The swissuniversities Development and Cooperation Network (SUDAC) calls for various types of Swiss higher education institutions to collaborate with each other and with partners in the Global South to develop and organize Consortia for Education and Research (COFER). COFER will aim for stronger integration of research, education, and implementation through new collaborative networks oriented towards the Sustainable Development Goals. Each COFER must address at least two SDGs; provide at least 50% matching funds; and provide funding for partners in the Global South. The application deadline is 31 March 2017. Link
Jan Laarman
French Institute for Development Research — Research on Plant Biodiversity
Funded by IRD in collaboration with several other French organizations, the program “Sud Expert Plantes Développement Durable” (SEP2D) aims to reinforce scientific research on plant biodiversity in 22 tropical countries. The eligible countries are distributed across West Africa; Central Africa; Indian Ocean; and Southeast Asia. Research themes in SEP2D are forest biodiversity; mitigation of mining activities; commercial applications of plant biodiversity; and agro-biodiversity. In each participating country, SEP2D will be managed by an academic institution which will build a consortium of national and/or international partners. Examples of partners include private companies, NGOs, farmers’ associations, financial institutions, and similar. Funding is up to €35 thousand for national projects, and up to €75 thousand for regional and international projects. The application deadline is 31 December 2016. Link
Abdulla Al Ghurair Foundation for Education — STEM Scholars Program
The Abdulla Al Ghurair Foundation for Education offers scholarships to young Arab citizens for university studies in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) at any of the Foundation’s partner universities. Applicants should be ages 15-30 and demonstrate past high academic achievement, as well as financial need. The application deadline is 15 January 2017. Link
Cheng-Long Wetlands — International Environmental Art Project 2017
The Cheng-Long Wetlands are located in a rural area on the south-central coast of Taiwan. To call attention to the changing global environment, with a particular focus on conservation of the Cheng-Long Wetlands, artists from all countries are invited to send a proposal for a site-specific outdoor sculpture that will raise public awareness and enlist people to take action. Selected artists will receive NT$60 thousand (about US$2 thousand), airfare, accommodations, food, local transportation, volunteer help, and free local natural and recycled materials. The deadline for proposals is 20 January 2017. Link
MIT Center for Collective Intelligence — Climate CoLab 2017
The MIT Climate CoLab organizes contests to solicit the world’s best ideas to prevent and adapt to climate change. Some contests pose social and political questions, while others focus on issues in science and technology. Each year, the contest winners are invited to a conference at MIT’s campus in the USA, where a pool of prize funding is shared among the best ideas. Current contests include one on managing and reducing carbon contributions, with submission deadline on 20 January 2017. Another contest focuses on anticipating climate hazards, with deadline on 10 February 2017. Link
Institute for Pacific Coral Reefs — Coral Reef Research in French Polynesia 2017
The IRCP offers four grants to young scientists for applied or fundamental research on coral reefs in French Polynesia. The program invites applications from PhD and post-doctoral applicants of French and other nationalities, who are less than age 35. IRCP will select at least one candidate from the South Pacific Island States. Grants are €4,500 for up to one year to cover travel expenses, accommodation, and research costs at the Criobe research station. The application deadline is 30 January 2017. Link
French Institute for Development Research — Support for International Research Teams 2017
The IRD announces funding to support multidisciplinary international teams (laboratoires mixtes internationaux, LMI) to undertake research that corresponds to IRD’s thematic priorities. These priorities include agronomy and biodiversity; bio-invasions and climate change; sustainable urban development; the ocean-climate interface; micro-biomes in agro-ecosystems; management of water resources; coastal and marine management; and others. Several themes have geographical priorities. IRD will annually provide each LMI with €40 thousand. The deadline for letters of intent is 31 January 2017. Link
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency — Grants to U.S. Universities for Research on Global Sustainability 2017
The EPA’s 14th annual P3 Awards (People, Prosperity, and the Planet) will fund research projects in water and wastewater, energy, built environment, materials and chemicals, and reduced food waste. Grants are up to US$15 thousand for one year (Phase I). Winners in Phase I will be eligible to apply for larger grants to follow. The competition is open to U.S. institutions of higher education to support teams of undergraduate and/or graduate students. The application deadline is 03 February 2017. Link
European Commission — Capacity to Address Extraordinary Disasters
The EC’s Directorate for Humanitarian Aid and Civil Protection calls for projects which address temporary shortcomings of response capacities in extraordinary disasters. The objective is to establish “buffer capacities” to add stand-by availability of rapid response capacities. Included are responses to disasters caused by flooding and forest fires. In addition to EU member states, eligibility to participate extends to Iceland, Macedonia, Montenegro, Norway, Serbia, and Turkey. The deadline for submitting proposals is 06 February 2017. Link
SEED Foundation — Agricultural Projects in Sub-Saharan Africa 2017
The SEED Foundation supports French nonprofit organizations in partnership with nonprofit organizations in Sub-Saharan Africa for innovative solutions that address food security. Projects can address agricultural practices, farming knowledge and capacity, local agricultural products, etc. Grants range from €7 thousand to €15 thousand, up to 70% of project costs. The Foundation lists 21 eligible African countries. The deadline for applications (French, English) is 06 February 2017. Link