DRID Builds Faculty Capacity in Grant Proposal Development and Budgeting
The Directorate of Research, Innovation and Development (DRID) of the University of Education, Winneba (UEW) has conducted the first of three sessions of a grant proposal development and budgeting workshop to enhance faculty capacity in research proposal writing and acquiring competitive funding.
The two-day intensive workshop took place on Wednesday, 29th and Thursday, 30th October 2025, at the Students Centre Seminar Room III, Winneba, gathering faculty members from various departments to explore both theoretical and practical aspects of grantsmanship.
The training forms part of DRID’s broader strategy to strengthen the University’s research culture, boost institutional visibility and position UEW as a leading hub for grants and consultancies in Ghana and beyond.
In his welcome address, Prof. Enoch F. Sam, Director of DRID, described the workshop as a key milestone designed to address faculty needs identified through a university-wide research survey. He noted that the Directorate had received more than a hundred responses from staff indicating gaps in proposal development, budgeting and grant sourcing. The feedback, he said, influenced the structure and content of the workshop.
“We designed this training to fill existing knowledge gaps and equip our faculty with the necessary skills to attract and manage grants effectively. Our vision is to make UEW a premier destination for grants and consultancies by developing institutional capacity, enhancing visibility and strengthening research networks,” he remarked.
Prof. Sam revealed that the workshop series comprises three sessions—the first in October, the second scheduled for early November, and the final in January 2026. Each session, he said, combines interactive presentations with practical exercises to ensure participants learn and also produce tangible outputs, such as draft proposals ready for submission to funding agencies. “We do not want business as usual where people attend workshops and nothing happens afterwards. This one will result in completed proposals that respond to real calls,” he emphasised.
Major topics covered included Introduction to Grantsmanship, Grant Sourcing, Conceptualisation of Ideas and Objectives, Theory of Change and Indicators, Gender and Inclusivity, Scalability and Sustainability, and Budgeting. Day Two featured participant reflections, group writing sessions and practical budgeting exercises led by Dr. Philip Siaw Kissi, Coordinator for Capacity Building and Development at DRID. Participants also explored the use of Slido software for interactive engagement facilitated by Dr. Charity Esenam Anor of the Monitoring and Evaluation Unit.
Contributing to discussions, Prof. Alfred Kuranchie, Deputy Director of DRID, stressed the importance of sustainability and scalability in research design, highlighting that funders are increasingly prioritising projects with long-term and replicable impacts. He advised participants to incorporate sustainability plans and monitoring mechanisms from the outset to ensure that project benefits endure beyond funding cycles. “Sustainability should not be an afterthought but an integral part of proposal design,” he stated.
Dr. Richard Osei Agjei, Head of the Consultancy and Patent Services Unit, underscored the vital role of grant sourcing in advancing UEW’s research-heavy agenda. He encouraged faculty to align proposals with donor priorities, maintain methodological clarity and demonstrate measurable impacts. He also highlighted the importance of interdisciplinary collaboration in securing funding. “Securing funding is not just about having a good idea; it is about presenting it in a way that appeals to funders’ interests and shows potential for measurable outcomes,” he said.
Dr. Osman Adams, Coordinator of Grant Sourcing at DRID, praised the Directorate for the initiative and urged faculty to stay proactive in identifying funding opportunities. He stressed the need for researchers to build partnerships and adhere to ethical and financial reporting standards. “Collaboration enhances visibility and adds value to proposals, especially when partners bring diverse expertise and institutional strengths,” he remarked.
The workshop also emphasised inclusivity and gender-sensitive research design. Dr. Gifty Nana Yaa Rockson and Dr. Medina Srem-Sai, facilitators from UEW, educated participants on integrating gender equity and social inclusion (GESI) principles throughout proposal development.
Dr. Gifty Rockson noted that inclusion is not just a compliance requirement but a moral and intellectual obligation that enhances research relevance and impact. She urged researchers to consider “who is missing in our research narratives” to ensure representation of marginalised voices. Dr. Medina Srem-Sai demonstrated how inclusive research objectives and methodologies can be designed to address diverse needs, using education-focused case studies. She encouraged participants to adopt gender-sensitive data collection methods, equitable budgeting and community participation models to promote project ownership and sustainability.
Participants expressed appreciation for the practical, solution-oriented training, noting that it had deepened their understanding of proposal development, budgeting and the incorporation of inclusivity in research design.
The first session of the DRID Grant Proposal Development and Budgeting Workshop marks a significant step in UEW’s effort to build research capacity and expand access to external funding. As the series continues in November and January, DRID remains committed to empowering faculty with the knowledge, skills and tools necessary to secure competitive research grants and produce impactful, sustainable results that advance UEW’s mission as a leader in teacher education and innovation.
