Kenya and France have for a long time had scientific cooperation, formalized in 2009 through the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between the Ministry of Education and the French Ministry of Europe and Foreign Affairs, represented by the Embassy of France in Kenya.

Kenya and France wish to strengthen the co-operation activities in Higher Education, Science, and Technology as expressed in the bilateral scientific cooperation agreement signed on 5th May 2015 known as “PAMOJA PHC” (Hubert Curien Partnership). The agreement was renewed on the 6th of October 2021 to cover the 2021-2026 period.

Kenya has been the second Sub-Saharan country to sign a PHC with the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs, besides South Africa.

PAMOJA PHC will be implemented in Kenya by the Ministry of Education, through the National Research Fund (NRF), and in France by the Ministry of Europe and Foreign Affairs (MEAE) and the Ministry of Higher Education, Research and Innovation (MESRI). The general objectives of the programme are to:

• Promote and support scientific and technological cooperation between Kenyan and French Researchers working in public institutions;
• Develop new linkages and partnerships as well as excellent innovation ideas, and capacity building among junior researchers;
• Encourage exchange between researchers, by supporting their mobility between the two countries;
• Develop synergies between the two scientific communities, thus establishing a sustainable network, and;
• Strengthen linkages between research and industry (public and private)

The Research or innovation topics in any of the following areas will be considered:

• Material Science and Nanotechnology;
• Engineering and new production technologies;
• Biotechnologies and Biosciences (includes Health, Agriculture, Biomathematics);
• Space Science and Technology;
• Energy Technologies, Engineering and Mathematics Education;
• Telecommunications, Electronics and computing technologies;
• Natural products and indigenous knowledge technologies;
• Environmental Science;
• Humanities and Social Sciences; and
• Engineering and the built environment.

• Kenya: this call is open to scientists working and living in Kenya and attached to any institution operating in the higher education, research, TVET, and the private sector, and officially recognized by the State.
• France: this call is open to research laboratories attached to higher education institutions, research organizations or to private companies.
• Consideration will only be given to applications formally validated by the institutions responsible for the partner teams.
• Each project will be managed by two scientific coordinators, one in Kenya and one in France. They will be in charge of the scientific, technical and administrative coordination of the project, as well as of the scientific and financial reporting.

• Applications that are jointly submitted by the partners and their relevant authorities in their respective countries will be eligible.
• Selection will be made considering the following criteria:
  • Scientific and technical quality;
  • Feasibility;
  • Methodology;
  • Relevance with the international context;
  • Alignment with national priorities. When applicable, the study on the social impact of the project will be encouraged;
  • Participation of Junior Researchers and/or PhD students;
  • Perspectives;
• Emphasis will be in research training of PhD students and Junior Researchers. For that purpose, integration of PhD students and Junior Researchers, as well as exchange of post PhD students will be encouraged.
• Two scientific coordinators, one in Kenya and one in France. They will be in charge of the scientific, technical and administrative coordination of the project, as well as of the scientific and financial reporting.

• Eligible projects will be assessed by two scientific committees, one in Kenya and the other in France. The committees will be made of experts recognized in the different research areas prioritized by the PHC. For the Kenyan part, NRF will be responsible for the scientific assessment of the applications. For the French part, the Delegation for Europe and International Affairs, from the Ministry of Higher Education, Research and Innovation, will be responsible for the scientific assessment of the applications.
• The final decision for funding is jointly made by Kenyan and French authorities, on the basis of the scientific assessments.
• . They will be in charge of the scientific, technical and administrative coordination of the project, as well as of the scientific and financial reporting.

• Funds are meant to support researchers’ mobility (including doctoral, post-doctoral students and Junior Researchers) between the two countries, i.e.: international flights, accommodation and allowances (including social insurance). The grant ceiling will be 23000 euros two years per project – 5000 euros/year, to fund the mobility of the French team, and up to 6,500 euros/year to fund the mobility of the Kenyan Team..
  • Each approved project will be funded by both parties, Kenyan and French. Partners of both countries are encouraged to raise other sources of funding to complete the support, especially from the private sector.
  • Funds provided by France will cater for:
    • Transport expenses of French Junior and Senior Researchers going to Kenya: reimbursement in the limit of 1 000 € for one return ticket France/Kenya (maximum of 2 plane tickets / year / project).
    • Allowances of French Junior Researchers (PhD and post PhD students) going to Kenya: 120 euros/day, for a maximum duration of 30 days per stay.
    • Allowances of French Senior Researchers going to Kenya: 120 euros/day, for a maximum duration of 15 days per stay.
  • Funds provided by Kenya will cater for:
    • Transport expenses of Kenyan Junior and Senior Researchers going to France: reimbursement in the limit of 120 000 KES[1] for one return ticket Kenya/France (maximum of 2 plane tickets / year / project).
  • Allowances for one Kenyan junior researcher (PhD and post PhD students) going to France: prevailing rates will apply for a maximum duration of 30 days per stay.
  • Allowances for one Kenyan senior Researcher going to France: prevailing rates will apply for a maximum duration of 15 days per stay.
  • Funding is given for a total maximum duration of 2 years.
  • In Kenya, funds will be given for two consecutive financial years. The second year of financing will be disbursed after submission of mid-term scientific and financial reports, jointly written and submitted in English by the two coordinators (Kenyan and French). For the Kenyan part, this mid-term report must be sent by May the 15^th  2023, to the National Research Fund (see the contact below).
  • In France, funds will be given on an annual basis for two consecutive financial years. The second year of financing will be disbursed after submission of a short mid-term scientific and financial report, jointly written and submitted in French by the two coordinators (French and Kenyan). For the French part, this mid-term report must be sent by November the 15^th 2022, to the Department for Co-operation and Cultural Affairs of the French Embassy to Kenya (see the contact below).

  Researchers from Kenya and France, especially the scientific coordinators, must take all necessary measures to ensure the protection and sharing of intellectual property, resulting from joint research projects. They need to read carefully the attached document related to good practices in terms of intellectual property rights management. The submission of the project includes de facto the adhesion of all parties to these rules.

• A final scientific and financial report will be written in English and French Languages by the two scientific coordinators, Kenyan and French, latest three months after the end of the projects.
• The Kenyan scientific coordinator must use the Integrated Grants Management System accessible from the NRF website.
• The French scientific coordinator must use the template available on Campus France website and download it onto their online file within the deadline.
• The French scientific coordinator will send both hard and soft copies of the final report to Attaché for Science and Higher Education at the French Embassy in Kenya (see below the contacts for the programme).
• The Kenyan scientific coordinator will send the final report to NRF via the Integrated Grants Management System accessible from the NRF website (see the link below)

• In Kenya, application will be through the Integrated Grants Management System on the NRF’s website – https://nrf.navari.co.ke/open-grant-calls

  In France, the scientific coordinator is invited to submit his application on Campus France’s website. Consult the modalities of online submission of applications.

• Deadline for the joint submission of applications: 1^st March 2022
• Selection committee meeting: June 2022
• Diffusion of results: middle July 2022
• Beginning of the projects : July 2022

[1] Estimâtes exchange rate : 120 KES = 1 €.