Announcing WONCA Project Labs

WONCA Project Labs: Procedures

WONCA is excited to launch the WONCA Project Labs, an initiative designed to support our Working Parties (WPs) and Special Interest Groups (SIGs) in transforming great ideas into full-scale, fundable project proposals. Building on the spirit of the Collaborative Fund, the Project Labs will provide structured support to develop comprehensive project proposals ready for submission to philanthropists, sponsors, and funding agencies. This will include support in the following areas:

• Laying out a clear project framework with goals, expected results, and measurable outcomes.
• Building a practical and realistic budget.
• Creating a timeline and dividing the work into manageable steps.
• Coordinating collaboration between project partners.
• Preparing and submitting a polished proposal that meets funder expectations.

This initiative is made possible through the generous contribution from the American Board of Family Medicine (ABFM). Their contribution shows their belief in the power of collaboration to drive innovation in family medicine.

Eligibility

• Open to WONCA’s Working Parties (WPs) and Special Interest Groups (SIGs).
• Proposals must involve collaboration between at least two WPs, SIGs, or a combination of both. Single-group submissions are eligible but will receive lower priority.
• Projects must align with WONCA’s mission and strategic goals, focusing on global health and primary care.

How to Submit Your Idea

Submission Period: Open for three months from the announcement date.

Proposal Requirements:

• Title and brief executive summary.
• Description of the idea, including the problem it addresses and its relevance to global health priorities.
• Identification of collaborating groups and their roles.
• Anticipated outcomes and impact (broadly described).
• Preliminary thoughts on implementation scope, timeline, resources needed, and partners.

Submissions must be in English and submitted through the dedicated form on the WONCA platform.

How We’ll Select Projects

The Selection Committee will evaluate submissions based on the following:

• Collaboration: Level of joint effort among WPs and SIGs.
• Purpose and Relevance: Clarity of the project’s purpose, the problem it intends to address, and its significance to global health and primary care. Relevance to WONCA’s mission and goals.
• Type of Project: Whether the project aligns with key focus areas such as capacity building, advocacy, policy development, training activities, or research.
• Fresh Thinking: Creativity and originality of the idea, demonstrating potential to bring fresh perspectives or solutions.
• Feasibility: Whether the idea can realistically be developed into a proposal for funding.
• Modularity and Possibility to Scale:
• Modularity: The project’s ability to be developed in stages or modules, allowing for gradual implementation and refinement.
• Scalability: The potential to expand the project beyond the initial scope, making it applicable across different regions or contexts.
• Potential Impact: Anticipated benefits to global health and primary care.

Evaluation and Selection Process

Proposals will be assessed by the same committee that evaluated submissions for the Collaborative Fund. The committee includes:

• Herny Lawson, Vice Rector, Ghana College of Physicians and Surgeons.
• Sergio Minué, Professor at the Andalusian School of Public Health.
• Warren Newton, CEO, American Board of Family Medicine.
• Doris Young, Professor of General Practice, University of Melbourne.
• Val Wass, Emeritus Professor of Medical Education, Keele University.

Up to two ideas will be selected for development into full-scale proposals.

Post-Selection Process

WONCA will collaborate with the selected WPs and SIGs to:

• Provide structured guidance in project design, logical framework development, budget preparation, and proposal writing.
• Allocate resources from the donation secured from the American Board of Family Medicine to support the development process.
• Prepare final proposals for submission to potential funders.

Key Dates

• Call Opens: 18 December 2024
• Submission Deadline: 14 March 2025
• Winners Announced: 18 April 2025

Submission Process

Submit your proposal through https://wonca.questionpro.com/Project-Labs-2024.

A PDF version of the application form is available for download here, allowing applicants to review and plan their submissions before completing the final application.
WONCA Project Labs Application Form

For inquiries, contact roberto.munoz@wonca.com.