The geopolitics of COVID-19 and climate change – the role of disruptors in the transformation to sustainability

3 April 2020. WEBINAR. The geopolitics of COVID-19 and climate change – the role of disruptors in the transformation to sustainability

In times of crisis, social structures and institutions are put to the test and normal practices called into question. Disruptive events can lead to the emergence of new cultural expressions, daily routines, power relations and resource distribution. Could the COVID-19 pandemic be the catalyst for a societal transformation toward sustainability, as envisioned by the UN and the European Union? Or will efforts to restore business as usual drive a new surge of carbon emissions, fear and international distrust?

• Disruptions: The Geopolitics of Corona and Climate change - Björn-Ola Linnér, Professor at Linköping University and Programme Director, Mistra Geopolitics
• From COVID Crisis to Climate Calm? - Dan Smith, Director, Stockholm International Peace Research Institute
• Climate Action after COVID – Nick Mabey, Chief Executive and founder director, E3G
• “Covid-19 and the international climate negotiations” - Mattias Frumerie, Climate Diplomat, Swedish Ministry for Foreign Affairs
• “We cannot solve a crisis without treating it as a crisis” - Eva Lövbrand, Senior lecturer, Linköping University and Co-Director, Mistra Geopolitics
• After the pandemic – what can we expect? - Victor Galaz, Deputy director and associate professor, Stockholm Resilience Centre, and Program Director at the Beijer Institute of Ecological Economics (Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences)
• Sustainable, just and resilient recovery: translating principles into practice - Åsa Persson, Research Director and Deputy Director, Stockholm Environment Institute

Cereal - renaissance in the field: embedding diversity in organic and low input food systems

4 April 2020. The documentary entitled “Cereal - renaissance in the field” presents the new local value chains, from seeds to final products, through the words, stories, emotions of five key players: farmers, researchers and producers.

Around them and with them, the communities and networks that bring their passion to the field, convinced that agriculture should not be treated as an industrial process. People who know that agricultural diversity is the key to keep together communities, territories, cultures, environment and health, tradition and innovation.

It is the final product of the European project CERERE ( http://cerere2020.eu/ ) about embedding diversity in organic and low input food systems. The CERERE consortium consists of 13 partners. The network forms a good balance between participants with a scientific and technological outlook, practitioners including all actors of cereal food systems (from farm to fork) interested in agrobiodiversity, organisations engaged in extension, advisory services, training and communication activities as well as participants who have a focus on rural studies and participatory approaches.

• Farmers, scientists, bread makers and food producers, local communities, demanding consumers: these are all players of a new movement that has accepted a great challenge, the challenge of changing the agricultural practice. 
• A goal to be reached by doing research and promoting innovation taking advantage of the enormous amount of knowledge offered by those who have been producing and transforming agricultural goods for a long time.
• In the past decades, many farmers and agronomists are bringing back to the field local and traditional cereal varieties that were being lost to give way to very few, uniform and identical ones that are best suited to be employed in large industrial transformation processes.
• Local varieties, on the contrary, are very diverse, selected through centuries in many different climates, soil conditions and food preparations. Their restoration today, through the practice of participatory breeding by those who have long term experience in farming and those who know well their chemical and genetic features, opens the door to a vast range of products and new local value chains.
• Local and international networks of farmers, producers, consumers and researchers are bringing back high quality productions and cultural values that differ in each territory and that are not indistinctly uniform everywhere in the world. 
• Rural networks promote the role of farmers as major players in food production. At the same time they highlight that agrobiodiversity is a key value for development, resilience to climate change, social and cultural growth as well as local sustainable management.

COVID-19, food systems, and interaction with malnutrition

2 April 2020. WEBINAR. COVID-19, food systems, and interaction with malnutrition.
With COVID-19 dominating the news, is it a priority to think about ag and nutrition right now?

Resources:
Recording of the webinar with a transcript
Presentation slides
Synthesis of comments and resources

With infections just starting to rise in Africa, where there is a major burden of malnutrition, the populations most affected may be different than what we have seen in higher income countries - primarily because malnutrition may leave people more vulnerable to severe illness and death. 
A critical concern is maintaining food supply and access for all. Lessons about resilience in food systems can already be seen from China - some encouraging, and some warnings to heed, about food supply in the shadow of potential input and labor shortages.

Nutrition and food systems are more urgent concerns than ever in the face of this pandemic.

COVID 19 is affecting first the developed world and gradually covering developing countries particularly in Africa. Even though the prevention mechanism is similar, the strategies that are implemented in the developed world (such as complete lock down) may not be easy and practical to the developing nations due to poverty, food insecurity and severe acute malnutrition, and many more infectious disease.

The nutrition community needs to think more critically how to prevent the burden of COVID 19 without increasing/with decreasing the burden of malnutrition, food insecurity, poverty, other infectious diseases and deaths in developing countries.

The other issue is the age group who die by COVID 19 in the developed nations may not be the same in developing countries. Because people who are infected will survive if they have good immunity, less complication and access to good health care services. However, the situation (for instance the total number of deaths per confirmed cases and population group who will from this infection) in Africa may not be the same due to the burden of HIV, TB, malnutrition and other infectious diseases. Therefore, we need to see the situation in sub-Saharan Africa differently from the developed nations.

