Platform for African – European Partnership in Agricultural Research for Development

Thursday, January 31, 2019

Kick Off Meeting (KOM) and 1st General Assembly (GA) of the Long-term Europe-Africa Partnership for Food and Nutrition Security, and Sustainable Agriculture (LEAP4FNSSA)

30th January to 1st February 2019. FARA Secretariat, Accra, Ghana

The Long-term Europe-Africa Partnership for Food and Nutrition Security, and Sustainable Agriculture (LEAP4FNSSA) is a Coordination Support Action (CSA) funded by the Directorate General for Research and Innovation (DG RTD) of the European Commission (EC), under Horizon 2020. It brings together 35 institutions from Africa and Europe which are ready to engage in collaborative research and innovation on Food and Nutrition Security and Sustainable Agriculture (FNSSA) roadmap signed in 2016, between the African Union and the European Union.

From Left: Dr. Mawoko Philippe (Africa Union Commission), Agnieszka Romanowicz (European Commission), Madam Patricia Apiagyei (Hon. Deputy Minister of Environment, Science, Technology & Innovation of Ghana), Dr. Yemi Akinbamijo (Executive Director, FARA) and Philippe Petithuguenin (CIRAD)
A presentation to the 

Honourable Deputy Minister

The official Kick Off Meeting, which is taking place at the Secretariat of the Forum for Agricultural Research in Africa (FARA), Accra, Ghana, aims to provide visibility to the project while proving opportunity for engagement, reflection and discussions by officials, authorities and stakeholder representatives.

The meeting generated useful feedback and recommendations for the implementation of the Project. In addition, the GA provided an opportunity to build a shared vision of the project by clarifying contents of work package activities, the reporting line and work plan for year 1.

The event brought together over 75 participants from across Africa and Europe including the Minister of Environment, Science, Technology and Innovation (MESTI) of the Republic of Ghana and European and African Ambassadors representing countries involved in the project in Ghana for day one.
Participants representing the 35 partners of the LEAP4FNSSA Project at the Kick Off Meeting & General Assembly
Background
Leap4FNSSA is a Coordination and Support Action (CSA) whose main objective is to provide a tool for European and African institutions to engage in a Sustainable Partnership Platform for research and innovation on Food and Nutrition Security, and Sustainable Agriculture (FNSSA).

Under the aegis of the High Level Policy Dialogue (HLPD) and its Bureau, building upon former EU funded projects such as RINEA, CAAST-Net Plus, ProIntensAfrica and linking with the ongoing ERANet Cofund LEAP-Agri, Leap4FNSSA aims to achieve its main objective through:
  • Increased synergies and coherence between actors, research and innovation projects, initiatives and programmes, through the development of institutional alliances and clusters of projects. 
  • An enhanced learning environment and large knowledge base, including monitoring and evaluation activities, and established communication and links between different initiatives in order to improve European-African cooperation in Science, Technology and Innovation (STI). 
  • A well-established long term sustainable partnership and co-funding mechanism. 
The project will have a 4-years duration, from November 2018 to October 2022.

For more information on LEAP4FNSSA kindly refer to the below flyers (English and French).

