The Research Partnership Grants support research projects with collaborating institutions in MENA countries. The Leading House MENA accepts grant applications solely from applicants. The Swiss applicant needs to have a proposed or an ongoing research project with an institutional partner in the MENA region. The maximum grant amount per project is CHF15 thousand. Both the applicant and the partner institute abroad are required to make in-kind contributions to the proposed research project. The call is open to all scientific disciplines and fields of research, including social sciences and humanities. The call for applications is open until 02 January 2022. Research Partnership Grants
MENA
Oceans & Lakes — Scholarships MSc in Marine and Lacustrine Science and Management
Oceans & Lakes is an interuniversity master program that provides students with a strong fundamental and applied knowledge in the scientific research and management of marine and lacustrine systems. Through the Flemish Inter-University Council (VLIR-UOS), scholarships are provided for this 2-year master program in “Master of Science in Marine and Lacustrine Science and Management” (Oceans & Lakes). For this specific scholarship, eligibility extends to nationals from the VLIR-UOS partner countries (please refer to the call for a complete list of eligible countries). Applications have to be submitted by 01 February 2022. Find more information
CRDF Global — Biosciences Fellowships 2022-2023
The Biosciences Fellowship Program provides early to mid-career biological scientists from Jordan, Iraq, Egypt, and Lebanon with the opportunity to spend 6 months working alongside counterpart professionals at foreign universities. Fellowship focus areas include animal, and zoonotic infectious diseases; among others. Applicants must hold at least a Bachelor of Science degree; applicants with a Masters of Science or PhD are preferred. The application deadline is 30 November 2021. Biosciences Fellowship Program
United Nations Environment Programme — Pilot Projects for Efficient and Resilient Energy Systems
The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) launches a call on digitalization for flexible and resilient energy systems. The initiative aims to step up global climate action and uptake of clean energy models. UNEP intends to support the implementation of pilot projects across Brazil, Colombia, Morocco, Tunisia, India, Indonesia and South Africa. Projects must cater to the increasingly urgent need to ensure efficiency and resilience of power systems to enable cost-effective clean energy transitions, mainly based on renewables. Applicants can submit a project for a maximum of €1.8 million. Candidates will need to be part of an international consortium that includes both public and private actors. Applications must be submitted before the deadline on 30 November 2021. Details here
MIT Enterprise Forum Pan Arab — Arab Startup Competition 2022
The Arab Startup Competition is a yearly competition run by the MIT Enterprise Forum Pan Arab in three different tracks: Ideas; Startups; and Social Entrepreneurship. Previous winners include examples in agricultural irrigation, transportation efficiency, and other green themes. The winning entrepreneurs are awarded prizes of up to US$50 thousand as well as training, mentorship, coaching, media exposure, and networking opportunities. Eligible enterprises can be located in any Arab country, and each team must have at least two members. The application deadline is 06 December 2021. Link to the competition
CIVICUS — Civil Society Activism
The CIVICUS Nelson Mandela-Graça Machel Innovation Awards shed a light on the importance of people power and civil society activism in creating a more just, inclusive and sustainable world. The Awards will recognize seven individuals, groups or organizations that stand out for their innovative work building people power in support of human rights and social justice for everyone. Each winning initiative will receive a US$5 thousand prize. The Awards are open to any individual, organization or group in Asia, Africa, Latin America, the Caribbean, and Pacific. Deadline to submit the online application form is 20 September 2021. Innovation Awards
British Council — Research Environment Links
Research Environment Links grants provide financial support for capacity strengthening and collaboration activities to develop and sustain medium- to long-term relationships in the UK and partner countries. The British Council invites proposals for research collaboration and partnerships between universities and research institutes in Egypt, Malaysia, Morocco, Thailand or Turkey. Each proposal must have one Lead Applicant from the partner country and one Lead Applicant from the UK. Research Links funds any discipline or cross-discipline for up to £50 thousand. The deadline for applications is 08 October 2021. Research Environment Links
Kingdom of Saudi Arabia Award — Islamic Green City Excellence Award
The Islamic Green City Excellence Award is dedicated to outstanding works carried out by individuals and public as well as private institutions and organizations operating in the various fields of the environment and sustainable development. The selection of the candidate city for the Award is assessed on the basis of specific criteria, including Sustainable Energy Use, Water and Wastewater Management, Urban Forestry, Biodiversity Preservation, and Climate Change Mitigation, among others. Eligibility extends to everyone involved in environmental management and sustainable development (individuals, groups, institutions, organizations, companies, associations etc., be they public, private or non-governmental) from the Islamic countries. The application remains open until 21 December 2021. Link
InfoNile — COVID-19 Pandemic and Water Crisis
InfoNile seeks proposals for in-depth reporting on the Impacts of Covid-19 on irrigation and water access and use by farmers. The program invites journalists (TV journalists and local radio journalists) to investigate agriculture water supply, sanitation, and hygiene (AgriWASH). InfoNile is interested in multimedia stories focusing on how Covid-19 is impacting agricultural water management in the Nile basin countries. Most grants will be around US$1,000. Eligibility extends to all countries in Africa’s Nile River basin, especially arid Egypt and Sudan as well as drought-ridden areas of Kenya, Ethiopia and Uganda. Story pitches can be submitted until 31 July 2021. Details here
International Fund for Agricultural Development — Remittances in Times of Crisis
The International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) announces the third round of National Calls for Proposals (MOROCCO) 2021: supporting remittances in times of crisis in Africa. IFAD seeks to reduce poverty and promote development by leveraging both international and domestic remittances and migrant capital in rural areas of developing countries. Regional proposals can request grants from €150 thousand up to €500 thousand. The following types of institutions can apply: private sector entities, for-profit entities, or non-profit organizations. The deadline for submission of proposals is 13 September 2021. National Calls for Proposal (Morocco)