Researcher Links Workshops bring together early-career researchers from the UK and a partner country to make international connections that can improve the quality of their research. There will be nine awards in total under this call – five awards for workshops in Russia, and four for workshops in the UK. All workshops must be held in 2018. Each proposal must have one Principal Applicant from the UK and one Principal Applicant from Russia. The submission deadline is 19 September 2017. Link
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British Council — UK-China PhD Placements
The UK-China Joint Research and Innovation Partnership Fund is a sponsorship opportunity for UK and Chinese PhD students and their supervisors to spend three to twelve months (for PhD students) and up to three months (for supervisors) at higher education institutions in China or the UK. The focus is on research areas that include food and water security, environmental technologies, and energy — among others. Applicants must find a host institution in their target country, and placements must start between January and December 2018. The application process closes on 20 September 2017. Link
Research Councils UK — Interdisciplinary Research Hubs to Address Intractable Challenges
Research Councils UK invites proposals from eligible UK research organisations to establish research hubs addressing currently intractable challenges faced by developing countries. Examples might include but are not restricted to achieving economic growth in an environmentally sustainable way while also ensuring social cohesion and adequate access to safe food, water, and services; development of resilient infrastructure and energy production in the context of climate change; achieving food security in ways that make agriculture, food production, and consumption more environmentally and economically sustainable; and urban development that fosters diversity whilst tackling air pollution and other environmental hazards. The intention to submit must be completed by 29 September 2017. Link
Government of Czech Republic — University Scholarships for Applicants from Developing Countries
The Czech Republic provides scholarships to support nationals from developing countries at public institutions of higher education in the Czech Republic. The fields of study include ecology, wildlife management, natural resources, forestry, and tropical agriculture (among others). Applications need to be submitted before 30 September of each year. Link
European Commission — Promoting Investment in Kenya Agribusiness
The EC calls for proposals to identify an institution that will manage a fund to integrate smallholder farmers and pastoralists within their value chains by blending grants and commercial loans to promote agribusiness in Kenya. Eligibility for funding extends to NGOs, public sector operators, local authorities, and international (inter-governmental) organisations based in the EU and ACP countries (including Kenya). Reference EuropeAid/154913/DD/ACT/KE. The deadline for concept notes is 05 September 2017. Link
UK Economic and Social Research Council — Sustainable Tropical Agriculture in Colombia
The UK’s ESRC is partnering with other UK research councils and the International Center for Tropical Agriculture (CIAT) to launch a a new UK-Colombia programme in sustainable tropical agriculture. The focus is on pulses and tropical forages. Proposals for the pump-priming phase of this call will be developed at a scoping workshop to be held at CIAT headquarters in Cali, Colombia (October-November 2017). Participation in the workshop is mandatory for leading an application. The deadline for expressions of interest to participate in the workshop is 06 September 2017. Link
Netherlands Ministry of Foreign Affairs — Geodata for Agriculture and Water 2017-2018
The Geodata for Agriculture and Water (G4AW) Facility uses satellite-based information, agricultural inputs, advice, and/or financial services to aid food producers to sustain and increase their production and livelihoods. G4AW focuses on achieving more efficient use of agricultural water, particularly in irrigated areas and water basins. The G4AW partner countries are Angola, Bangladesh, Benin, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Colombia, Ethiopia, Ghana, Indonesia, Kenya, Laos, Malawi, Mali, Mozambique, Myanmar, Niger, Rwanda, Senegal, South Africa, South Sudan, Tanzania, Uganda, Vietnam, Zambia, and Zimbabwe. The program invites applications from partnerships of Dutch organizations working with organizations in the G4AW countries, both private and public. Grants will range from €500 thousand to €3 million for projects up to three years. Each partnership must contribute to project costs. The deadline for applications is 14 September 2017. Link
Critical Ecosystem Partnership Fund — Protecting Biodiversity in Madagascar and the Comoros
The CEPF invites applications for small (under US$20 thousand) and large grants in support of conserving biodiversity in Madagascar and the Comoros. Eligibility for funding extends to community groups and associations, NGOs, private enterprises, universities, research institutes, and other civil society organizations. CEPF posts the ecosystem profile, and a list of key biodiversity areas, in the announcement. The deadline for letters of inquiry (English, French, Malagasy) is 29 September 2017. Link
MIT Center for Collective Intelligence — New Contests at Climate CoLab
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. The Climate Co-Lab has recently posted seven new contests, each with a deadline on 10 September 2017. Link
Netherlands Ministry of Foreign Affairs — Voice
The Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs is partnering with HIVOS and Oxfam on methods to effectively empower and give voice to marginalized and discriminated people in low- and lower-middle income countries of Africa and Asia. The thematic areas include one for improved governance and access to productive resources (e.g., land and water) and employment. The priority countries are Cambodia, Indonesia, Kenya, Laos, Mali, Niger, Nigeria, Philippines, Tanzania, and Uganda. Voice hopes to stimulate learning about the most successful methods of building community empowerment. Applications are invited from legally registered nonprofit civil society organizations and community groups. The applicant (or a consortium member) must be based in Africa or Asia, and operate in one or more of the focus countries. Grants range from €25 thousand to €500 thousand for up to three years. The application deadline is 15 September 2017. Link