Monday, January 28, 2019

AR4D Funding Opportunities - January 2019


A G R I C U L T U R E

Civil Society Academy, in collaboration with Welthungerhilfe and Impact Hub, seeks zero hunger and social justice projects from Africa and Asia. The submitted projects should focus on (1) rural women and their families or (2) support social activists combating hunger and injustice. Selected projects will receive up to €40 thousand to develop and implement their project ideas. The deadline for submissions is 25 January 2019. The U.S. African Development Foundation invites proposals for grant financing and local support from African-owned enterprises, agricultural cooperatives, small-scale producer groups, and agricultural processors with innovative solutions to increase farmer incomes and achieve sustainable market-based growth. Most funding agreements range between $100 and $250 thousand. Applications are accepted in English, Swahili, and French. Application deadline is 28 January 2019. The Global Makers Challenge invites innovative start-ups, entrepreneurs and businesses to submit solutions to solve real-world problems. The current Rural Transformation and Zero Hunger challenge seeks new and affordable methods that increase smallholder agricultural productivity without further contributing to environmental degradation. Applications are invited from innovators around the world without any geographical limitations. The winner receives prizes, including cash and mentorship. Shortlisted companies will be invited to a pitch live session in UAE (May 2019), finalist will be invited to the Global Manufacturing and Industrialization Summit (July 2019) in Russia. The deadline is 31 January 2019. Sida funds short-term training in selected development topics for participants from developing countries. Organizations in Burundi, Kenya, Rwanda, Zambia, Tanzania, and Uganda are invited to nominate candidates for the 12-months Training Programme ‘Healthy Livestock and Safe Food’. The overall objective of this programme is to reduce poverty and vulnerability among smallholder farmers. Candidates representing government organisations, private companies or NGOs at national, regional or local level are encouraged to apply. The training will take place in Sweden. Sida will cover costs related to all programme phases except personal expenses, visa fees or any local airport taxes and departure fees. The closing date for applications is 31 January 2019. The Erbacher Foundation supports rural development in subject areas that include livestock husbandry, crop production, drinking water, and environmental protection. The priority countries are India, Tanzania, and Uganda. Applications are invited from Germany charitable organizations involved in development cooperation. Applying organizations need to have partnerships with local NGOs. The German institution is responsible for project administration and coordination. Application deadlines are 01 February and 01 August of each year. VLIR-UOS supports 15 development relevant International Master Programmes organised at one of the five Flemish universities. The programmes have a specific but non-exclusive focus on participants from the global South. Application deadlines: Between 1 February 2019 and 1 March 2019 (depending on the programme)
The SEED Foundation supports French nonprofit organizations in partnership with nonprofit organizations in Sub-Saharan Africa for innovative solutions that address food security. Projects can address agricultural practices, farming knowledge and capacity, local agricultural products, etc. Grants range from €7 thousand to €15 thousand, up to 70% of project costs. The Foundation lists 20 eligible African countries. The deadline for applications is 06 February 2019. The Business Partnership Facility, with financing from the Directorate-General for Development Cooperation (DGD), aims to support and develop private sector involvement in Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) in developing countries. Projects that contribute to achieving at least one clearly- identified SDG are invited to apply. Applicants must be part of a partnership including actors from the private sector, civil society, academia and/or the public sector. (Note: The partnership must comprise at least one organisation from the for-profit sector.) Funding of up to €200 thousand is available under this call. The closing date to submit applications is 12 February 2019. Through the TWAS-DFG Cooperation Visit Programme, post-doctoral researchers in Sub-Saharan Africa make cooperation visits to institutes in Germany. The visits are limited to three months, with the aim of promoting longer-term collaboration. Preference is given to young PhD-level scientists, particularly women. The next application round will open in November with deadline on 14 February 2019. The P4G Partnership Fund provides financial support and targeted assistance to public-private partnerships that implement strategies to achieve the following five Sustainable Development Goals: Food Security and Sustainable Agriculture; Water and Sanitation; Clean Energy; Sustainable Cities; and Sustainable Consumption. Start-up projects may apply for up to US$100 thousand, scale-up projects may apply for up to US$1 million. Projects have to be implemented in a developing country. Eligibility extends to partnerships of at least two non-profit organizations. The deadline for submission of projects is 15 February 2019. IDRC and South Africa’s National Research Foundation (NRF) announce a new research chairs initiative for African researchers. The program will support 10 researchers from across Africa over a period of five years. This call is restricted to 15 countries: Ethiopia, Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Rwanda, Senegal, Ghana, Cote d’Ivoire, Burkina Faso, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, and Botswana. Research-intensive universities can submit a maximum of three Research Chair institutional expressions of interest with a maximum of two nominated potential chair holders per expression. The call for expressions of interest (phase 1) will close on 21 February 2019. The French Committee for International Solidarity (Comité Français pour la Solidarité Internationale – CFSI), in partnership with Fondation de France, funds projects that support small-scale farming in West Africa. Grants will support projects carried out by partnerships between European and West African nonprofit legal entities, research and training organizations in the following countries: Benin, Burkina Faso, Cape Verde, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Ivory Coast, Liberia, Mali, Mauritania, Niger, Nigeria, Senegal, Sierra Leone, and Togo. Projects can range from one to three years. Grants are a maximum of €15 thousand per year, or €50 thousand in the case of a 3-year project. The deadline for project summaries (French, English) is 25 February 2019 CRDF Global and the Ministry of Education and Science of Ukraine (MES) accept proposals for the ‘2019 U.S.-Ukraine Agricultural and Alternative Energy Research Competition’. The competition aims to maximize agricultural production and advance alternative energy sources without risking further environmental degradation. Joint teams of U.S. and Ukrainian researchers may submit project proposals that focus on Agricultural Biotechnology and Photovoltaic or Biofuel Technology. Awards of up to US$72 thousand will be made for 12 months. Proposals must be submitted no later than 28 February 2019. The Monsanto Fund makes grants to strengthen agricultural communities in several countries around the world. Grants of US$25 thousand and more are available to tax-exempt charitable organizations for activities and projects that address farmers’ education and training; food security; community water and sanitation; and other local needs. Monsanto’s international grants are administered at the country level. The Fund presents a list of eligible countries. Monsanto accepts international applications during two periods each year. The first period ranges from 01 January through 28 February. The second period ranges from 01 July through 31 August. World Food Programme (WFP) is the world’s largest humanitarian agency fighting hunger worldwide, delivering food assistance in emergencies and working with communities to improve nutrition and build resilience. The World Food Programme seeks great ideas and bold solutions to solve hunger globally. The Innovation Accelerator offers financial support, training and access to WFP partners and technical experts. Selected teams get an opportunity to develop their projects and receive up to US$ 100 thousand. Applications for the 2019 Programme (Cohort II) have to be submitted by 28 February 2019. Dining for Women makes grants to non-profit organizations that support women and girls living in extreme poverty in developing countries. Thematic areas include access to clean water and sanitation, food security, and education, among other themes. Applicants may request between US$35 thousand to US$50 thousand. Eligibility extends to US 5.01(c)3 corporations or international organisations with a fiscal sponsor which is a US 5.01(c)3 corporation. Dining for Women has two annual grant cycles. The submission deadlines for 2019 are 24 April and 24 October 2019. Mobility grants allow researchers and students to build personal contacts and relationships for collaborations between institutions. Mobility grants can be awarded to young scientists who hold a Bachelor or Master’s degree and with not more than 6 years of professional research experience. Activities may include field work and/or an internship in relation to the applicant’s research project. The call is open for activities in all scientific disciplines and fields of research. Priority countries under this call are: Egypt, Lebanon, Morocco, Palestine, Qatar, Tunisia and the United Arab Emirates. Mobility visit should have a minimum duration of 4 weeks and not exceed CHF 5 thousand. Applications will be accepted until 31 December 2019.