Initial questions of the webinar organisers:

• What do leaders need to do to protect those vulnerable from malnutrition right now, and to protect food systems to ensure that all people can access the food we need over the coming weeks and months?
• What should be done differently in nutrition at this critical time?
• What programs are going on in the government sectors?
• What programs are going on in implementing partners ?
• What evidence academia’s and research institutes are to looking? What needs to look additionally?
• Are we able to do the current program as we planned if this crisis is going in this way? If not, what can we do differently?
• Where is the current resource allocation for nutrition?
• What resources are currently available for nutrition in government sectors ?
• What resources are currently available for nutrition in partners?
• What additional resources are needed for nutrition? How can we get this additional resources?
• Are we able to use our current resources for the ongoing programs if this crises continue in this way ? If not, what can we do differently with the available resources to reduce the effect of COVID 19 on the burden of malnutrition?

Panelists: 

• Tesfaye Hailu, Ethiopian Public Health Institute: This discussion was motivated by Tesfaye's email sent to Ag2Nut-Ethiopia, copied above. 
• Stineke Oenema, UN SCN: presented a summary of SCN's analysis of possible food environment disruptions by COVID-19, highlighting some resources and examples of actions taken to mitigate the consequences; and what UN agencies are proposing to respond to the crisis. 
• Will Masters, Tufts University: discussed economic aspects of how supply chains and markets could change and what can keep them functioning. 
• Selena Ahmed, Montana State University: shared lessons learned from the current situation in China, where she researches food environments. 
• Namukolo Covic, A4NH/IFPRI: discussed nutrition and food system realities in Africa, and policy priorities to protect both. 
• Moderator: Anna Herforth

Sustainable food systems through diversification and indigenous vegetables: An analysis of the Arusha area

Paulina Bizzotto Molina, Cecilia D’Alessandro, Koen Dekeyser and Marta Marson, Sustainable food systems through diversification and indigenous vegetables: An analysis of the Arusha area

ECDPM paper, March 2020, 136 pages

Diversification is a key element of making food systems more resilient. One way to diversify is to better integrate indigenous vegetables into the food system. Indigenous vegetables are generally highly nutritious, potentially require fewer natural resources, and can lead to higher profit margins. 

Despite their potential, indigenous vegetables are routinely neglected by policymakers and they risk disappearing from plots and plates. There is limited information on the factors and actors that are currently hindering the benefits of indigenous vegetables to materialise, and how governance and policy can support indigenous vegetables in diverse contexts.

Our governance analysis, highlighting key actors and their interlinkages and unpacking drivers and constraints of indigenous vegetables integration, led to the identification of several entry points for stronger integration of indigenous vegetables in Arusha. In collaboration with local stakeholders, we charted four ‘pathways for change’ by describing their likely benefits, possible drawbacks or trade-offs, and key actors to be involved. These four pathways for solutions are:

• Stronger value chain governance through a multi-stakeholder platform
• Better informed farmers’ choices by including indigenous vegetables in extension officers' curricula
• Improved food safety and reduced loss along the chain
• Greater food knowledge about indigenous vegetables through information campaigns.

Background

This is the second report of the Sustainable Agrifood Systems Strategies (SASS) Programme, a consortium programme involving ECDPM and four Italian Universities: the University of Milano-Bicocca, the Catholic University of the Sacred Heart, the University of Pavia and the University of Gastronomic Sciences. 

Between 2017 and 2020, the SASS programme, funded by the Italian Ministry of Education, Universities and Research (MIUR), aims to build knowledge, policy dialogue and partnerships contributing to sustainable food systems at national, regional and international levels, based on three research locations: the Arusha area in Northern Tanzania, Iringa/Kongwa in Southern/Central Tanzania, and the Naivasha basin area in Kenya.

Agricultural value chains in development cooperation: analyses and recommendations

Herold, Jana (2020): Agricultural value chains in development cooperation. Analyses and recommendations. Institute for Development and Peace (INEF), University of Duisburg-Essen (AVE-Study 23b/2020). 27 pages

2 April 2020. The Institute for Development and Peace (INEF) at the University of Duisburg-Essen, Germany, conducted a four-year research project entitled "Ways out of extreme poverty, vulnerability and food insecurity". The aim of the project was to develop recommendations for German official development cooperation with regard to improving target group reach and sustainable living situations for extremely poor, vulnerable and food-insecure populations groups. 

The research focused on analysing projects that mainly work within the following topics: 

1. access to land and tenure security, 
2. value chains 
3. and social security. 

Participation, socio-cultural factors and gender aspects were always taken into account as crosscutting issues. In the focus countries Benin, Burkina Faso, Cambodia, Ethiopia and Kenya, good practice projects were identified for the above-mentioned priority topics and, in a second step, their effectiveness was examined on site.

Based on fieldwork and research of the past four years, the March 2020 study demonstrates that support of agricultural value chains has become an important approach in German and international development cooperation, not only to promote the economic development of a country but also to contribute to poverty reduction and food security by integrating smallholder farmers into value chains. 

In consequence, this approach can address a number of goals of the Agenda 2030 for sustainable development. While promoting value chains has great potential to advance sustainable development, it can also have negative effects, particularly for poor and vulnerable population groups. In order for these population groups to be able to benefit from value chain support, they need targeted financial and technical support and bridging assistance. 

Therefore, the approach should primarily aim at poverty reduction, but also at improving food security, empowering women and sustainable natural resource management. 

The main challenges of the value chain approach are insufficient access to agricultural inputs, markets and agricultural credits and the lack of entrepreneurial know-how for market-oriented production. 

Overall, the INEF research on agricultural value chains shows that their promotion should always start with primary production, as this is the basis for any further added value. However, the land use rights of the population eligible for support, especially women, should be clarified before any investment is made. Another critical point that any support for value chains should take into account is a country's physical infrastructure. It is necessary to connect both primary production and processing to markets.

