The Energy Catalyst competition seeks innovative, market-focused energy solutions for Sub-Saharan Africa and/or South Asia. Projects must encourage the development of products and services that help countries in Sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia access low carbon energy. Early stage projects (feasibility studies) may apply for up to £300 thousand, mid stage projects (industrial research) for up to £1.5 million, and late stage projects (experimental development) for up to £5 million. Eligibility extends to UK based businesses, charities or academic institutions. International partnerships are strongly encouraged. The application deadline is 16 September 2020. Energy Catalyst
Africa
Western Indian Ocean Marine Science Association — Emerging Scientist Award
The Western Indian Ocean Marine Science Association (WIOMSA) invites nominations for the WIOMSA Emerging Scientist Award. The award recognizes significant achievements and outstanding contributions made by emerging scientists for research in coastal and marine sciences. Eligible candidates should be early to mid-career scientist. The prize consists of a plaque and free WIOMSA membership for 3 years. The deadline for submission of nominations is 30 June 2020. Link
Geres – Women’s Entrepreneurship
Geres is an international development NGO which works to improve the living conditions of the poorest and tackle climate change and its impacts. Geres seeks to promote women’s entrepreneurship by scaling-up entrepreneurs and value chains involved in energy access in Mali, Morocco, and Myanmar. This call for expressions of interest is aimed at identifying up to four consultants (ideally three national consultants) to develop a country-based gender strategy sensitive to the specificities of each region. The budget to create a strategy is €30 thousand. Expressions of interest have to be submitted by 01 July 2020. Find the call document
U.S. Mission to South Africa — Empowering Girls in STEM
The U.S. Mission to South Africa announces an open competition for non-profit organizations and academic institutions to submit applications to develop and implement a program that will encourage young women in South Africa to pursue careers in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM). The project should focus on girls between the ages of 8 to 13 and recruit female scientists who can talk about their own careers and experiences as professionals while serving as mentors and presenters. The total program funding is US$12 thousand. Applications have to be submitted by 15 July 2020. Link
Pan African Climate Justice Alliance — African Climate Change and Environmental Reporting Awards
The African Climate Change and Environmental Reporting (ACCER) Awards aim to incentivize and create a critical mass of journalists reporting on the area of climate change and environment. The 2020 ACCER Awards contest theme is “Making Climate Action a Way of Life.” The award defines five categories for the submission of in-depth climate stories. The competition is open to all journalists from Africa working for established media houses, private or public-sector media. Freelance journalists and bloggers are also eligible. The application deadline is 17 July 2020. ACCER Awards 2020
Government of India — Call for Research and Development Projects
The BRICS Young Scientist Forum seeks to strengthen existing bilateral and multilateral relations as well as cooperation among its member countries Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa. BRICS invites proposals from young scientists with projects in the thematic areas Ecology, Materials Science, and Artificial Intelligence for the 5th BRICS-YSF Conclave in Russia. All participants will have the opportunity to attend the activities of Science Communication Program. The program is open to scientists, engineers, technologists, innovators, science journalists, science professionals and researchers. Please note that candidates working in a private company are not eligible. Projects must be submitted until 20 July 2020. Click here to know more
Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation — Global Program on Food Security
The Global Program Food Security seeks innovative initiatives to contribute to food systems’ improvements and transformative and sustainable impacts on poor people. The SDC invites abstracts of project proposals in four themes related to global food security: (1) Human rights in food systems; (2) Responsible land-based investment practices; (3) Agrobiodiversity for food security and nutrition; and (4) Nutrition in secondary cities. Proposals under theme 3 should focus on improving food security and nutrition of smallholder farmers in three to four countries in Africa and Asia. SDC’s contribution will be a maximum of CHF 2,5 million per year and covering a maximum of 50% – 80% of the total cost of the project for up to 10 years. The deadline for abstracts is 28 August 2020. Find all four calls and eligibility criteria
French Global Environment Facility — Sustainable Cooling and Air Conditioning
The French Global Environment Facility (FFEM) launches a new call for projects to support innovations for “Sustainable Cold Production and Air Conditioning” in developing countries. Proposed projects should focus the development of sustainable cooling or air conditioning technologies and approaches, for example, “natural” refrigerants, which are more energy efficient. Projects may be proposed in connection with the transfer of skills and technologies through capacity building programs. Eligibility extends to developing countries, with priority given to applicants from the African continent. Funding ranges from €500 thousand to €3 million per project. The deadline for the submission of project proposals is 16 October 2020. More information here
Climate Tracker — Sustainable Food Media Fellowship
Climate Tracker launches the Sustainable Food Media Fellowship to fund journalists from Kenya, Uganda, and Zambia to work on investigative reports about the production of food and access to sustainable diets in their home country. Stories may focus on food security in the context of COVID-19, the impacts of climate change on agriculture, or the environmental footprint of agriculture practices. Participants receive a 4-week online course followed by an 8-week fellowship to develop and publish their stories. Eligibility extends to African journalists between the ages of 18 to 35. The application deadline is 26 June 2020. Find more information
International Development Research Centre — Sustainable Food Systems
The International Development Research Centre (IDRC) provides funding to innovative research projects that contribute to healthier and more sustainable food systems. Grants range from CA$300 thousand to CA$1 million per project. The call is open to research organizations, think tanks, and other organizations based in Ethiopia, Kenya, Rwanda, Tanzania, and Uganda, as well as other low and middle-income countries, as long as the research focuses on food security in the five priority regions. The application deadline is 26 June 2020. Details here