Rural Global Health Partnership Initiative

About RGHPI

The Rural Global Health Partnership Initiative (RGHPI) offers grants to support projects spearheaded by rural BC physicians or medical trainees and their partners based in underserved rural communities in BC, other parts of Canada, or internationally.

Why apply for RGHPI funding?

Are you a physician or medical trainee partnering on a project with an underserved community in BC, Canada or internationally? If so you can apply for a grant of up to $10,000 to support a global health partnership project with a Canadian or international partner. Global health* partnership projects can be an opportunity to foster reciprocal learning in diverse health systems and community contexts which can lead to innovative solutions to health care challenges and improved health outcomes, especially for underserved, marginalized, and Indigenous populations.

Application package

To be eligible, applicants must be either:

• A BC physician practising rural medicine and a demonstrated interest in global health; or
• A BC medical trainee (resident or medical student) with a demonstrated commitment to practicing rural medicine and interest in global health. The applicant partner(s) may be based in underserved communities in BC, other parts of Canada, or internationally.

Projects must demonstrate a commitment to ethical partnership and aligned goals among all participants and participating communities and be based on the following principles:

1. The project will significantly contribute to the enhancement of generalism and strengthening local capacity in health services of underserved rural communities.
2. The project will result in sustainable benefits to partner communities.
3. The project proposal reflects an evidence-based approach and provides clear rationale, methodology, and objectives consistent with the goals of the Rural Global Health Partnership Initiative.
4. Expected project outcomes are well-defined and achievable.
5. The proposed budget is reasonable and in line with the objectives of the project.
6. Partner communities and organizations have been significantly involved in the development of the project goals, expected outcomes, methodology, and evaluation process.

Activities ineligible for funding include:

• Tuition costs for courses;
• Salary remuneration for applicants;
• Projects where no clear partner in the community served is identified (eg. NGO, community organization, institution, etc.);
• Projects where the primary focus is transient clinical service delivery by foreigners;
• Projects where the partner community is not significantly involved in determining project focus, goals, methodology, and implementation.

To apply for the Rural Global Health Partnership Initiative, please download and complete the two forms below and submit along with the required supporting documents to apeltonen@rccbc.ca.

We encourage applicants to reach out to us while in the process of developing the proposal. The application deadline is October 31, 2022. Please note that only complete applications including all supporting documents will be reviewed.

1. RGHPI guidelines and application form
2. RGHPI project proposal form (Download a copy, save and attach to your application email)
3. Current CV of applicant
4. Letter(s) of support from participating global health partner(s) (international or local ie. community organization, institution, First Nations band council)
5. Physicians: Letter of support from your community of practice Hospital Chief of Staff or Medical Director; Students/Residents: Letter of support from a faculty advisor or supervisor

More information

Applicants may apply for a grant up to $10,000. This support can be applied towards project implementation, licensing fees, travel and living expenses. Travel and living expenses may not exceed $3,000 per application. Please note that proposals where the budget predominantly focuses on personal costs of travel will not be considered.

Additional resources

Helpful information for developing your application is available on our resources page.

Learn more about past RCCbc funded RGHPI projects:

• RCCbc grant helps rural doctor breathe new life into Ghana’s Biomedical Infrastructure
• UBC undergrads collaborate with Kenyan rural development group to research family planning, gender-based violence services

Contact

For more information about the Rural Global Health Partnership Initiative contact Adrienne Peltonen at apeltonen@rccbc.ca.

Partners

The Rural Global Health Partnership Initiative is supported by the Rural Coordination Centre of BC and the Joint Standing Committee on Rural Issues (JSC).

*Global Health is defined as “the area of study, research and practice that places a priority on improving health and achieving equity in health for all people worldwide” (Koplan, et al). More simply, it is “a discipline that advances efforts to improve the well-being of people and the planet.” (K. Martin, CUGH).