AR4D Funding Opportunities - April 2020

A G R I C U L T U R AL

Research

 Cornell University — TEEAL Agricultural Database

The Essential Electronic Agricultural Library (TEEAL) is a full-text and searchable database of articles from high-quality research journals in agriculture and related sciences, housed at Cornell University in the USA. TEEAL is an offline tool, not requiring internet or a phone line. For eligible universities and research institutions in low-income EU-ACP countries (Africa, Caribbean, and Pacific), CTA in the Netherlands will provide the initial investment for the TEEAL base collection (equivalent to US$5 thousand) and the update in the following year. Applications can be made in English or French. 

Fund and Warsh-Mott Legacy — Agriculture and Food Sovereignty

The CS Fund and Warsh-Mott Legacy take an activist approach in making grants to defend traditional management of agriculture and natural resources in the Global South. Specific interests includes protecting local seeds and reducing chemicals in agriculture; regulating the introduction of genetically modified organisms; and supporting communities in their self-governance of natural resources. Recent grants include several for Latin America and Sub-Saharan Africa. Most grants are under US$20 thousand. Letters of inquiry can be sent at any time.

World Bank 2020 Innovation Challenge for Agriculture and Food Security Risk Financing in Southern Africa

The World Bank’s Agriculture Observatory with the support of Draper University is launching three innovation challenges to accelerate the world response to the growing effects of climate change in agriculture and tackle some of the most urgent needs in SADC agriculture and food security today. The Deadline for this application is 02 April, 2020.

Apply Now and Be a ONE Champion in Nigeria

The ONE Champions program is a one-year volunteer program which is entering its 5th year in Nigeria and is looking for passionate campaigners to join the 2020 cohort. ONE advocates and campaigns on education, gender, health, agriculture and transparency as a means to fight poverty. This is a fantastic opportunity to impact your community, country and the world working with a highly-visible, mission-driven ONE supporters in an incredible, supportive environment. ONE Champions will receive training on how to campaign, pressure decision-makers and engage the media. You will have the opportunity to attend ONE events and put your skills into practice in meetings with high-level decision makers. The Deadline for this application is 06 April 2020.

Common Fund for Commodities: Funding Innovation to Support Commodity Development Activities

The Common Fund for Commodities (CFC) is inviting applicants for support of commodity development activities in its member countries. The CFC provides a range of financial and technical instruments in support or business activities contributing to commodity sector development in Developing Countries. Examples include agriculture, commodity value addition and trade, minerals and metals. Besides generating a viable financial return, eligible activities should also deliver a measurable social and environmental impact. Deadline: 15 April 2020.

USDA seeking Applications for 2020 Farmers Market Promotion Program

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS), is inviting applications for the fiscal year (FY) 2020 Farmers Market Promotion Program (FMPP). FMPP’s purpose is to support the development, coordination, and expansion of direct-producer-to-consumer markets to increase access to and availability of locally and regionally produced agricultural products. AMS will competitively award grants to eligible applicants for projects that meet the purpose of this grant program. The Deadline for this application is 11 May 2020.

SOLVE 2020 Sustainable Food Systems Challenge

The MIT Solve community has announced the 2020 Global Challenge on the topic of “Sustainable Food Systems”. Agriculture occupies more than 40 percent of the Earth’s land and is a major source of greenhouse gas emissions. Farming, fishing, transporting, processing, and distributing food supports 28 percent of human livelihood, including 470 million smallholder farmers who often depend on less than 2 hectares for both income and sustenance. By 2050, that system will need to feed 3 billion more people while reducing net emissions to zero to align with Paris Agreement targets. New trends make transforming the food system more difficult. As people move out of poverty, they buy more meat, increasing the amount of land used to raise and feed animals, and further burdening over exploited fish stocks. Simultaneously, humanity gets 75 percent of food from just 17 species, decreasing resilience to diseases and other climate-related stresses and shocks. Finally, with 30 percent of food lost or wasted, a third of the food system’s environmental impact happens without feeding anyone. New data-rich technologies, combined with the revival of traditional practices such as inter cropping or indigenous fisheries management, hold great promise. But new business models are required to bring these approaches to far more people, while further innovation is still needed to transform the food system at scale. The Deadline for this application is 18 June, 2020.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology — Solve Global Challenges

The “Solve” program at MIT announces five global challenges in 2020, inviting anyone in the world to propose solutions to them. The 2020 challenges include one on sustainable food systems. MIT Solve Sustainable Food Challenge is looking for technology-based solutions for a low-carbon global food system that provides nutrition with minimal environmental impact. The finalists in each challenge will be invited to present their ideas at an event in New York (simultaneous with the UN General Assembly, September 2020). The winner receives a US$10 thousand grant. In addition, MIT Solve will honor innovative technology solutions that improve quality of life for women and girls with the ‘Innovation for Women Prize’ (up to US$75 thousand). The draft submission deadline is 18 June 2020.

Agribusiness

Techstars — Global Accelerator Program for Entrepreneurs

Techstars provides funding and mentorship programs for entrepreneurs. Techstars Impact Accelerator is for for-profit founders building tech to solve social & environmental problems. Techstars Farm to Fork Accelerator is for entrepreneurs focusing on the tech/digital side of food and agriculture. The Techstars Sustainability Accelerator, in Partnership with The Nature Conservancy, is for entrepreneurs with commercially viable technologies that can rapidly scale to help sustainably provide food and water and address global issues like climate change. Each selected project team receives up to $100 thousand startup investment. Application deadline is 05 April or 10 May 2020 for most programs. (please check application deadlines carefully).

