Theme: Strengthening research project writing skills: a mentoring initiative to develop a committed new generation of scientists.

The Research Support Unit (UAR), under the CSRS's Research and Development Directorate (DRD), held its last training session for researchers for the year 2025.

The workshop took place in person, in Room NB, from December 1 to 4, 2025.

General objective

To strengthen the capacities of young CSRS researchers in writing competitive research proposals through structured training followed by the implementation of a mentoring program that will continue throughout 2026.

The aim is to create synergies between junior researchers and experienced researchers in project development, in order to promote support for the submission of high-quality projects and the obtaining of competitive funding. This program is fully in line with the center's research development strategy.

Participants and supervision

This workshop brought together 19 young researchers from the CSRS who had already begun structured thinking around a project and showed genuine motivation to secure funding for it in the near future.

They benefited from the support of experienced trainers, including:

• Prof. Benjamin Koudou, Director of Research and Development (DRD)
• Dr. Karim Ouattara, Head of Biodiversity and Nature-Based Solutions (BSN)
• Dr. Jean Coulibaly and Dr. Julien Zahouli, senior researchers in the Human, Animal, and Environmental Health (ESAH) division
• Dr. Gilbert Fokou, senior researcher in the Social and Economic Systems (2SE) division and head of the Publication UAR
• Dr. Kanny Diallo, senior researcher in the ESAH division and head of the Projects UAR

Perspectives for 2026

The mentoring program will continue in 2026, with individualized support provided by senior researchers for each of the 19 participants. The aim is to guide them through to the finalization and effective submission of their projects to competitive funding calls.

Dre Kanny Diallo