Arba Minch University, through the AMU-IUC Project, convened a specialized training workshop on the Theory of Change framework and VLIR-UOS funding opportunities on September 17, 2026. The session aimed to enhance researchers' capacity to craft competitive proposals and design projects that drive measurable societal impact. Click to see more photos
The workshop focused on aligning project objectives with the broader VLIR-UOS Theory of Change portfolio and the UN Agenda 2030. Participants explored how causal analysis, grounded in empirical evidence, defines clear pathways from project activities to long-term development outcomes.
Roeland Janssen, Program Manager for the Flemish side of the IUC, facilitated the training. He emphasized that the ToC methodology is widely required by international development funders to articulate how specific inputs lead to tangible results. He noted that understanding the methodology enables researchers to structure their project narratives clearly and convincingly, significantly improving their competitiveness for international grants.
The interactive session gathered AMU researchers and AMU-IUC PhD candidates for step-by-step framework application, practical exercises, and peer reflections.
Bayush Tesfaye, AMU-IUC Outreach and Gender Coordinator, highlighted that the session directly prepares academics for upcoming calls, including the VLIR-UOS GROW and Global Minds Leverage funding opportunities.
She pointed to the measurable success of a similar workshop held the previous year ahead of the VLIR-UOS TEAM project call, where nearly 50 AMU researchers completed the training and 14 submitted competitive applications. Five proposals reached the final selection phase, culminating in a major grant awarded to Dr. Mohamed Abbede. Building on these results, the AMU-IUC project continues to expand training initiatives to secure more international research grants and elevate AMU's global academic footprint.
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