United Nations — Agri-Food Value Chains for Mountain Communities

The Mountain Innovation Program aims to improve the lives of mountain communities and protecting mountain environments around the world. The current opportunity calls for projects that focus on techniques to leverage resources and increase the resilience of mountain communities through the enhancement of agriculture-food value in Guatemala, Rwanda, Papua New Guinea, Lesotho, and Nepal. Only entities working with local civil society organizations and/or community-based organizations in priority countries are eligible to apply. The maximum grant funding per projects is US$140 thousand. The deadline is 05 April 2020.

UNOPS Mountains Innovation Programme enhancing Agri-food Value Chains to Increase the Resilience of Mountain Communities

The GEF Small Grants Programme (SGP) is calling for proposals based on a new grant-making modality to be administered at the global level. The GEF Small Grants Programme (SGP) is a corporate programme of the Global Environment Facility (GEF) implemented by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) since 1992. SGP grant-making in over 125 countries promotes community-based innovation, capacity development, and empowerment through sustainable development projects of communities’ local civil society organizations with special consideration for indigenous peoples, women, and youth. SGP projects support biodiversity conservation, climate change mitigation and adaptation, prevention of land degradation, protection of international waters, and reduction of the impact of chemicals, within a sustainable development framework that promotes sustainable livelihoods and citizen empowerment. The Deadline for this application is 05 April 2020.

Fate Foundation announces 2020 Agribusiness Accelerator Programme in Nigeria

The Agribusiness Accelerator Programme is implemented by ScaleUp Lab, FATE Foundation and supported by African Capital Alliance (ACA) Foundation. The Agribusiness Accelerator Program targets outstanding Nigerian agribusiness entrepreneurs (Founders, CEOs and Owner-managers) whose businesses are currently at growth stage and who are looking to scale their business expand their market reach and attract potential investors and strategic partners.Program duration is 4-6 months and includes a one-week accelerator boot camp, interactive workshops, consulting sessions, business support services, one-on-one and group mentoring sessions with a team of seasoned sector faculty members and advisors. The Deadline for this application is 12 April, 2020.

Bio-diversity, Environment, Climate change

Dutch Research Council — Scientific Research Collaboration Climate Smart Agriculture

NWO (Netherlands) and the Department of Biotechnology (India) call for scientific collaboration between The Netherlands and India that focus on Climate Smart Agriculture. Research institutes and other collaborations of organizations (both public and private) can apply for funding of joint research projects. Projects should focus on interdisciplinary research in order to develop application-oriented solutions for adaptation of agriculture to climate change. Projects can have a maximum duration of five years. The maximum funding amount is €700 thousand from NWO and Rs. 5.5 Crores from DBT. The application deadline is 07 April 2020.

NWO announces Call for Proposals “Climate Smart Agriculture”

The NWO and the Department of Biotechnology of India (DBT) is seeking proposals to finance and strengthen the scientific collaboration between The Netherlands and India. The main objective of this call is to support interdisciplinary research and innovative approaches in order to develop application-oriented solutions for adaptation of agriculture to incremental climate change and/or increased climatic variability. These solutions should aim at balancing trade-offs and amplifying synergies between economic development and social demands while simultaneously preserving the environment. The Deadline for this application is 07 April 2020.

GEF Inclusive Conservation Initiative 

CI and IUCN intend to support indigenous peoples and communities who are genuine custodians / caretakers of their collective territories and areas. The deadline is 30 April 2020

National Geographic Society — Equity and the Natural World

The National Geographic Society seeks projects that will document underrepresented communities that have traditionally been given less consideration in stories of the environmental movement. Proposals may focus on all aspects of local and traditional communities, e.g., land use issues; indigenous heroes; impacts of environmental degradation; climate-related migration, etc. Applicants must have strong track records as storytellers (journalists, photographers, videographers, cartographers). Applicants may request up to US$80 thousand. The deadline is 22 April 2020.

U.S. Agency for International Development — Health, Ecosystems and Agriculture for Resilient, Thriving Societies

The Office of Forestry and Biodiversity in USAID’s Bureau for Economic Growth, Education and Environment seeks transformational solutions to cross-sectoral development challenges in biodiverse landscapes. Sectors that may comprise HEARTH concepts are: biodiversity conservation, health, food security (agriculture and nutrition), governance, economic development and livelihoods, water supply and sanitation, education, modern energy solutions, forest management and restoration, and climate resilience. Eligible priority countries include Brazil, Colombia, Peru, and South America Regional; Democratic Republic of Congo, Kenya, Madagascar, Tanzania, and Central Africa Regional; Indonesia, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, Vietnam and the Regional Development Mission for Asia. Awards range between US$1 million and US$10 million. The deadline for applications is 15 June 2020.

Fellowships/scholarships/grants 

Noel Buxton Trust — Promoting Livelihoods in Africa

The Noel Buxton Trust makes grants up to £5 thousand per year for up to three years for projects in Africa that promote economic development, or that support the care of street children. Past recent projects in the theme of economic development include examples in livestock raising, aquaculture, and credit for women-led businesses. The Trust especially welcomes applications in support of initiatives that help build sustainable futures in the semi-arid areas of Ethiopia, Kenya, Somalia, Uganda, Sudan, and South Sudan. The Trust invites applications from registered civil society organisations in Africa, and from UK-based charities — including from diaspora organisations based in the UK – for projects in the priority countries. Applications can be submitted at any time.

Awesome Foundation — Micro-Grants to Projects Worldwide

Each month, the Awesome Foundation makes a micro-grant of US$1,000 to an organization or project worldwide. Projects include initiatives in a wide range of areas including arts, technology, community development, and more. Anyone is eligible for a grant, including individuals, groups, and organizations. Applications are accepted on a rolling basis.

 Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations — FLEGT Direct Assistance Grants

The EU’s Forest Law Enforcement, Governance and Trade (FLEGT) Action Plan includes grants of technical assistance to benefit government institutions and private-sector organizations. Projects need to address the identified themes in FLEGT. Currently, requests can be submitted from entities in VPA countries and non-VPA countries. The VPA countries are Cameroon, Côte d’Ivoire, Central African Republic, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Gabon, Ghana, Liberia, Republic of the Congo, Indonesia, Lao, Malaysia, Myanmar, Thailand, Vietnam, Guyana, and Honduras. Grants are up to US$55 thousand. Eligibility extends to government institutions and non-profit organizations. Applications (English, French, Spanish) can be submitted at any time.

Urgent Action Fund Africa — Rapid Response Fund for African Women

Urgent Action Fund Africa (UAF-Africa) is a rapid response fund to offer financial and technical resources at critical moments of need to African women’s organizations. Grants are made in five categories, including one category on natural resources governance & climate change. The Fund aims to respond to most urgent requests within 24 hours. Grants are up to US$12 thousand. Applications can be submitted in five languages (English, French, Swahili, Arabic, Portuguese) at any time.

Violet Jabara Charitable Trust — Grants for Projects in the Middle East

The Violet Jabara Trust supports organizations working in the developing countries of the Middle East to promote sustainable economic development, as well as reproductive health and women’s welfare. The Trust’s thematic interests include environmental issues, among others. Priority countries are Lebanon, Jordan, Syria, Iraq, Iran, Palestine (Occupied Territories), Yemen, Egypt and North Africa. Countries further afield (such as the Gulf countries, Sudan, or Afghanistan) may be considered, but will not be given priority. Eligibility for grants extends to nonprofit groups in the USA and internationally, with preference for small local organizations. There is no deadline for submitting letters of inquiry.

Tools with a Mission — Tools for Livelihoods in Africa

Tools with a Mission (TWAM) supports livelihood projects in Dem Rep Congo, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia, and Zimbabwe. The program ships tools and school books to registered charities and NGOs either working in Africa or based in Africa. Organizations can apply for different kits, including the Agricultural Tool Kit, the Electricians Kit, and the Plumbers Tool Kit. TWAM lists the available equipment and books on its website. There is no application deadline.

Pennsylvania State University — Online Course in Dairy Management

Pennsylvania State University (USA) offers an 8-week online course about sustainable dairy production. The course will offer an international perspective on aspects of dairy management such as genetics, nutrition, reproduction, etc. Target audiences include the general public interested; professionals; livestock producers; and educators and students. Financial aid is available to individuals who cannot afford the course fee. Course lectures are translated into Portuguese and Chinese. Enrollment is open. The course starts on 09 March 2020.

New England Biolabs Foundation — Grants for Grassroots Conservation 2020

The New England Biolabs Foundation makes grants to grassroots and charitable organizations to support conservation of biological diversity; ecosystem services; community food security; and marine environment. The geographical scope focuses on regions (specified on the website) in Central America; South America, and West Africa. Maximum grant size is US$10 thousand. Most grants are US$3 thousand to US$8 thousand. The deadlines for submission of LOIs are 23 March 2020 and 10 August 2020.

IDEX Accelerator — IDEX Fellowship 2020

IDEX invites applications worldwide for its Fellowship Program 2020. The Fellowships build the capacity of young professionals for social enterprise in areas such as agriculture, education, clean energy, sanitation, healthcare, livelihoods, and impact investing. The program provides six months of leadership training in enterprise development, including field placements at social enterprises in India. Candidates should be 21 to 35 years old, with a minimum of one to three years of professional work experience. IDEX offers a limited number of full and partial scholarships to select candidates. The application deadline is 05 April 2020. 

USDA Borlaug Fellowship Program World Food Prize Event – United States

The Borlaug International Agricultural Science and Technology Fellowship Program (Borlaug Fellowship Program) advances the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) agricultural research goals of promoting collaborative programs among agricultural professionals of eligible countries, agricultural professionals of the United States, the international agricultural research system, and United States entities conducting research by providing fellowships to individuals from eligible countries who specialize or have experience in agricultural education, research, extension, or other related fields. The Deadline for this application is 09 April, 2020.

  

PhD Scholarships

The University of Louvain (UCLouvain) holds a competition for awarding PhD scholarships to citizens of developing countries. By doing so, UCLouvain hopes to contribute to reinforcing the capacity building in Cooperation for development, but also to create new partnerships between UCLouvain and these partner institutions. The deadline for application is April 10, 2020.

One Young World Growing Sustainably Scholarship: Supported by Asahi

One Young World and Asahi have created the Growing Sustainably Scholarship. This programme will enable 8 young leaders who are driving innovation in sustainable agriculture to participate in the One Young World Summit 2020 in Munich as part of Asahi’s global delegation. The Deadline for this application is 16 April 2020.

ETH Zurich — Doctoral Scholarships in Engineering

Engineering for Development (E4D) awards two doctoral scholarships per year and promotes projects that are directly relevant for improving the livelihoods of underprivileged people in low-income countries. Funding of CHF 175 thousand is available to cover salary costs of selected doctoral students for three years. Interested candidates have to find an ETH professor who supports their application. The deadline for submissions of concept notes is 30 April 2020.

Australian Government — Australia Awards Scholarships 2020-2021

The Australian government contributes to the education of talented individuals in the developing countries through its scholarship programs. Subject areas for study correspond to priorities of Australia’s aid programs by regions and countries — and include agriculture, energy, natural resources, and environment. The call lists countries that are eligible for Australia Awards Scholarships, and country-specific eligibility criteria. The application period for the 2020-2021 scholarships is 01 February 2020 through 30 April 2020.

