Operations
Our ability to generate high-quality science, attract and manage competitive funding, and sustain a thriving research ecosystem depends on robust and efficient operational systems.
We prioritise the optimisation of our operational platform by strengthening four operational domains:
- Organisational sustainability
- Procurement efficiency
- People and culture management
- Information technology
Finance
The Finance Department at the Programme is responsible for all the fiscal management at the Programme. The department is tasked with grants, asset, inventory and procurement management. This is done through industry standard Finance Management System (FMS) to streamline and digitize financial management at the Programme. The system is instrumental in integrating financial systems between the Programme sites and reporting back to our funding partners.
Grants Management and Procurement efficiency
The Programme historically emphasis on efficient grants management has ensured a robust system that support researchers across the entire grants lifecycle. This enhances the Programme’s ability to attract, secure, and effectively manage competitive funding, aligned to the Programme’s strategic priorities. This has also included streamlined pre-award process to improve processes, providing coordinated support during proposal development and submission. This additionally includes a reinforced post-award support to ensure efficient and timely project initiation, including budget set-up, contracting and alignment with funder and institutional requirements.
The Programme continues to strengthen the efficiency, transparency, and responsiveness of our procurement systems to better support the timely delivery of scientific and operational activities across the Programme. This to strengthen planning and forecasting processes to ensure that procurement needs are anticipated early and aligned with project and platform requirements. In parallel, we will reinforce compliance with procurement policies and improve supplier management to enhance quality, accountability, and value for money.
People and Culture
The Programme endeavours to build a capable, motivated, and high-performing workforce that can deliver on the Programme’s scientific, capacity development, and operational ambitions. Central to this effort is the establishment of career progression structures and schemes of service that are fit for purpose and responsive to the diverse needs of all staff cadres. The performance management systems aim to foster a culture of accountability, and continuous improvement. In addition, the Programme is also committed to nurturing a positive and inclusive organizational and research culture that promotes equity, psychological safety, collaboration, and mutual respect. Through intentional actions to assess and monitor our culture, identify opportunities for improvement, and implement targeted interventions.
Facilities and Transport
Facilities and Transport encompass three units namely Maintenance, Housekeeping and Transport. Those units ensure that the facilities, equipment and systems are well maintained and serviceable; the facilities and working environment are clean and safe for use by staff and visitors; that safe and reliable transport services are readily available for the Programme to meet its core objectives. We endeavour to provide services that respond to our customer needs, within a reasonable time frame and to a high quality.
Health and Safety
We take a systematic approach to occupational safety and health risk management, making managing work activities easier, efficient and more effective. It aims at continuously trying to work out, the best and safest method of conducting each key work activity and make sure that everyone uses the same approach every time. A consistent approach like this reduces the number of mistakes, the cost of correcting harm. Doing this reduces the level of organisational risk and ensures compliance with applicable occupational safety and health laws and regulations with minimal effort.