ILS welcomes the announcement that The Johns Hopkins International Injury Research Unit (JH-IIRU), with funding provided by Bloomberg Philanthropies, is launching the Saving of Lives from Drowning Grants Initiative to fund 2-3 projects focusing on innovative interventions for drowning prevention in low- and middle-income countries (LMIC).
This partnership is already funding the work of JH-IIRU in Bangladesh, with collaborators from the International Center for Diarrhoeal Disease Research, Bangladesh (ICDDR, B) and the ILS Member in Bangladesh – Center for Injury Prevention and Research Bangladesh (CIPRB). Examples of interventions include playpens which restrict child mobility and create a barrier between the child and the hazard, attendance in crèches during the period when drowning injury is most likely to occur reduces the risk of drowning by both supervising the child and removing the child from the hazard.
The JH-IIRU Grants will be typically in the range of US$ 50,000 – 75,000 (inclusive of all costs) for a period of no more than 12 months for each award. The purpose of the initiative is to support projects that are implementing or planning to implement interventions to address drowning in LMICs. The evaluation of these projects should form a critical piece of the proposal and preference will be given to projects from low-middle income regions/countries with known high burden of drowning and that are innovative in nature, either testing innovative interventions or using innovative methods to evaluate existing interventions (even if they have previously been tested in HICs).
The JH-IIRU Grants are focused on research/evaluation, and those ILS Members in LMICs might consider the potential for partnerships with locally based research centres, and/or national health sector leaders. Experience shows that where research, policy and practice are well integrated, the impact of such initiatives are enhanced. LMIC based research partnerships, that were featured at the past two ILS World Conferences on Drowning Prevention in Germany and Vietnam may qualify for consideration.
Potential applicants from the research community may consider contacting ILS or the ILS member in the targeted area for advice regarding on the ground drowning prevention activities and/or capacity. Many ILS Members have staff and volunteers in communities that can assist with intervention design and implementation, as well as perspectives on local barriers to drowning prevention.
More information on the grants can be found at the link below:
http://www.jhsph.edu/research/centers-and-institutes/johns-hopkins-international-injury-research-unit/research/grants-proposals/
The ILS Drowning Prevention Commission is able to provide advice to anyone considering submitted to this Grant. Interested parties are encouraged to review the information on the JH-IISU website carefully and contact Justin Scarr – ILS Drowning Prevention Commission Chair you believe ILS may be able to assist you.
