The Securing Water for Food Grand Challenge for Development (SWFF) is a collaborative initiative among the U.S. Agency for International Development, the Swedish International Development Agency, the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and the Government of South Africa. The current call for proposals focuses on improving water efficiency and reusing agricultural wastewater; effective water capture and storage systems for extending temporal availability of water supply; and management of salinity in water supplies. Awardees will receive between US$100 thousand and US$2 million in funding and acceleration support to bring their innovations to scale. The deadline for applications is 10 October 2016. Link
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Tata Group — Tata Social Enterprise Challenge, 5th 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. Selected social entrepreneurs are offered funding opportunities, mentorship, and an opportunity to be incubated at IIM Calcutta’s Incubation Center. The deadline for submitting impact proposals (business plans) is 11 October 2016. Link
BRICS Scientific, Technological, and Innovation Framework Programme — Pilot Call for Proposals 2016
The BRICS Scientific, Technological and Innovation Framework Programme announces a call for research proposals on priority areas which can best be addressed by a multinational approach. The multiple themes include water resources and pollution treatment; promotion of renewable energy and energy efficiency; and prevention and monitoring of natural disasters. The framework program is supported by funding organizations in Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa. Proposals should include collaborators from at least three countries. The deadline for applications is 25 August 2016. Link
Human Development Innovation Fund — Mawazo Challenge in Tanzania
The Human Development Innovation Fund (HDIF) is funded by the UK government to create social impact in education, health and water, and sanitation and hygiene (WASH) across Tanzania. The Mawazo Challenge invites ideas to design a competition or award scheme that will foster and support promising ideas to solve problems in these areas. The best three ideas will be awarded cash prizes, including five million Tanzanian shillings for the first prize. The application deadline (first stage) is 15 August 2016. Link
Santa Clara University — Global Social Benefit Incubator 2017
The GSBI at Santa Clara University (USA) is an annual program to strengthen social enterprises that use science and technology to address problems of people living in poverty. Past participants include many in water supply, energy, agriculture, and environment in developing countries. The GSBI Accelerator assists selected participants with business plans and other capacity building in support of investment. The GSBI Accelerator invites applications from social entrepreneurs around the world. The application deadline is 21 October 2016. Link
Virginia Gildersleeve International Fund — Funding for Projects Led by Women
VGIF provides grants up to US$7,500 for projects that are led by women, and that help empower women and girls in grassroots communities around the globe. Most grants are for one year. Past projects include examples in farming, kitchen gardens, water supply, and other aspects of sustaining local livelihoods. The deadline for submitting letters of intent is 22 July 2016. Link
British Council — Research Workshops
The British Council announces workshops that convene UK researchers with partners in other countries. Among the workshops that have deadlines beyond the date of this posting are: Kazakhstan, low-carbon energy (deadline 15 July 2016); India, water purification (deadline 15 July 2016); Brazil, water/sanitation/energy (deadline 15 July 2016); Brazil, renewable energy (deadline 22 July 2016); Kazakhstan, mineral resources (deadline 22 July 2016); Brazil, legal aspects of agricultural technology (deadline 29 July 2016); and Kazakhstan, agricultural innovation (deadline 11 September 2016). The site lists additional workshops in additional subject areas. Link
Social Entrepreneurship Impact & Finance — Awards for Social Enterprise 2016
Social Entrepreneurship Impact & Finance (seif) supports individuals and teams that apply innovative business ideas to address current social and/or environmental problems. Project categories include agriculture and food security; energy; environment; water and sanitation; and others. The competition is open to social enterprises from all over the world. The program will make four awards of CHF 10 thousand each. The application deadline is 30 June 2016. Link
United States–India Science & Technology Endowment Fund (USISTEF) — 7th Call for Proposals
The USISTEF announces its 7th competitive call for proposals to commercialize technologies for societal impact. Priority areas include health, education, agriculture, water, and others. Proposals must include at least one partner from each country, India and USA. Funding is up to Rs. 2.5 crores (approximately US$400 thousand) for projects that demonstrate a high potential to be commercial within 2-3 years. The bi-national teams can include incorporated companies; non-incorporated entities; and individuals or consortia from academic, government, and non-government R&D institutions. The deadline for proposals is 15 June 2016. Link
U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) — Clean Water in Armenia
USAID-Yerevan will fund the project Participatory Utilization and Resource Efficiency of Water (PURE-Water) to improve the quality and use efficiency of water resources in the Ararat Valley. Activities will focus on the participation of Armenian civil society in policy development and small-scale pilot projects for integrated water management. Eligibility for grants extends to local organizations registered in Armenia. Funding Opportunity RFA-111-16-000004. The application deadline is 13 July 2016. Link