UN Environment and Think Beyond Plastic are sponsoring a worldwide innovation challenge for university students to fight the increasing problem of plastic in oceans. The winners in each of four categories of the competition will attend the Sixth International Marine Debris Conference in California (March 2018), and will receive free mentorship to help them develop their ideas. The competition is open to university students worldwide. The deadline for entries is 06 October 2017. Learn about the challenge
training/education
Coady International Institute — Women’s Leadership 2018
The Global Change Leaders Program is a seven-week education program to enable women from developing countries to strengthen their leadership capacities at the Coady Institute, affiliated with St Francis Xavier University in Canada. The program offers successful candidates a full scholarship that includes tuition, travel, accommodations, and meals. Applicants should have at least four years of demonstrated leadership experience in fields such as food security, environment, and others. The application deadline is 07 September 2017. Link
Clean Energy Wire — Grants for Energy and Climate Journalism
Clean Energy Wire CLEW is offering grants for collaborative media teams on stories with international significance. Topics that explore the transition to clean energy, climate policy, and the shift to a low-carbon economy will be considered. Grants will be between €4 thousand and €6 thousand. Three journalist teams will be invited to the 2017 Clean Energy Wire CLEW Network Conference, which will take place in Bonn (November 2017). The application deadline is 15 September 2017. Visit the website
Columbus Zoo and Aquarium — Conservation Grants 2018
The Columbus Zoo makes conservation grants for research, local community involvement, capacity building, environmental education, and behavior change leading to improved conservation of wildlife and habitat. Grant requests may range from US$1 thousand to US$25 thousand, but grants are limited to US$5 thousand for first-time applicants. First-time applicants must submit a pre-proposal. Grants are awarded on a quarterly basis. The next proposal review is mid-September 2017. Application and Guidelines
U.S. Department of State — ASEAN Regional Workshop to Protect the Mekong Environment
The U.S. Consulate General in Ho Chi Minh City announces funding to develop and implement a six-day workshop in 2018 on protecting the environment of the Mekong Delta. The workshop will be held in Vietnam, and it will bring together at least 80 members of the Young Southeast Asian Leaders Initiative (YSEALI) who have environmental backgrounds and leadership potential. Eligibility to apply for organizing and implementing the workshop extends to nonprofit civil society organizations and public educational institutions in the USA and other countries. Applicants should have strong linkages with a Vietnam-based partner. Proposals should be for under US$250 thousand. Funding Opportunity SVM700-17-PAS-09. The application deadline is 15 September 2017. Link
National Geographic Society — Long-Distance Animal Migration
The National Geographic Society requests proposals from around the world to test innovative approaches that will improve the viability of migratory species. Projects may be focused around conservation, education, research, storytelling, or technology. Preference will be given to proposals that include feasible plans to measure baselines or demonstrate change in key indicators. Applicants may request from US$10 thousand to US$150 thousand to be used over one or two years. The application deadline is 01 October 2017. Link
Goethe Institut and DAAD — Science Journalism Training Program in Egypt
The project “Schreiben über Wissenschaft” (translation: Writing about Science) is a cooperation between the Goethe-Institut and the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD). The goal is to foster the relationship between the sciences on the one side and journalism on the other, in order to support the transfer of knowledge to a broader public. The workshop will take place 30 September to 02 October near Cairo, and is open to science journalists interested in writing about scientific topics. Transport and accommodation will be provided by the Goethe-Institute. Deadline for application is 25 August 2017. Link to the Application Form
British Council – Agroforestry Workshop in Kenya
The British Council accepts applications for the agroforestry workshop on “Role of small holder agroforestry systems in the arid and semi-arid regions in combating climate change”. The workshop aims to develop a sustainable network of researchers across UK, Kenya, and South Africa. Early-career researchers are invited to apply to attend the workshop. All travel and accommodation expenses will be covered by the Newton Researcher Links programme. Deadline for application is 30 August 2017. About the Workshop
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
Landesa Rural Development Institute — Women’s Land Rights Visiting Professionals 2018
Landesa’s program for Visiting Professionals supports motivated professionals to enhance their ability to improve women’s land rights in the developing world. The program is currently open to professionals working in China, India, Liberia, Myanmar, or Tanzania. Landesa provides orientation and leadership training in Seattle (USA). Applicants should have at least five years of development experience. The application deadline is 20 August 2017. Link