GHAIN MENA: Call for Proposals for Research Projects

Deadline: 14-Jul-23

The Global Health Artificial Intelligence Network in the Middle East and North Africa region (GHAIN MENA) is launching an open call for proposals for research projects submissions from institutions/ individuals in the MENA region.

The Global Health Artificial Intelligence Network in the Middle East and North Africa region (GHAIN MENA) is a 3-year project led by the E-Sahha Program at the Global Health Institute. Supported by the International Development Research Centre (IDRC), GHAIN MENA aims to empower researchers from different institutions of the MENA region to design and implement responsible AI-based digital health interventions through partnerships and tailored capacity building.

Priority Areas

• Submitted proposals should focus on responsible AI-based digital interventions that support at least one of the following priority areas:
  • Improving Sexual, Reproductive, and Maternal Health (SRMH) outcomes
  • Promoting adolescent sexual and reproductive health
  • Enhancing access to and quality of Sexual, Reproductive, and Maternal Health (SRMH) services in primary healthcare settings
  • Addressing gender-based violence
  • Advocating for and supporting family planning
  • Fostering partner involvement
  • Enhancing the professional development and building the capacity of healthcare providers (HCPs) in areas related to Sexual, Reproductive, and Maternal Health (SRMH).

Objectives

• Enhance understanding and application of responsible AI-based digital health interventions in improving SMRH outcomes in MENA.
• Strengthen reaserach capacity in MENA on the use of reponsible AI to improve health outcomes.
• Ensures all applications of AI frameworks and methodologies are gender-sensitive and inclusive.
• Enhance the relevance and scalability of the research to inform and influence policied and practices.

Tracks

• Proposals should fall under one of these tracks:
  • Research Track: This track supports exploratory research studies that aim to generate evidence on the effectiveness of proposed responsible AI-based digital health interventions targeting at least one of the priority areas stated above.
  • Innovation Track: This track supports the development, testing, and scaling of innovative AI-based solutions that have the potential for long-term impact on at least one of the priority areas stated above. It also entails the use of applied research where a prototype/application/concept already exists and requires advancement. This track may, among many other possibilities, produce a system as an output.

Funding Information

• A total of $300,000 is allocated for the GHAIN MENA sub-grants, which will be awarded to six (6) selected projects, with a maximum of $50,000 per project.
• Following a thorough selection process, six (6) successful applicants will be awarded sub-grants issued by the Global Health Institute (GHI) at the American University of Beirut (AUB) to implement their proposed projects for a duration of up to 18 months.

Eligibility Criteria

• To be eligible to apply to the GHAIN MENA grant, the primary applicant must:
  • Be based in the MENA region or affiliated with an organization based in the MENA region with official legal registration
  • Have a track record of conducting research related to sexual, reproductive, and maternal health and/or artificial intelligence/digital health and/or health systems strengthening
  • Be affiliated with an academic institution, university, ministry of health, research-oriented think-tank, non-governmental organization (NGO) or any other for profit or not for profit organization with a track record in SRMH or development of AI solutions
  • Be submitting on behalf of a team of co-investigators whose expertise cover both health systems strengthening or SMRH and digital health with a focus on AI.

For more information, visit GHAIN.