By Seedy Jobe
The National Research and Innovation Fund (NRIF) is aiming to raise D1 billion over the next four years through a new endowment fund designed to provide sustainable, long-term financing for research and innovation in The Gambia.
Speaking on QTV’s This Morning on Tuesday, NRIF Director of Programmes Saidina Baboucarr Ceesay said the institution has set an initial target of raising D100 million within 18 months before reaching D1 billion within four years.
“We want to raise D1 billion in four years,” Ceesay said.
He explained that although the government has allocated D30 million to NRIF this year, only D15 million is available for research grants, with the remainder supporting the institution’s operations as it continues its establishment phase.
According to Ceesay, the proposed endowment fund is intended to reduce reliance on annual funding by investing contributions and using the returns to finance research while preserving the principal.
He said projections indicate that an investment of D100 million could generate between D7 million and D9 million annually, providing an additional and potentially sustainable source of funding for researchers.
As part of efforts to strengthen research capacity, NRIF recently partnered with Kenya’s African Centre for Technology Studies and the Science Granting Councils Initiative to organize a workshop for researchers. Participants received training in grant proposal writing, budgeting, and meeting evaluation requirements.
Following the workshop, NRIF extended the deadline for its current call for research proposals from July 31 to August 15, giving participants additional time to incorporate lessons from the training into their applications.
Ceesay acknowledged that research capacity in The Gambia is still developing, saying NRIF is therefore taking a broad approach to funding projects across different sectors, provided they contribute to national development.
He also called on the private sector to invest in research, citing businessman Muhammed Jah as an example. Ceesay said businesses could contribute through corporate social responsibility initiatives, direct donations, or participation in the endowment fund.
“It’s a way where you can kill two birds with one stone as a private sector,” he said, adding that contributors could also receive visibility at national events.
Applications for NRIF’s first D15 million research funding envelope are currently open through the institution’s website. Ceesay said the application process is entirely online as part of NRIF’s commitment to transparency, accessibility, and innovation.
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