Agribusiness
CTI PFAN invites project/business proposals that promote or use clean energy and/or climate technologies, products or services, including biofuels, clean energy, agriculture and agribusinesses, climate change adaptation, water & sanitation, among others. Selected projects will be offered free professional advice on project development and structuring, and will be connected with investment through CTI PFAN’s global investment networks. Proposals are invited from companies, individuals or legal persons; public-private partnerships; and entities which are legally structured to redistribute profits. CTI-PFAN identifies the priority countries of Sub-Saharan Africa for projects. The submission of applications can be made at any time. The Bestseller Foundation provides financial support for sustainable agriculture, sustainable jobs and entrepreneurship, and environment and nature conservation in China, Africa and India. The foundation invests mainly with commercial actors in for-profit projects by means of loans and equity. Nonprofit organizations and projects may sometimes be eligible if they have clear and commercially viable objectives. In some cases, the Foundation may consider grants or donations. Potential partners in the eligible regions contact the Foundation by telephone or email and present a short concept note. The Partnership for Research and Innovation in the Mediterranean Area (PRIMA) launched a call for research and innovation proposals that aim to develop knowledge and common innovative solutions for agro-food systems, and water provision in the Mediterranean area. The challenge consists of three main topics: (1) Management of Water; (2) Farming Systems; and (3) Agro-Food Value Chain. (Note: Each topic has its own guidelines for applicants.) Participants to this call will have to submit a scientific proposal. Successful projects will be funded directly. Companies/enterprises, non-profit organisations, NGOs, public research organisations, and universities from the following non-EU countries are eligible: Israel, Tunisia, Turkey, Algeria, Egypt, Jordan, Lebanon and Morocco. The deadline for pre-proposals is 28 February 2019. The TEF Program fosters and supports start-up enterprises in Africa. TEF combines mentoring, training, forums, seed capital, and alumni support to individuals in Africa proposing new business ideas or early-stage companies in sectors that include agriculture, among others. The program is open to citizens and legal residents ages 18 and older in any African country. The next application deadline (English, French, Portuguese) is 01 March 2019. The European Commission seeks proposals for projects to reduce poverty and food insecurity in Sierra Leone through better governance and increased agricultural productivity and diversification. Lot 1 (up to €600 thousand) will support short value chains including micro enterprises that currently produce with artisanal methods. Lot 2 (up to €5 million) will support large-scale and already well-established SMEs in the agribusiness sector, which process agricultural products at a large scale. Eligibility extends to non-governmental organizations, private sector organizations, farmer organizations & community based organizations, private legal entities and international (inter-governmental) organizations. The deadline is 15 March 2019.
Technovation invites teams of girls from all over the world to learn and apply the skills needed to solve real-world problems through technology. Girls work with women mentors, find a problem in their community and develop a mobile app to launch a startup. Categories may include environment, poverty, health, and others. Eligibility extends to teams of up to 5 girls (aged 10-18 years). Registration deadline is 20 March 2019.
ygap — Poverty Solutions for South Africa
The ygap accelerator provides support to South African leaders with solutions to poverty. Entrepreneurs and startups with project ideas and solutions for their local community are invited to apply for the one week training program. The five-day workshop will provide social entrepreneurs with access to training designed to focus on business growth. Participants will gain access to professionals (designers, lawyers, coaches, etc.) and have the opportunity to apply for small grants of US$10 thousand. Application deadline is 22 March 2019. The European Commission seeks to unlock the potential of Rwanda’s horticultural and coffee value chains to ensure the supply to local and international markets. Projects should address agribusiness development by providing smallholder farmers with the necessary tools and knowledge to sustain the market. Grants requested under this call must fall between the amounts of €1 million and €3 million. Eligibility extends to legal and natural persons established in the EU or in a developing country. The application deadline is 27 March 2019.

