USAID in Southern Africa will fund the "Zambia Economic Resilience Program for Improved Food Security," with a focus on the Eastern Province of Zambia. Up to US$24 million is available for technical assistance and training to smallholder farmers, particularly women, to improve their agricultural yields and strengthen their livelihoods. Eligibility is unrestricted. USAID encourages partnerships and consortia of Zambian and non-Zambian organizations. Funding Opportunity 611-11-000001. The closing date for concept papers is 23 August 2012. Link

Agropolis Fondation (France) and Fondazione Cariplo (Italy) announce a call under the French-Italian Rice Science and Technology (FIRST) Initiative. The partnership aims to promote joint research that will have a high impact in rice growing in developing countries. Proposals should involve at least one partner from France, one from Italy, and one from a Southern/Mediterranean country. The minimum grant size is €300 thousand. The submission deadline is 12 March 2012. Link

The USDA's Foreign Agricultural Service, in partnership with the U.S. Agency for International Development, administers the "Feed the Future 21st Century Borlaug Leadership Program" to support training and research in agriculture. This current call is for female applicants to increase the number of women in leadership positions. Grants are for 6-12 weeks of collaboration in the USA, followed by continuation of the partnership in the applicant's home country. Application are invited from early to mid-career female professionals in the following countries: AFRICA -- Ghana, Kenya, Liberia, Malawi, Mali, Mozambique, Nigeria, Rwanda, Senegal, Tanzania, Uganda, and Zambia; ASIA -- Bangladesh; and LATIN AMERICA -- Guatemala, Haiti, and Honduras. The deadline for applications is 06 April 2012. Link

USAID-Dhaka will fund a 5-year project for US$25 million to build capacity in the agricultural extension system of Bangladesh that links farmers more closely with research and extension. Applicants should be legally recognized Bangladeshi entities -- such as private voluntary organizations, universities, research organizations, professional associations, commercial organizations willing to forego profits, and relevant special interest associations. Funding Opportunity RFA-388-12-000006. The closing date for applications is 30 April 2012. Link

Comic Relief makes grants to address the root causes of poverty and injustice. The Trade Program promotes sustainable and equitable wealth creation for small-scale producers and workers, with an emphasis on Africa, especially in agriculture. Project grants are up to £1 million over five years; planning grants are up to £25 thousand for one year. Applications are invited from UK-registered charities. (Applicants who are not UK-registered charities seek approval from the Comic Relief grants team before applying.) The deadline for summary applications in Cycle 7 is 09 May 2012. Link

ETH offers doctoral and post-doctoral research fellowships in agriculture, forestry, and natural resources related to development. Fellows in RFPP are Swiss residents under age 36, and citizens of developing and transition countries through age 40. Projects have to be embedded in research partnerships between a CGIAR center (or equivalent) and ETH Zurich. The next application deadline is 30 June 2012. Link

The Open Society Foundations will provide undergraduate scholarships for students from Haiti, Liberia, and Sierra Leone to study at EARTH University in Costa Rica. The focus is on natural resources management, agriculture, and social entrepreneurship. The deadline for students in Liberia and Sierra Leone is 15 March 2012; the deadline for students in Haiti is 30 April 2012. Link

USAID in Addis Ababa will fund the Pastoralists Areas Resiliency Improvement and Market Expansion (PRIME) project to increase household incomes and improve the resiliency and adaptive capacity of Ethiopian pastoral communities to climate change. The program will allocate over US$48 million for five years to improve livestock markets and policies for targeted districts in the regions of Somali, Afar, and Oromia. There are no eligibility restrictions. Funding Opportunity 663-12-000005. The closing date for applications is 27 March 2012. Link

The EC will provide grants to reduce food insecurity in the Palestinian Territory by supporting the livelihoods of small-scale olive producers. Priorities are institutional support; agricultural practices; water management; and olive-oil marketing. Grants range from €1 million to €2.5 million, subject to co-financing requirements. Eligibility extends to nonprofit organizations in the Palestinian Territory and in member states of the EU, and to inter-governmental organizations. Reference EuropeAid/132586/L/ACT/PS. The closing date for concept notes is 05 April 2012. Link

CIDA will co-finance Canadian organizations or coalitions to address climate change effects and adaptation needs that restrict or have negative impacts on food security and/or economic growth in Africa. The focus countries are Ethiopia, Ghana, Mali, Mozambique, Senegal, and Tanzania. Projects in certain other Sub-Saharan countries are also eligible (Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Dem Rep Congo, Kenya, Nigeria, Rwanda, South Africa, and Zambia). CIDA will provide 85% of project funding; eligible applicants in Canada's private sector and/or civil society (or their coalitions) contribute the remaining 15%. The deadline for applications is 19 April 2012. Link