Indian National Academy of Sciences — JRD-Tata Fellowships for Visiting Scientists from Developing Countries

India’s National Science Academy administers the JRD-Tata Fellowships to support visiting scientists from the developing world and promote South-South cooperation. The program is open to applicants from developing countries (except India) younger than age 45, and who possess doctorate or masters degrees in science or equivalent degrees in engineering/medicine. Past participants have included several in agriculture, biological sciences, and geo-sciences. The fellowship is for three months and includes transportation, maintenance allowance, accommodation, and contingencies. The application deadlines are 30 April and 31 October of each year.

Fiat Panis Foundation — Prizes for Research in Agriculture, Ecology and Natural Resources 2020

The Fiat Panis Foundation makes awards for university thesis and dissertation research in themes of agriculture, ecology and natural resources, with a focus on food security in developing countries. The Hans Hartwig Ruthenberg Graduate Award is €7.5 thousand. The deadline for submissions (German, English) is 30 April 2020.

International Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology — Research Grants 2020

The ICGEB Research Grants support projects in agricultural biotechnology, environmental bio-remediation, and many other fields. The grants are intended to facilitate the creation of research facilities in promising institutes; to promote training of young scientists; and to develop new research programs in participating countries. The program is open to applicants who have positions at universities and research institutes in ICGEB’s member states. Grants are a maximum of €25 thousand per year for projects of up to three years. The deadline for submitting applications is 30 April 2020.

Call for Applications, MasterCard Foundation Scholarship 2020

The MasterCard Foundation Scholars Program at KNUST provides academically talented yet economically disadvantaged young people in Ghana and Africa with access to quality university education. The Program offers an opportunity for its scholars to receive holistic training that empowers them to be change leaders. The Scholars Program embodies an array of services including mentorship, cultural transition, etc. that will lead to the scholar’s academic success, community engagement and transition to employment opportunities which will further the goal of social and economic transformation of Africa. Deadline for the Submission of Applications: Friday, 1st May, 2020 at 17:00GMT

Short Course – Certificate of Production and Quality Assurance of Herbal Medicine

The Africa Center of Excellence (ACE) for Pharm-Biotechnology and Traditional Medicine (PHARMBIOTRAC) is based at the Mbarara University of Science and Technology (MUST), a public university located in Southwestern Uganda about 260 km from Kampala, the Capital City of Uganda. PHARMBIOTRAC is pleased to invite applications from highly motivated, talented, practically-focused and qualified candidates for admission in the Short Course: Certificate of Production and Quality Assurance of Herbal Medicine. This course shall enable the holder to be equipped with knowledge and skills in: cultivation, sustainable harvesting, processing and extraction methods of medicinal plants; quality assurance and quality control of herbal materials; production and quality control of liquid, semi-solid and solid herbal dosage forms; research, commerce, innovation and regulation of herbal medicine. Application Deadline: Intensive course: 1st May, 2020.

Nestlé Foundation — Human Nutrition in Developing Countries 2020

The Nestlé Foundation supports research in human nutrition in low-income and lower middle-income countries. In relation to agriculture, the Foundation will consider research on food policy, food production, and food technology if the intervention has high potential for improved nutritional status and public health. The Foundation offers training grants, pilot grants, and full project grants. Priority is for proposals submitted by researchers in developing countries, or jointly with partners in developed countries. A Letter of Intent (LOI) can be submitted at any time of the year. The deadlines for full grant applications are 10 January and 10 May 2020.

World Academy of Sciences — TWAS-CSIR Postdoctoral Fellowships in India

India’s Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) offers postdoc fellowships to young scientists from developing countries (other than India) to pursue postdoctoral research at CSIR’s laboratories and institutes. The duration of the fellowships is six to twelve months. Subject areas range across the physical and natural sciences, including agricultural sciences. CSIR will provide a monthly stipend to cover living costs, food, and health insurance. The application deadline is 11 May 2020.

Annie’s Homegrown — Scholarships for Sustainable Agriculture

Annie’s Homegrown Sustainable Agriculture Scholarship Program is open to full-time undergraduate and graduate students studying at an accredited college or graduate school in the US. Students must be focusing their studies on sustainable and regenerative agriculture. International students may apply as long as they are studying at an eligible institution in the US. Funds are intended for school needs, such as room and board, books, and tuition. The application deadline is 15 May 2020.

Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute — Research in Tropical Forests

The ForestGEO Grants Program supports research that uses forest data from the program’s field sites. Priority will be given to early-career researchers, and researchers with less access to other institutional funds. Social scientists and natural scientists of all nationalities are eligible. Applicants do not need to be associated with a site prior to applying, but each applicant will need to contact a site Principal Investigator (linked from the announcement) prior to submitting a proposal. Research projects up to US$15 thousand will be considered. The deadline for applications is 29 May 2020.

Embassy of Slovak Republic in Tbilisi — Small Grants for Projects in Georgia

SlovakAid supports small-scale projects in various sectors, including food and agriculture, and the sustainable use of natural resources in developing countries. The current call supports local projects in Georgia in accordance with the Strategy of the Slovak Republic for Development Cooperation. The maximum financial support per project is €10 thousand with a maximum project duration of 6-12 months. Eligibility extends to non-profit organizations and local authorities in Georgia. The deadline for submission of project proposals is 31 May 2020.

Clif Bar Family Foundation seeking Applications for Small Grants Program 2020 – United States

The Clif Bar Family Foundation is seeking applications for its small grants program to support innovative small and mid-sized groups working to strengthen food system and communities, enhance public health, and safeguard environment and natural resources. The grants are awarded for general organizational support as well as funding for specific projects. The Deadline for this application is 01 June, 2020.

