A technical session between the University of Malawi (UNIMA) and the National Commission for Science and Technology (NCST) resulted in significant progress in enhancing the Online Grants Management System. This is a key platform for streamlining grant application processes across Malawi’s research and innovation landscape.

The meeting, which was held at the National Council for Science and Technology offices in Lilongwe from 27th to 29th May 2025, was attended by two members from the Centre for Resilience and Agri-Food Systems (CRAFS), Mr. Chris Pharaoh and Mr. Patrick Stephano, along with other officials from NCST. This joint initiative brought together technical and programmatic experts from both institutions to conduct a thorough system review, resolve technical issues, and improve the platform’s long-term stability.

Various areas were discussed during the meeting, including fostering a shared understanding of the system’s capabilities. Participants collaboratively explored core modules such as user registration, grant call setup, application submission, and review processes. This hands-on walkthrough enabled all stakeholders to appreciate the system’s full end-to-end workflow.

The meeting also focused on resolving technical issues that had previously affected the platform’s performance. Through collaborative debugging and system optimization, the team implemented key adjustments that resulted in smoother operation and improved reliability.

One of the participants, Mr. Chris Pharaoh, described the three-day sessions as both interesting and insightful. He further mentioned that the final day of the meeting centered on rigorous testing and validation of the system’s critical functions. After evaluating user flows such as account creation, grant call management, and the application review process the team reached a consensus that the system is now stable and ready for institutional use.

This successful engagement highlights the strong partnership between UNIMA and fdNCST, demonstrating a shared commitment to improving Malawi’s digital infrastructure for research and

innovation. UNIMA will now move forward with adopting and customizing the platform to suit its institutional needs, while both organizations continue to collaborate on future enhancements and

ensure long-term sustainability.