Bio-diversity, environment, climate change
Fondation Ensemble supports field projects in sustainable development and conservation. The Foundation’s focus areas are sustainable agriculture, sustainable fishing, biodiversity conservation, and sustainable technologies. The eligible countries for sustainable sector projects are Ecuador, Peru, Mozambique, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar. Grants are a maximum of €50 thousand per year for two to four years. In addition, Fondation Ensemble offers a small project grant for threatened animal species (IUCN classification). This call is open worldwide and funding requested should not exceed €8 thousand. The deadline for concept notes (English, French) is 01 February 2019. WISER is funded by the UK government’s Department for International Development (DFID). The WISER programme's mission is to deliver transformational change in the quality, accessibility and use of weather and climate information services at all levels of decision-making for sustainable development in Africa. The deadline is 05 March 2019. The Climate Justice Resilience Fund seeks grants applications for community-led, social justice approaches to climate change adaptation and resilience-building. Grants are made to women, youth, and indigenous peoples to create and share their own solutions for resilience. CJRF grants focus on four interrelated issues connected which climate change: (1) Water Access; (2) Food Security; (3) Sustainable Livelihoods; and (4) Migration and Relocation. The CJRF grantmaking strategic framework prioritizes multi-year grants and grants larger than US$100 thousand. Non-profit organizations from Alaska, Kenya, Tanzania, Bangladesh, and the India are invited to apply. Letters of Inquiry for the Spring Round 2019 are due 21 December 2018 and LOIs for the Fall Round 2019 have to be submitted by 19 April 2019.

