals violating that may be disqualified immediately.

Q: How can I find calls specific to my region (e.g. South Asia, Southeast Asia)?
A: Monitor regional disease control agencies (e.g. in India, Bangladesh, Indonesia), subscribe to newsletters from TDR, WHO regional offices, ARNTD, EDCTP, and global health funding trackers.

Q: Do I need to publish results or share data openly?
A: Many funders now require open data sharing, repository deposit, or open access publication. Be sure to budget for publication costs and data management.

Q: What scale of budget is “safe” to propose for a mid-level NTD research project?
A: A mid-scale operational research project might ask for USD 100,000 to 300,000 over 1–2 years. Innovative or early-stage grants sometimes allow up to USD 200,000 or more. Always adjust to the local context — cost of travel, fieldwork, lab reagents can vary greatly.

Conclusion

Navigating the world of open grants for NTD research can feel daunting, especially for early-career researchers or institutions in Africa and Asia. But it’s a vital pathway for producing locally relevant evidence, strengthening capacity, and driving progress to eliminate these often-overlooked diseases.

By understanding the major funders and programs (WHO/TDR, EDCTP, ARNTD, LRI, TMRC, etc.), following a structured roadmap, avoiding common pitfalls, and writing clear, policy-linked narratives, you can significantly improve your chances — even if this is your first grant application.

Start small, build a record, leverage partnerships, and always stay attuned to calls and networks in your region. Your research could help transform health outcomes in vulnerable communities where NTDs persist.

“One of the best buys in global health is increased coverage of NTD treatment and monitoring — not just because of the science, but because of equity.”

The journey from idea to impact begins with that first grant. And with thoughtfulness, preparation, and tenacity, you can make your mark.