Kenyan Researchers trained on Grant Writing

The University of Nairobi hosted a Hybrid Workshop on Grant Writing for Kenyan Researchers and Innovators on Monday, 3rd November, 2025, focusing specifically on securing funding from Horizon Europe, the European Union’s flagship research and innovation programme.

The event featured a lineup of distinguished speakers, underscoring the strategic importance of EU-Kenya relations in research and innovation. Dignitaries included H.E. Ambassador Henriette Geiger, Ambassador of the European Union to Kenya, Prof. Margaret Jesang' Hutchinson, Vice Chancellor, University of Nairobi. Principal Secretary, State Department for Science, Technology and Innovations Prof. Abdulrazak Shauk, among others.

Prof. Jesang' Hutchinson, Vice Chancellor, University of Nairobi noted, ‘I want to urge all researchers and innovators to engage fully with the amazing array of resources and persons, facilitators, their proposals, and collaboration for success under the Horizon frame, and never to give up. The University of Nairobi aims to champion Africa-led research that drives Kenya’s national agenda and cements our role as strategic leaders in innovation.’

H.E. Henriette Geiger, Ambassador of the European Union to Kenya, expressed her joy, ‘This grant writing workshop is key in accessing funds, ‘ “This workshop is a clear testament to the shared commitment of the EU and Kenya to fostering a robust, collaborative research environment," "By building local capacity, we are ensuring that Kenyan research directly contributes to solving both local and global challenges." Each university should have a cadre of people specialized in funding proposals. This research is available in Africa as long as it is partnering with the European Union; there are specific windows for Africa, and no one can use them except Africa. The aim of the research is to produce grants here in kenya, innovation, and create jobs for its citizens.

Principal Secretary, State Department for Science, Technology and Innovations Prof. Abdulrazak Shauk while officially opening the EU Horizon grant writing training workshop at the University of Nairobi challenged researchers to support the national development agenda through impactful research. He asked the research institutions in the country to build synergies for transformative impact. He also challenged the academia to rise beyond research for publications and personal growth, and instead focus on applied research for socio-economic transformation.

 The initiative, which aligns with Horizon Europe’s "Africa Initiatives" to enhance Science, Technology, and Innovation (STI) partnerships between Europe and Africa, saw hundreds of researchers, innovators, and academic leaders participate both physically and virtually.

The workshop's primary objective was to equip Kenyan researchers with the essential, practical skills needed to navigate the complexities of Horizon Europe's grant writing process. Experts provided step-by-step guidance on crafting competitive proposals, which is critical for accessing the multi-billion Euro funding pool.

Key areas covered during the intensive one-day session included:

Deciphering Calls for Proposals: Understanding the specific challenges, scope, and expected outcomes defined by the EU, The Three Pillars of Evaluation: Detailed instruction on effectively addressing the criteria of Excellence, Impact, and Quality and Efficiency of the Implementation, Consortium Building: Valuable tips on forming strong, complementary partnerships with EU Member States, Associated Countries, and other Third Countries and Navigating the EU Funding & Tenders Portal and the support mechanisms offered by EURAXESS Africa.

Speakers highlighted the opportunities presented by the recently launched Horizon Europe - Africa Initiative III.  Prof. Sheila Okoth, a beneficiary at UoN giving key insights on best practices for successful grant writing on Horizon Europe during the EU grant writing training workshop at the University of Nairobi and Dr. Anne Wacera, Grantee at Strathmore University and UNESCO Chair also shared her experiences; numerous call topics specifically tailored to foster EU-Africa collaboration across priority areas such as Public Health, Green Transition, and Innovation & Technology are available for

A major highlight was the session featuring previous awardees from various EU projects, including Horizon 2020 and Horizon Europe. Other successful grantees shared their personal journeys and crucial insights into the application process, consortium management, and project implementation, offering participants practical, real-world strategies.

The testimonials demonstrated the transformative potential of EU funding, not just for individual researchers' careers, but for enhancing the overall research output and innovation capacity of Kenyan institutions.

The workshop concluded with a renewed sense of optimism among participants, who are better positioned to compete for large-scale international funding and elevate Kenya's role on the global research stage. The organizers emphasized that this capacity-building exercise is vital for ensuring that African voices and priorities are strongly represented in international research and innovation projects.