After a successful call for concept notes that saw 90 applications from across the Global South, we are pleased to announce that 15 applicants have been shortlisted to attend the OCSDNet Proposal Development Workshop in Nairobi, Kenya, from October 13th to 15th 2014.

The applicants represent 11 countries, with 3 projects from Sub-Saharan Africa, 1 from the Middle East, 2 from the Caribbean, 5 fromLatin America, and 4 from South, East and Central Asia.

At the proposal development workshop, the shortlisted participants will work closely with the network’s advisors and coordinators to further develop their concept notes into full, fundable proposals.

The workshop will also provide opportunities for all participants to share common research problems, methodologies, monitoring and evaluation protocols, and to establish how the various projects could contribute to the common goals of Open and Collaborative Science to address various development challenges. Upon completion of the workshop, the shortlisted applicants will be expected to submit their full proposals by November 17th, for a final review to receive funding. Projects will commence in January 2015.

We will also be having the official launch of the network on the evening of October 15th, at the iHub in Nairobi. If interested in attending, please RSVP via this link.

We thank all who shared and responded to the OCSDNet call for concept notes. The enthusiasm we noted is a great indicator of the significance of the network going forth, and we look forward to productive interactions and the formation of a vibrant community via our website www.ocsdnet.org and other forms of engagements.