Small Research Grant

Small Research Grant

Status: ACTIVE
Funder: Nestle Foundation
Amount: Up to US $50,000
Last Updated: March 24, 2026

Summary

The Nestlé Foundation for the Study of Problems of Nutrition in the World provides small research grants to support projects addressing human nutrition issues in low-income countries. Established in 1966, the Foundation prioritizes research with public health relevance and aims to foster capacity building among local researchers. Grants of up to $50,000 are available for projects lasting one to three years. Applications are accepted year-round, emphasizing sustainable improvements in nutrition and collaborative efforts between developed and developing nations.

Overview

NOTE: A Letter of intent must be submitted first and is accepted at any time throughout the year. If invited to submit a full proposal, full proposal applications may be submitted year round but are reviewed twice a year by the dates listed above. The Nestlé Foundation for the Study of Problems of Nutrition in the World, Small Research Grant Origins and Nature The Nestlé Foundation for the Study of Problems of Nutrition in the World was established in 1966 by a donation by the Nestlé Company on the occasion of its centenary. The Foundation is independent and self-constituting and is managed by a Council consisting of at least 5 internationally well-known scientists as Council Members. The Foundation is and has been financially and operationally independent of the Nestlé Company since its inception. The offices of the Nestlé Foundation are in Lausanne, Switzerland. Purpose The Nestlé Foundation initiates and supports research in human nutrition with public health relevance in low-income and lower middle-income countries according to the World Bank classification (see http://www.worldbank.org). The results of the research projects should ideally provide a basis for implementation and action which will lead to sustainable effects in the studied populations as generally applicable to the population at large. They should also enable institution strengthening and capacity building in a sustainable manner in the host country and further cooperation and collaboration between Institutions in developed and developing countries. The Foundation expects research proposals to be primarily the initiative of local researchers from the developing countries. However the Foundation will be inclined to consider favorably those applications jointly made by scientists from developed countries with those from developing countries provided it is clear that the initiative will result in capacity building and human resource development in the latter and the bulk of the budget is spent in the developing country. Current funding policy Sustainable improvement in human nutrition is one of the major issues in the portfolio of the Foundation. During more than 40 years basic and applied research in nutrition has been supported by the Foundation in more than 50 developing countries. In view of the past activities of the Foundation as well as the world’s situation at the turn of the millennium, it was recognized that the public health relevance of the supported research as well as aspects of sustainability, capacity building and educational issues should have a higher priority. Thus, priority is given to projects which lead to sustainable developments with strong elements of capacity building, and the implementation of the results of a research project should be immediate and sustainable. Highly sophisticated nutrition research of mainly academic interest without public health relevance has lower priority for support as well as solely laboratory based studies or animal experimentation. Research Topics At present the Foundation's work is primarily concerned with human nutrition research issues dealing with: maternal and child nutrition, including breastfeeding and complementary feeding,macro- and micronutrient deficiencies and imbalances,interactions between infection and nutrition, andnutrition education and health promotion. The precise priorities and goals of the Foundation are modified from time to time to meet emerging public health and nutritional needs in the developing world. Studies in other areas of human nutrition research might also be considered, as long as they are dealing with problems of malnutrition in eligible countries (see above). Other areas of research may be eventually considered for support if the applicant can offer specific and convincing evidence and justification for the choice of their research topic. Funded projects are usually of one- to three-year duration. Projects with a high potential for effective and sustainable improvement of the nutritional status as well as a high capacity building component will be funded preferentially. The budget of the projects must be appropriate and reasonable and has to be justified in detail. One of the Foundation's main aims is the transfer of scientific and technological knowledge to target countries. In cases where Foundation-sponsored research projects are realized in collaboration with scientists at universities and research institutes in high-income countries, at least 75% of the budget has to be earmarked for use within the low-income country. Extent of Award and duration The Small Research Grant (SRG) provides support of a small research study. This may even represent a continuation of a TG (training grant) or also a PG (pilot grant). The usual duration for the awards varies between 1 to 3 years. The amounts mentioned represent limits – smaller projects are welcome. Applications are accepted all year round, and the Foundation encourages applicants to submit their proposals as early as possible to allow sufficient time for internal as well as external reviews. Research grant applications are evaluated twice a year by the Foundation's Council, a group of independent international scientists. The funding of projects is primarily based on the scientific quality, public health relevance in the short and long term, sustainability, capacity-building component and, last but not least, budget considerations.

Eligibility

We've imported the main document for this grant to give you an overview. You can learn more about this opportunity by visiting the funder's website. Basic Eligibility criteria and requirementsThe principal investigator / applicant should come from a low income country according to the definition of the World Bank.The study or project has to be sited in a low income country.At least 75% of the suggested budget has to be used in this target country. Exceptions may be made upon special request and justification.The application has to come from a University Institute or other institutions with a clear affiliation with a University. This means that the applicants have to work at a University Institution.The study has to have a clear capacity building component,The research project has to have a high public health relevance and potential for a sustainable implementation of the resultsIdeally the application comes from a low income country. Depending on the research question this is sometimes not possible and a collaboration with a University from a developed country might be needed. This is basically possible but again the major part of the study has to be done in the low income countryMultiple funding sources for a project are possible but should be disclosed in detailThe study duration should be limited to two to maximally 3 years till completion. As mentioned above the application has to come from a local University or other institution with a clear affiliation with a University. Although important the Foundation does not support any humanitarian aid programs or projects or any NGO related projects.MSc or PhD students have to submit a letter of intent together with their thesis advisor mentor.

Ineligibility

Applications from individuals who are non-affiliated researchers and not attached to research or academic institutions can be considered only in very special cases.The Foundation does not support contract type research activities between different institutions.The Foundation does not normally fund:projects with low public health relevance projects with doubtful sustainabilityprojects lacking transfer of scientific, technical and educational knowledge, i.e. lacking a capacity-building componentlarge budget projects i.e. – projects that exceed US$100,000 per year or US$ 300,000 over the total duration of a 3year projectnutrition surveys or surveillance studies research on food policy, food production and food technology except when linked to an intervention with high potential for sustainable improvement of the nutritional statusin vitro and/or animal experiments.Although obesity and related diseases are of emerging importance in several low-income countries, the Foundation does not generally support projects in this specific area unless the proposal demonstrates linkages with under nutrition, the protocol is innovative and exceptionally well justified