MEDA calls for proposals focusing on non-traditional finance to catalyze agricultural innovation by smallholder farmers in East Africa, the Andes region of South America, and South Asia. The call is open to private enterprises (including cooperatives and producer associations), financial institutions, finance-oriented organizations, research institutions, and NGOs. Applicants may be based in the target regions or outside the target regions, but project implementation must be in the target regions. Successful proposals will be awarded up to CAD $200 thousand (pilot award) or up to CAD $50 thousand (case study award). The submission deadline is 06 October 2017. Find the call for proposals
South Asia
Research Council of Norway — India/Norway Research on Bio-Economy
India’s Department of Science and Technology (DST) and the Research Council of Norway (RCN) will jointly fund Indo-Norwegian research in mutually agreed fields. The current call in the field of bio-economy research will focus on the following topics: agriculture and land-based food; biotech; aquaculture; and bioenergy/biofuel. Joint proposals must be developed in cooperation between principal investigators representing a research institution in Norway and a research institution in India. The application period is 11 October 2017 through 22 November 2017. Learn more
Netherlands Fellowship Program — KOP Funding for Short Courses
The Netherlands Fellowship Program has started a new phase under the name KOP (Kennisontwikkelings programma). The first round of KOP offers scholarships for short courses in the Netherlands to applicants from the following countries: Albania, Armenia, Bhutan, Bolivia, Burkina Faso, Cambodia, Cuba, Djibouti, Dem Rep Congo, Georgia, India, Jordan, Lebanon, Macedonia, Mongolia, Nepal, Nicaragua, Nigeria, Pakistan, Peru, Philippines, Senegal, Somalia, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Surinam, Thailand, and Zimbabwe. The subject areas for short courses include many in agriculture and environment, among others. Applicants in participating countries study the course database to find short courses eligible for scholarships. The profile of each course identifies the application deadline and how to apply to the Dutch university, including contact information. For candidates that are selected, the Dutch university submits the application for KOP scholarships. The closing dates vary with each course. Learn about KOP
CRDF Global — Travel Grants for U.S. Early-Career Scientists
CRDF Global announces the 2017 Catalyzing New Research Partnerships Program. The program aims to catalyze new international research collaborations for U.S. early-career scientists with partners in South and Southeastern Asia; Latin America: and West Africa. The subject areas of interest are biological sciences; geosciences; and others. CRDF will make travel grants up to US$10 thousand for U.S. early-career scientists residing and working in the USA to lay the foundation for new international research partnerships in the priority regions. The application deadline is 29 September 2017. Learn about this opportunity
Australia Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade — Water for Women in Asia-Pacific Countries
The Water for Women Fund aims to improve health, gender equality, and well-being of Asian and Pacific communities. Australia’s DFAT invites proposals for projects from civil society and not-for-profit organisations that promote access to water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH). The eligible countries are Bangladesh, Bhutan, Cambodia, Fiji, India, Indonesia, Kiribati, Lao PDR, Myanmar, Nepal, Pakistan, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Sri Lanka, Timor-Leste, Tonga, Tuvalu, Vanuatu, and Vietnam. Grants are expected to range from AUD$2.5 million to AUD$10 million over five years. The application deadline is 06 October 2017. Find the request for proposals
WWF in India — Small Grants Program
WWF-India offers grants up to Rs. 400 thousand for conservation research or action projects of up to two years. Grants are made to individuals to be utilized primarily for field activities. Priority is for research and conservation aligned with WWF’s program in India. The application deadlines are 30 April and 30 November of each year. Learn more
Tata Group — Tata Social Enterprise Challenge, 6th Edition
The Tata Group, in collaboration with the Indian Institute of Management Calcutta (IIMC), seeks to identify promising social enterprises in India. Proposals are invited for social enterprises in agriculture, water and sanitation, energy, and other thematic areas. The proposed enterprises should create social impact in India, although applicants do not have to be Indian nationals. The top three winners of the competition will win cash grants up to 2 lakhs each, to be invested in their ventures. Selected social entrepreneurs will be offered mentorship and an opportunity to be incubated at IIMC. The deadline for submitting impact proposals (business plans) is 30 September 2017. Link
Elephant Family — Conservation Grants for Asian Elephants
Elephant Family makes grants for projects that have direct benefits for wild Asian elephants. There is no maximum or minimum grant, but grants above £100 thousand per year are unlikely to be funded. Elephant Family will fund projects which can demonstrate clear measurable benefits within a defined time period of normally 2 to 5 years. The application deadline is 02 October 2017. More information here
UK Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council — Research on Pulses and Oilseeds in India.
The UK’s BBSRC and India’s Department of Biotechnology encourage multi-institutional applications between UK and Indian researchers to increase the productivity, resilience, sustainability, and quality of pulses or oilseeds grown for food or feed in India. Up to £3.5 million is available from BBSRC to support the UK components of this research, to be matched by DBT’s support for the Indian components, for projects of up to three years. The application deadline is 24 October 2017. Link
Mission Innovation — Off-Grid Access to Electricity in India
The Off-Grid Access to Electricity Innovation Challenge will financially support studies, research, standards, capacity building, and technical assistance to improve affordable energy access for individuals and communities in India with no or limited access to grid connected power. Proposals are invited from qualified researchers and professionals in regular position at Indian institutions drawn from Indian academic and publicly-funded R&D laboratories. Proposals should range from US$100 thousand to US$1 million. The deadline to submit a notification of intent is 31 August 2017. Link