France’s IRD is a partner with the Ivory Coast’s Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research in a program of research (PReSeD-CI 2) on natural products, agriculture, energy and minerals, environmental governance, and other themes in support of sustainable development. Applications are welcome from from Ivory Coast, France, and researchers associated with CAMES (Conseil africain et malgache pour l’enseignement supérieur). The application deadline is 10 October 2016. Link
agriculture
Michigan State University — Graduate Studies in Agricultural Sciences, Bangladesh
With funding from the U.S. government, the Borlaug Higher Education Agricultural Research and Development (BHEARD) Program supports long-term training of agricultural and food security researchers and policy advisors at the master’s and doctoral levels. The program currently includes scholarships for staff and faculty members at selected institutions in Bangladesh to pursue doctoral studies at universities in India. The application deadline is 30 September 2016. Link
Securing Water for Food — SWFF Grants, Round 4
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
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
German Federal Ministry for Food and Agriculture — Processing Local Food in Africa and Asia
The German Federal Ministry for Food and Agriculture (BMEL) will fund international research cooperation on the topic of innovative approaches to process local food in Sub-Saharan Africa and Southeast Asia. The aim is to contribute to improved nutrition, as well as to qualitative and quantitative reduction of food losses. BMEL will make grants to suitable research institutions in Germany, which will work with partner institutions in Africa and Asia. The projects should focus on perishable food items of plant, animal, and fungal origin, in particular with seasonal surpluses. Consideration should be given to the potential for innovation using neglected and under-utilized crops. The deadline for short proposals and consortium agreements is 01 December 2016. Link
Global Development Network — Aid Effectiveness in Africa
The Global Development Network (GDN) announces a research competition on aid effectiveness in Sub-Saharan Africa. Proposals should focus on a single sector, either health or agriculture, in two or more African countries. The competition is open to teams of early-career researchers of social scientists from universities, independent research institutions, think tanks, networks, and consortia based in Africa. GDN will invite short-listed teams to submit full applications for grants of up to US$24 thousand. The deadline for expressions of interest (English, French) is 11 September 2016. Link
UK Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council — Crops for Nutrition
The UK’s BBSRC calls for research to deliver the next generation of crops beneficial for human and/or farmed animal health. BBSRC encourages applications on crops relevant for low and middle-income developing countries. It also welcomes applications in collaboration and/or consultation with the food industry. The program is open to UK researchers eligible for funding from the BBSRC. If they are relevant for the research, international partners can be sub-contracted. Grants are up to £2 million for up to five years. The closing date for applications is 21 September 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
Netherlands Organisation for International Cooperation in Higher Education (NUFFIC) — Tailor-Made Training for Organizations
The Netherlands Fellowship Programs (NFP) include Tailor-made Training to build the capacity of an organization’s staff members. The programme is open to organisations in education, research, government, and civil society. Tailor-Made Training accepts proposals of organisations in NFP partner countries submitted jointly with a Dutch training provider. Application forms are available via the Netherlands embassies. Priorities include proposals focusing on Sub-Saharan Africa, and proposals focusing on food security. Funding is up to €75 thousand, with a co-funding requirement of at least 20%. The application deadline is 01 November 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