Apply Now for SEARCA Travel Grants Program 2020

The Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA) is seeking applications for its Travel Grants Program to reinforce the Center’s efforts and resources in the promotion of inclusive and sustainable agricultural and rural development (ISARD) toward food security and poverty alleviation in the region. SEARCA will provide travel grants of up to a maximum of US$1,200 to each qualified agriculture and agriculture-related professional, social scientist, or graduate student in Southeast Asia. The Deadline for this application is: 7 June, 2020.

Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture — Travel Grants Program

SEARCA provides travel grants to qualified agriculture and agriculture-related professionals, social scientists, or graduate students in Southeast Asia. Applicants can request up to US$1,200 to participate and/or present papers at relevant local or international scientific conferences and fora. Eligibility extends to nationals from Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, Indonesia, Lao PDR, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Timor-Leste and Vietnam. SEARCA operates on a regular grant schedule with four application deadlines per year. The next application deadlines are 07 June 2020 (for 1st Quarter Travel), 07 September 2020 (for 2nd Quarter Travel), and 07 December (for 3rd Quarter Travel).

Swiss Forum for International Agricultural Research — SFIAR Award 2020

SFIAR annually awards a prize to scientists working at or in association with a Swiss institution in agricultural research for development. For 2020, the best team project will be awarded CHF 5 thousand, and the best master’s thesis CHF 1 thousand. To be eligible, research must have been carried out at or in close collaboration with a Swiss institution. The deadline for applications (French, German, and English) is 13 July 2020.

Embassy of the Slovak Republic announces 2020 Small Grants Program in Belarus

The Embassy of the Slovak Republic in Minsk has announced a call for proposals for 2020 Small Grants Program. The proposals must be in accordance with the Strategy of the Slovak Republic for Development Cooperation for 2019– 2023. Project proposals which are not in line with the focus of this call for proposals will not be accepted. The duration of each project is from 6 to a maximum of 12 months beginning from the date of the signing of the Agreement between the Slovak Agency for International Development Cooperation and the Final Beneficiary. The call for proposals is open to registered legal persons:  NGOs, non-profit subjects and local authorities. The Deadline for this application is 19 June, 2020.

Right Sharing of World Resources — Seed Grants for Women’s Micro-Credit Projects

Right Sharing of World Resources (RSWR) makes seed grants to support income-generating projects led by women. RSWR’s current priorities are grassroots organizations selected states and districts of India; Quaker groups in Kenya and Sierra Leone. Projects include many in the production and sale of fruits and vegetables; meat and milk; grain crops; fish; fuelwood; and other enterprises associated with small-scale agriculture and rural livelihoods. RSWR provides micro-credits of up to US$5,500 for one year projects. The next application deadline is 30 June 2020.

Tinker Foundation — Sustainable Resource Management in Latin America

Tinker’s program of Institutional Grants supports the theme of sustainable resource management (among others) in Latin America. Particular issues of interest include sustainable agriculture, sustainable forestry and non-timber forest products, sustainable tourism, fisheries management, and payment for environmental services. Tinker is also very interested in issues of water scarcity and quality for communities. Past grants range from US$200 thousand to US$600 thousand. The Foundation encourages project collaboration among organizations in the USA and Latin America. Tinker invites brief letters of inquiry to the Foundation before proposals are prepared and submitted. The application deadlines for LOIs are 31 January and 31 July of each year.

Regional Studies Association — Research Network Grant

The Regional Studies Association (RSA) covers issues in the fields of climate change, energy, migration, and economic development. RSA makes grants to researchers interested in establishing networks for research collaboration. The maximum funding is £10 thousand for newly established networks; and £7,500 for renewing networks. A research network must be organised and managed by active RSA members. Networks are typically made up of individuals from different countries, without any geographical limitation. The application deadline is 20 September 2020.

MAN Truck & Bus AG — Support for Social Ventures

The MAN Impact Accelerator seeks social entrepreneurs from Europe, South Africa, and Brazil to tackle social and environmental challenges through innovative solutions in the transport and logistics industry. Social businesses and startups in the key areas agriculture, data analytics (including environmental data), sensors, among others, are invited to apply. The program provides indirect grants and support of up to US$50 thousand (no equity or cash) for each startup. This also includes free access to coaches and mentors as well as to software and data perks. The application deadline is 01 October 2020.

AWARDS and O T H E R

Teach A Man To Fish — School Enterprise Challenge 2020

The School Enterprise Challenge is an international business program for schools run by the educational charity Teach A Man To Fish. It guides and supports teachers and students to plan and set up real, sustainable school businesses and generate real profits to help support their school or a social cause of their choice. Thematic areas include agriculture, drinking water and sanitation, and the environment, among others. Prizes are between US$250 and US$5 thousand, including in-kind donations like laptops and cameras. Please note that only pre-primary schools, primary schools, secondary schools and technical/vocational colleges are eligible (universities are not eligible to apply). The deadlines for project submission are 20 February, 20 May, 20 August, and 20 November 2020.

PARTNERSHIPS FOR ENHANCED ENGAGEMENT IN RESEARCH (PEER) OPPORTUNITY TO SUPPORT GRADUATE STUDENT RESEARCH ON LAND AND RESOURCE GOVERNANCE

PEER is a competitive awards program that invites researchers in developing countries with a USAID presence to apply for funds to support research and capacity building activities on topics of importance to USAID. The projects funded under this special call for proposals must be conducted by graduate students and postdoctoral fellows, working in close partnership with university-based research mentors. Through PEER, the Lab leverages investments, data and methodologies funded by USAID and other USG-supported agencies in order to enhance evaluation and learning, which in turn can lead to improved development programming. The deadline for application is April 3, 2020.

