Frequently Asked Questions

The call can be accessed from the NRIMS home page. Download and read the full Call for Proposals before starting your online application.

Register through the UNCST Grants Management System on the NRIMS platform and activate your account using the email sent after registration. Your NRIMS account gives you access to UNCST online services. After signing in, open STI Funding Opportunities, find the relevant call, select View Details, and then select Apply Now. Existing NRIMS users do not need to create another account.

Yes. Existing users should sign in with their NRIMS credentials. New users must register, activate the account using the email notification received after registration, and then sign in.

Check the spam or junk folder, confirm that the email address entered during registration is correct, and allow a few minutes for delivery. If the message still does not arrive, use the support contact provided on the NRIMS website.

No. Use an account belonging to the appropriate applicant or Principal Investigator. This helps ensure that the application, team details, notifications and submission record are linked to the correct person.

Complete every section displayed in the application. This normally includes the project title, background, objectives, approach or methodology, expected results and outcomes, project management and follow-up arrangements, and a detailed activity-based budget. You must also provide information about the Principal Investigator, team members, institutional affiliations and relevant experience. The exact requirements are determined by the application form and the official Call for Proposals.

No. Select Save before leaving a section. You may log out and return later. Your saved application can be found under Proposal → Draft; select Update Submission to continue.

A completed and successfully saved application tab turns green. Review any tab that is not green because it may contain an unanswered mandatory field or unsaved information.

Both actions preserve the information entered. Save and Next also moves you to the next application section. Always confirm that the section has saved successfully before navigating away.

Yes, while the application remains a draft. Open it under Proposal → Draft, select Update Submission, make the changes, and save the affected section again.

Return to the section and confirm whether the information was saved. Re-enter any missing content and select Save or Save and Next before moving away. Drafting long answers in a separate document provides a useful backup.

Collaborative access depends on the permissions enabled for that particular call and application. Where collaborator access is available, the registered applicant should assign the appropriate access through the system. Do not share NRIMS usernames or passwords. If collaborative editing is not enabled, team members should prepare their contributions separately and the registered applicant should enter or upload the approved content.

The system automatically retrieves the Principal Investigator's profile from the signed-in NRIMS account. Select Update Team Member to complete or correct any required details.

Select Add a Team Member and search using the person's email address. If a registered NRIMS user is found, select the matching email and submit. If no user is found, enter the person's details manually.

Confirm that you completed the member's details and also selected Submit or Save at the bottom of the team page. Adding a member and saving the overall team section may be separate actions.

Check the spelling and confirm the correct email address with the team member. If the person is not a registered NRIMS user, use the option to enter their details manually.

Enter the relevant project year, activity and amount for each participating country. Use Add Activity to insert additional budget lines, then save the completed budget table.

Enter budget information for the collaborating countries and activities that apply to your proposal. The budget should be consistent with the partnership, work plan and requirements stated in the official Call for Proposals.

Confirm the years, activities, countries, amounts and totals. The budget should agree with the methodology, project activities, implementation timeline and expected results described elsewhere in the application.

Upload every mandatory attachment listed in the official Call for Proposals and in the Research Attachments section. Depending on the call, these may include a detailed proposal, CVs for the Principal Investigator and key team members, letters of support or collaboration, evidence of relevant previous work, ethical approval documentation, permits or certifications. Requirements vary, so the call and the online form must be checked carefully.

For the Connect VAS Call, all attachments must be submitted in PDF format. Other UNCST calls may exceptionally permit Word documents (.doc or .docx) or Excel workbooks (.xls or .xlsx) where this is expressly stated in the call or upload field. Always follow the format shown for the specific attachment; do not assume that a format accepted under one call is accepted under another.

The applicable limit is the one displayed in the upload field or stated in the specific Call for Proposals. Do not rely on a general estimate because limits may differ by call or document type. If a compliant PDF exceeds the stated limit, reduce its size without making text, signatures or supporting evidence unreadable.

Confirm that the file uses the required format, is within the stated size limit and opens correctly. Use a short, descriptive filename without unusual symbols. If the problem continues, retry on a stable internet connection or contact the official system support channel.

Upload all mandatory documents and only additional material permitted or relevant under the Call for Proposals. Extra documents do not replace a mandatory attachment.

The red Submit button appears only after all required sections are complete and saved. Open every tab that is not green, complete the missing fields, save it, and confirm that all required PDFs have been uploaded.

No. Saving creates or updates a draft. The application is submitted only after you select Submit Now and receive a confirmation email with a reference number.

• Every application tab is green.
• Team members and contact details are correct.
• Budget figures and totals are accurate.
• All mandatory attachments are present and in PDF format.
• Names, dates, activities and figures are consistent across sections.
• The application has been proofread and internally approved.

The system sends a confirmation email indicating that the application has been received and provides a reference number. Retain the email and reference number for future correspondence.

Check the spam or junk folder and verify the application's status on your NRIMS dashboard. If it does not appear as submitted, contact the support channel shown on the website and provide the applicant name, call title and any available submission details.

Use the status categories on the NRIMS dashboard. You may also open the relevant call, select View Details, and view the application's current status.

No further editing should be expected after final submission. Review all sections and attachments carefully before selecting Submit Now. If you discover a material error afterward, contact the grant administrator immediately. A correction can be made only if the administrator and the applicable call rules permit it.

The portal does not accept late applications and access to submit will close when the deadline passes. A saved draft is not treated as a submission. Complete and submit well before the cutoff to allow time for uploads and unexpected technical issues. If exceptional circumstances arise, contact the grant administrator, but do not assume that a late submission will be accepted.

The portal does not ordinarily provide applicants with a self-service withdrawal option after submission. Contact the grant administrator, quote the application reference number and request guidance. Any withdrawal will be handled according to the applicable call procedures.