WISIONS of Sustainability is an initiatives of the Wuppertal Institute to nurture innovative energy projects and to foster knowledge exchanges between practitioners. The supporting scheme SEPS (Sustainable Energy Project Support) has launched its first call for proposals in 2017 to focus on projects and knowledge exchanges for the Caribbean, South and Central America, and Southern and Southeast Asia. The deadline for applications is 23 June 2017. Link
energy
French Institute for Development Research — GUYAMAZON, 4th Call for Proposals
France’s Institute for Development Research (IRD) collaborates with other French institutions and three Brazilian states to sponsor GUYAMAZON for collaborative French-Brazilian research in the Amazon region. Research themes include biodiversity, terrestrial and forest ecosystems, aquatic ecosystems, climate and health, agro-ecology and subsistence farming, renewable energy, and social sciences. Projects link researchers in France (especially the department of French Guyana) and the Brazilian states of Amazonas, Amapá, and Maranhão. The application deadline is 31 August 2017. Link
British Council — International Research Workshops
The British Council supports research workshops under the programs Researcher Links and the Newton Fund to assist early-career researchers from the UK and partner countries to interact and explore research collaborations. Current opportunities that have one or more environmental themes include: (1) communications technologies for disaster management, UK and Turkey, with application deadline on 26 May 2017; (2) recent advances in energy conservation for buildings in the UK and China, with application deadline on 31 May 2017; (3) detection and prevention of biological invasions, UK and China, with application deadline on 31 May 2017; (4) off-shore wind and wave energy, UK and Turkey, with application deadline on 30 June 2017; and (4) green port development, UK and China, with application deadline on 15 July 2017. The British Council publishes the dates, locations, eligibility criteria, and other supporting information for each workshop. Link
European Commission — Energy Development in Lesotho
The EC invites applications to promote expanded access to rural energy in Lesotho. Activities should focus on commercial opportunities for solar innovations in households; demonstration of mini-grid projects; and support for businesses that offer sustainable energy products and services in rural Lesotho. The lead applicant should be an NGO, private company, research institute, public sector operator, or local authority in Lesotho or an EU member state. International (inter-governmental) organisations are also eligible. Reference EuropeAid/155297/DD/ACT/LS. The deadline for concept notes is 07 June 2017. Link
Smart Villages — Energy Innovation Challenge 2017
The Energy Innovation Challenge welcomes ideas for social enterprises powered by off-grid energy in East Africa. Top applications will win the opportunity to develop their idea into a full business model and pitch for seed funding at the Dare to Change Dar conference in September. The closing date to apply is 08 May 2017. Link
Global Cleantech Innovation Programme — Clean Technology for SMEs 2017
The Global Cleantech Innovation Programme (GCIP) for small and medium enterprises is co-sponsored by the GEF, UNIDO, and national institutions in the participating countries. The GCIP aims to spur local innovations in energy efficiency, green buildings, renewable energy, waste management, and water efficiency. Each country manages a competition to identify promising entrepreneurs and a business accelerator to connect them to potential investors, customers, and partners. The rules of participation, and the benefits of the program, vary by country. The remaining application deadlines include: 10 May for Turkey, Link; 09 June for Malaysia, Link; and 10 June for Pakistan, Link.
African Union Commission — Pan African University Scholarships for Postgraduate Education 2017-2018
The Pan African University (PAU) seeks to develop institutions of excellence in science, technology, innovation, social sciences, and governance in Africa. The African Union offers the Pan African University Scholarship for masters and PhD degree programs at four PAU Institutes (in Algeria, Cameroon, Kenya, and Nigeria). Subject areas for the postgraduate educational programs include agriculture, water resources, arid lands management, energy, environmental management, and many others — varying among the PAU Institutes. The scholarships program is open to applicants from African countries and the African Diaspora. The deadline for applications (English, French) is 31 May 2017. Link
European Bank for Reconstruction and Development — Central European Initiative, Know-How Exchange 2017
The Know-how Exchange Program co-finances the transfer of know-how and best practices from EU to non-EU member countries of the Central European Initiative (CEI). Thematic areas in the current call by KEP-Italy include energy, environment, and agriculture and rural development (among others). Proposals are submitted by organizations in CEI member states which are also member states of the European Union for knowledge transfers to non-EU member states of the CEI. The non-EU members of the CEI are Albania, Belarus, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Macedonia, Moldova, Montenegro, Serbia, and Ukraine. The maximum grant is €40 thousand. The closing date for expressions of interest is 29 June 2017. Link
Singularity University — Global Grand Challenge Awards 2017
The Global Grand Challenge Awards invite applications from startup enterprises that are attacking the world’s most difficult problems. Three teams in each of 12 tracks will be invited to California in August 2017 to present their work at the Singularity University Global Summit EXPO. One winner will be selected from each track to be assisted with recognition and exposure. The tracks include disaster resilience, energy, environment, food, water, and others. The application deadline is 31 July 2017. Link
Lloyds TSB Foundation for Scotland — Scotland’s Grants for Zambia and Rwanda
The Scottish Government announces the 2017 round of funding for its Zambia and Rwanda development programs. The focus regions are Central Province in Zambia, and Western and Southern Provinces in Rwanda. Among the priority themes are agriculture, and renewable energy as a component in other priority themes. Applications are restricted to Scottish-based organizations. The closing date for submitting concept notes is 04 May 2017. Link