Fiat Panis Foundation — Josef G. Knoll European Science Award

The Fiat Panis Foundation makes awards for university thesis and dissertation research in themes of agriculture and natural resources, with a focus on food security in developing countries. The Josef G. Knoll European Science Award is made to a young scientist who focuses on helping to reduce hunger and malnutrition through agricultural research. The value of the award is €30 thousand. The deadline for applications is 30 April 2020.

 World Food Prize Foundation — World Food Prize 2020

The World Food Prize Foundation invites nominations for the annual World Food Prize. The World Food Prize (US$250 thousand) recognizes an individual or individuals who have made outstanding achievements to enhance the world’s food production and its distribution to those most in need. The deadline for nominations is 01 May 2020.

NRCS’s Conservation Innovation Grants (CIG) On-Farm Conservation Innovation Trials (On-Farm Trials) – United States

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) – Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) is announcing the availability of CIG On-Farm Conservation Innovation Trials (On-Farm Trials) to stimulate the adoption and evaluation of innovative conservation approaches in partnership with agricultural producers. The purpose of On-Farm Trials is to stimulate the adoption and evaluation of innovative conservation approaches in partnership with agricultural producers. The Deadline for this application is 11 May 2020.

United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification — UNCCD Land Heroes Contest

UNCCD invites young changemakers to participate in a social media campaign trending under #UNCCDLandHeroes and #FoodFeedFibre. Participants are invited to submit a short text with a photo or video proposing specific solution to limit the footprint that current production and consumption of food, feed and fibre leave on the land. The contest is open to youth (15-30 years old) worldwide. A US$500 cash price will be awarded to one of participating UNCCD Land Heroes. The deadline to participate is 15 May 2020.

Submissions Open for the Zayed Sustainability Prize 2021

The Zayed Sustainability Prize has announced that its submissions process for the 2021 edition is now open. The Prize fund comes from the Abu Dhabi Government as a way to honor and continue the sustainability and humanitarian legacy of the founding father of the United Arab Emirates, the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan. Winners of the Zayed Sustainability Prize 2021 will be announced at the annual awards ceremony held during Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week, in January 2021. The Deadline for this application is 21 May, 2020.

Global Federation of Higher Education Associations for Agricultural and Life Sciences — World Agricultural Prize 2020

The Global Confederation of Higher Education Associations for the Agricultural and Life Sciences (GCHERA) supports innovation and leadership in education, research, and outreach in the agricultural and life sciences. This year, two World Agriculture Prizes will be awarded, each to a faculty member from a higher education institution for lifetime achievements in agriculture and life sciences. At least one prize will be awarded to a person from a developing country. The amount of the prize is US$100 thousand. The closing date for nominations is 31 May 2020.

WORLD AGRICULTURE PRIZE – 2020 NOMINATIONS OPEN

The GCHERA WORLD AGRICULTURE PRIZE is the international award of the Global Confederation of Higher Education Associations for the Agricultural and Life Sciences (GCHERA). The Prize aims to encourage the development of the mission of higher education institutions in education, research, innovation and outreach in the agricultural and life sciences by recognizing the distinguished contribution of individuals to this mission. Two 100,000 USD prizes will be awarded in 2020 with at least one recipient coming from a country NOT classified as having a developed economy.The World Agriculture Prize will be closed for registration and nominations on May 31, 2020 5:00 pm GMT.

Nominations Open for 2020 World Agriculture Prize

The World Agriculture Prize is offered by the Global Confederation of Higher Education Associations for Agricultural and Life Sciences (GCHERA) with the support of Nanjing Agricultural University (NAU) to academicians for outstanding lifetime achievement. The Prize aims to encourage the development of the mission of higher education institutions in education, research, innovation and outreach in the agricultural and life sciences by recognizing the distinguished contribution of individuals to this mission. The prize was first proposed by both Prof. ZHAI Huqu, the former Vice President of the Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences (CAASS) and Prof. ZHOU Guanghong, the President of Nanjing Agriculture University (NAU) and Chairman of the Education Professional Committee (EPC) of the Chinese Association of Agricultural Science Societies (CAASS) on October 20, 2012 in the occasion of NAU’s 110th anniversary. The Deadline for this application is 31 May, 2020.

Africa Food Prize — Call for Nominations 2020

The Africa Food Prize honors outstanding contributions to agriculture and food production in the challenge to combat hunger and reduce poverty in Africa. The Prize can be awarded for a specific contribution or achievement, or for a series of efforts and results within the last few years. Nominations are open to qualified candidates irrespective of their nationalities, professions, or locations. The Prize is US$100 thousand (to be shared if there is more than one winner), a diploma, and a trophy. The deadline for nominations (English, French) is 01 June 2020. 

Swiss Forum for International Agricultural Research — SFIAR Award 2020

SFIAR annually awards a prize to scientists working at or in association with a Swiss institution in agricultural research for development. For 2020, the best team project will be awarded CHF 5 thousand, and the best master’s thesis CHF 1 thousand. To be eligible, research must have been carried out at or in close collaboration with a Swiss institution. The deadline for applications (French, German, and English) is 13 July 2020.

World Food Prize Foundation — Borlaug Field Award 2020

The World Food Prize Foundation invites nominations for the Borlaug Field Award. The Award (US$10 thousand) recognizes science-based achievement in international agriculture and food production by an individual under age 40 in the challenge to eliminate global hunger and poverty. The deadline for nominations is 15 June 2020.