With funding from the U.S. Agency for International Development, the University of Florida manages the Feed the Future Livestock Systems Innovation Lab as a five-year program of research to improve the nutrition, health, and incomes of the poor through increased livestock productivity and the marketing and consumption of animal-source foods. The program seeks to upgrade technologies, management practices, skills, knowledge, capacity, inputs across livestock value chains, and policy environments that foster sustainable intensification and increased profitability of smallholder livestock systems. The focus countries are Ethiopia, Nepal, and Rwanda. Participation is open to qualified universities, institutes, and other organizations in the target countries, USA, and elsewhere. The program will fund research grants up to US$1 million, and focus grants up to US$100 thousand. The deadline for research concept notes is 23 June 2016. Link
Africa
Finland Ministry for Foreign Affairs — University Collaboration, Finland with Developing Countries
Finland funds the Higher Education Institutions Institutional Cooperation Instrument to support collaboration between higher education institutions in Finland and partner universities in developing countries. All subject areas are relevant. Grants will range from £300 thousand to £700 thousand, up to 80% of total project costs, for up to three years. The partner countries of highest priority are Afghanistan, Ethiopia, Kenya, Mozambique, Myanmar, Nepal, Somalia, Tanzania, and Zambia. However, the program is open to partners in additional low and middle-income countries (details are provided in the announcement). The deadline for submitting proposals is 04 October 2016. Link
Japan Society for the Promotion of Science (JSPS) — RONPAKU Fellowships for PhD Students 2017
The RONPAKU fellowships are a program of the JSPS to support students from Asia, the Middle East, and Africa to pursue PhD degrees from Japanese universities. Each fellow submits a research dissertation co-supervised by an advisor in Japan and an advisor in the fellow’s home country. The fellows do not pursue doctoral courses in Japan (i.e., dissertation only). RONPAKU will award about 20 fellowships across all subject areas. The application deadline is 24 August 2016 for submissions to RONPAKU from Japanese universities; applicants need to send their documents to their prospective Japanese advisors in advance of this deadline. Link
U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) — Livelihoods for Resilience in Ethiopia
USAID in Addis Ababa requests applications from qualified and eligible organizations to manage and implement the activity, “Feed the Future Ethiopia Livelihoods for Resilience.” The program aims to improve Ethiopia’s crop and livestock market systems; increase off-farm economic diversification; expand employment generation; and promote learning and adaptation. USAID intends to award US$60 million to the program over five years. All types of organizations are eligible to apply. Funding Opportunity RFA-663-16-000008. The application deadline is 25 July 2016. Link
Earth Journalism Network — Reporting on Environment and Development in the Congo Basin
The Earth Journalism Network announces grants funding for news stories about environment and development in the Congo Basin. These stories will be published on the platform InfoCongo.org. Subject areas may include illegal timber and wildlife trade; the impact of climate change on Congo forests; social and environmental impacts of projects for gas and minerals, roads and ports, industrial zones, and other infrastructure; and examples of best policies and practices of sustainable investment and project development. The program will make grants in the range of US$1,500 to US$5,000 to support the selected reporters. Applicants must be working as a journalist or studying in a journalism program. Preference is for applicants based in a country of the Congo Basin, and/or applicants who can demonstrate that their news stories will positively influence development in the Congo region. The deadline for proposals (English, French) is 30 June 2016. Link
FIRE Africa — ICT for African Development
The Fund for Internet Research and Development (FIRE Africa) promotes innovative online solutions to Africa’s needs in education, information, infrastructure, and communication. FIRE Africa can support any project that makes use of ICT to solve problems in the field. For example, previous winners include several organizations working in agriculture. Eligibility to apply extends to private and public organizations in Sub-Saharan Africa and North Africa. Grants are up to US$25 thousand for periods of 12-16 months. The application deadline is 31 May 2016. Link
Institute of International Education — Carnegie African Diaspora Fellowship Program
The Carnegie African Diaspora Fellowship Program (CADFP) is a fellowship program for African-born academics currently living in the USA and Canada, and working in higher education. Fellows engage in educational projects for periods ranging from two weeks to three months at universities and colleges in Ghana, Kenya, Nigeria, South Africa, Tanzania, and Uganda. There are no restrictions by disciplinary areas. Past fellows include examples in veterinary medicine, biology, forestry, and other areas of the natural sciences. The application deadline is 05 July 2016. Link
Belgian Development Agency (BTC) — Fair and Sustainable Trade in Precious Metals
BTC’s program in Trade for Development offers grants to improve the market access of organizations that are committed to fair and sustainable trade, including trade in precious metals. Among other objectives, project activities include the reduction of negative environmental impacts of mining and metals extraction. Grants ranging from €50 thousand to €100 thousand are available to private nonprofit and private for-profit organizations (if composed of 50% or more cooperative producers) in the following countries: Algeria, Benin, Bolivia, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Dem Rep Congo, Ecuador, Guinea, Mali, Morocco, Mozambique, Niger, Palestinian Territories, Peru, Rwanda,Senegal, South Africa, Tanzania, Uganda, and Vietnam. The application deadline is 10 July 2016. Link
African Union — Research Grants in Food and Agriculture
In collaboration with the European Union, Phase 2 of the African Union’s research grants will focus on research for food, nutritional security, and sustainable agriculture in Africa. Applications are invited from national and regional organizations, research institutions, universities, government ministries, and public institutions in Africa and EU member states. Eligibility for funding also extends to science and technology networks if all network members are registered in the eligible countries. Grants will range from US$500 thousand to US$1 million, varying with cost shares. The deadline for proposals is 17 August 2016. Link
International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI) — ILRI-DAAD Scholarships 2016
In partnership with the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD), ILRI announces several research scholarships at PhD and MSc levels in subject areas of livestock systems and animal biosciences. Each posting includes a description of the research focus, qualifications, and how to apply. The scholarships are for citizens of Sub-Saharan Africa. The closing date for applications is 18 March 2016. Link