The National Geographic Society seeks proposals from around the world that aim to test innovative approaches to issues surrounding the production or consumption of energy, food, infrastructure and fresh water in and around cities. Projects may be focused around conservation, education, research, storytelling, or technology. Applicants may request from US$10 thousand to US$150 thousand to be used over one or two years. Short deadline: 03 January 2018. See the Request for Proposals
agriculture
U.S. Department of State — Global Food Security Strategy
The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) seeks participants to co-create, co-invest, and collaborate on research and development interventions to address development challenges for food and nutrition security in Asia. USAID invites organizations and companies to submit an Expression of Interest. USAID will invest US$ 3 million in total. The Mission plans to hold a webinar on 10 January 2018. Closing date for submittal of Expressions of Interest (EOIs) is 31 January 2018. Details
Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations — Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture
The International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture aims to promote and support the conservation and sustainable use of plant genetic resources for food and agriculture. The goal is to enable farmers from developing countries around the world access to adapted varieties leading to increased productivity. The Benefit-sharing Fund funds single country projects (maximum funding/project: US$ 250 thousand) and multi-country projects (maximum funding/project: US$ 450 thousand) for up to 48 months. Eligible applicants include governmental and non-governmental organizations, research institutions, and regional and international organizations based in developing countries. The International Treaty provides a “helpdesk” in Arabic, English, French and Spanish. The deadline for submitting pre-proposals is 01 March 2018. Access the fourth Call for Proposals
European Commission — Master of Science in Food Security and Climate Change 2018-2020
The Master of Science in Food Security and Climate Change (MS FSCC) is a joint degree for students from Southeast Asia funded by the European Commission’s ERASMUS+ Capacity Building for Higher Education. Each MS FSCC student will be enrolled in two universities, be supervised jointly by professors from these universities, and have a joint thesis defense. The ERASMUS+ funding provides excellent students in the program with a chance to spend one semester at a partner university in Europe. Applications close on 31 January 2018. About the MS program
American Academy for the Advancement of Science — Global Innovation through Science and Technology 2018
The program Global Innovation through Science and Technology (GIST) invites scientists, entrepreneurs, researchers, and innovators in 136 emerging countries to compete in the GIST Tech-I Competition 2018. The competition is open to everyone between the ages of 18 to 40 in any sector who has either an idea or a startup in the form of an invention, a product, a service, an app, any combination of these, or something entirely unique. Each participant in the competition submits an executive summary and a promotional video. The top 10 semi-finalists will advance to the Tech-I finals during the 2018 Global Entrepreneurship Congress in Istanbul, Turkey to showcase their ventures and receive intensive training. The application deadline is 28 December 2017. More here
Columbia Center on Sustainable Investment — Innovative Use of Land Contracts
The Columbia Center on Sustainable Investment (CCSI) will make two grants of US$10 thousand each for innovative uses of www.OpenLandContracts.org, an online repository of publicly available commercial agriculture and forestry contracts. Users of the website can search contracts by different categories; view summaries of key social, human rights, environmental, fiscal, and operational provisions; compare certain provisions across contracts; and download full contracts. CCSI offers the grants to support and advance innovative uses of the repository and of the content available through it. Applications must be received by CCSI on or before 31 January 2018. Link
United Nations University — Post-Doctoral Research Fellowships 2018
The United Nations University offers postdoctoral fellowships to young scholars and policymakers, especially from the developing world. One fellowships program is with the UNU’s Institute for the Advanced Study of Sustainability (UNU-IAS); the other is with the UNU’s Center for Policy Research (UNU-CPR). The research themes include ecosystem services; water and urban development; governance for sustainable development; low-carbon technology; and others. There are no nationality requirements, but applicants should be fluent in English. The closing date for applications is 28 February 2018. About this Fellowship
New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade — NZ Partnerships for International Development Fund 2017/2018
The New Zealand Partnerships for International Development Fund is a contestable fund open to New Zealand organizations. It aims to encourage partnerships between New Zealand organizations and in-country partners in the developing world, with emphasis on the Pacific region and Southeast Asia. Priority areas for support include agriculture, fisheries, tourism, energy, and water and sanitation — among others. The Fund encourages multi-activity projects for up to five years. The next application deadline (Round 12) is 02 March 2018 for drafts (partners who would like to receive feedback on their application, prior to submitting it to the Round) and 30 March 2018 for full applications. Find out more
Network for Rural Development of Serbia — Sustainable Rural Development in the Western Balkans
Network for Rural Development of Serbia invites civil society organisations (CSOs) to submit applications related to the thematic areas of sustainable rural development. This may include capacity building programs in sustainable agriculture, environment protection, sustainable management of natural resources, and others. The maximum grants size is €17 thousand per organization. Eligibility extends to organizations from Serbia, Montenegro, Albania, Macedonia, Turkey, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Kosovo. (Note: The Programme is part of the project “ALTER – Active Local Territories for Economic development of Rural Areas” by the European Union.) Deadline for applications is 17 December 2017. Hurry up!
AuthorAID — Small Grants for Researchers in Developing Countries: Travel Grants
AuthorAID announces its second round of small travel grants to support researchers in developing countries with travel and workshops. AuthorAID plans to award five travel grants of US$1,500 each for early-career researchers to present their research at an academic conference. AuthorAID posts the list of eligible developing countries. The deadline to apply for travel grants is 03 January 2018. More about the travel grants for researchers