Proposal development: The SSI will be provide assistance for proposal development through annual workshops organized by the SSI. Letters of intent and draft proposals will be invited through annual calls for participation by the coordinating committee. R&D projects relevant to the objectives of the funding agency will be selected and the principal investigators (PIs) invited to the workshop.

Annual training courses: The SSI will facilitate organization of annual training courses on leading-edge technology for tropical disease research application in DECs. The SSI network will identify and suggest opportunities for courses and develop proposals to be submitted to funding agencies.