Academics Without Borders Opens Call for Project Proposals

McMaster University belongs to the Academics Without Borders (AWB) Network of Canadian universities and colleges. AWB is not a funding agency but a nonprofit organization that mounts capacity-building projects in partnership with post-secondary institutions in low and middle-income countries.

Its fundamental operating principle is that partners in the developing world must themselves identify the areas in which assistance is needed and they take the lead in project design and implementation. AWB assists its partners by providing the expert volunteers necessary for these projects. After the volunteers have completed their assignments, it is these institutions, themselves, which sustain the projects’ activities.

McMaster faculty are invited to submit a proposal to AWB introducing a capacity-building project in an institution of higher education in low or middle-income countries.

For environmental reasons, AWB has revised its emphasis on projects and travel as “international travel when necessary but not necessarily international travel.” Thus, they encourage the submission of projects that can be implemented in whole or in part via online methods. They will also consider projects requiring on-site activity but consideration should be given to maximizing work that can be done remotely in preparation for on-site visits.

Your proposal must conform with AWB’s mission and operating principles and be in countries in which AWB works (see the full proposal application details).

NOTE: It is important to understand that even though these proposals arise through this call for project proposals the resulting projects are partnerships between AWB and the developing world institution. Should you act as a volunteer on the project you propose, you would do so under the auspices of AWB. Although the AWB Network institution has no formal role in the project, benefit often accrues to the institution by virtue of the volunteer’s participation and through unanticipated relationships that are formed during the course of the activities.

The submission deadline is March 11, 2024.

Click here to learn more.

Click here to view other open funding opportunities.