 Fellowships/scholarships/grants
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 include 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. The Technische Universität München (TUM), in partnership with edX, offers an online course on the basics of land management. Participants will learn why, when, and where sustainable land management is most needed and what the potential application fields of land management are. Topics include demographic change, globalization and climate change. The course is for free and no previous knowledge of land management is required. Enrollment is open The Royal Society hosts a programme of scientific meetings each year with the aim to bring together scientists from around the world to present and discuss new research in all areas of science. Each meeting is organised by leaders in the field, using their expertise to ensure the key topics are covered. Proposals are invited from any UK-based researcher. Many meetings have co-organizers from outside the UK. Submissions are accepted throughout the year on a rolling basis. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Denmark (MFA) invites applications for grants related to development research with partners in Danida priority countries. Research-based institutions in Denmark, Ghana, or Tanzania (window 1) are eligible to apply. Research themes include sustainable development, climate change resilience, and others. The duration of projects is up to 5 years within a maximum grant of DKK 12 million for each project. The deadline for applications is 01 February 2019. 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 application period for the 2019-2020 scholarships in most Asian-Pacific countries is 01 February 2019 through 30 April 2019. The International Centre of Insect Physiology and Ecology (icipe), Kenya, in partnership with the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD1) In-Country/In-Region Scholarships Programme and African university partners, invites applications from suitably qualified candidates for PhD scholarships in the African Regional Postgraduate Programme in Insect Sciences (ARPPIS). Deadline for applications: 11th February 2019. The Breakthrough Institute supports Generation Fellows who contribute writing and research to one of four policy programs at the Breakthrough Institute: Energy; Conservation; or Food and Farming. The program operates during ten weeks from June through August. Fellows receive US$600 per week. Eligibility to apply for the fellowships extends to final-year undergraduates, college graduates, and postgraduates. Fellowships are open to applicants from any country. The application deadline is 12 February 2019. The University of Antwerp’s Institute of Development Policy and Management (IOB) offers three specializations for one-year masters programs in development studies. Topics include poverty, climate change, conflict, good governance, sustainable development, and others. The Flemish Inter-University Council (VLIR-UOS) awards scholarships to students from many countries of Africa, Asia and Latin America for studies at Belgian universities that include Antwerp’s IOB. For applicants applying for both academic admission and a VLIR-UOS or Master Mind scholarship, the deadline is 15 February 2019. The Social and Environmental Trade-offs in African Agriculture (Sentinel) Project, funded by the UKRI Global Challenges Research Fund (GCRF), aims at building the capacity of African and UK research organizations to address trade-offs between economic, environmental and social outcomes for future agricultural development. For that reason, RUFORUM makes 20 research scholarships to PhD students to undertake research in areas of relevance to the Project. A minimum of 15 research projects have to take place in Ghana, Ethiopia, and Zambia. (Note: students outside the focal countries are eligible to apply as long they conduct their research in these three countries.) Each scholarship is a maximum of US$7,500 over a period of two years. The deadline is 15 February 2019. In partnership with the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), the government of Hungary announces scholarships for MSc degrees in agriculture at participating Hungarian universities. The fields of specialization for the 2019-2020 Academic Year are Plant Protection, Rural Development and Agribusiness, and Agricultural Biotechnology. Applicants should be residents and nationals of the developing countries listed in the announcement. The application deadline for scholarships is 28 February 2019. VLIR-UOS is the secretariat of Flemish universities for development cooperation, with funding by Belgian Development Cooperation. VLIR-UOS announces courses at Belgian Flemish universities and university colleges that are eligible for scholarships in 2019. They include 1-year and 2-year masters’ programs, along with training courses lasting from two weeks to three months. Subject areas include aquaculture, marine science, plant breeding, nematology, water resources, rural development, and others. Eligibility for scholarships extends to applicants in 31 developing countries of Southeast Asia, Sub-Saharan Africa, and Latin America. Candidates apply directly to the Flemish universities that offer the programs, requesting scholarship support. The admission deadlines vary with each program, with many having a deadline of 01 March 2019 for non-EU applicants. Ghent University grants PhD scholarships to promising PhD students from developing countries who wish to carry out half of their PhD research at Ghent University in Belgium. Before applying each student needs to find a professor from Ghent University who is willing to act as their supervisor. Supported thematic areas include biology, veterinary medicine, agricultural economics, water managements, and many others (a complete list of faculties and research topics is provided). The deadline for applications is 04 March 2019. KU Leuven is the largest university in Flanders, Belgium. As one part of its cooperation to advance international development, KU Leuven offers 5 PhD scholarships to candidates from developing countries who wish to obtain a doctorate at KU Leuven. The doctoral scholarships have a duration of max. 4 years. The program also reimburses travel costs from the home country of the PhD student to Belgium. The deadline date is 14 March 2019. New Zealand’s government provides a variety of opportunities for training and university study through the New Zealand Aid Program, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade. The program has six scholarship schemes, reaching a total of over 90 countries. The priorities for support often include agriculture, renewable energy, fisheries, disaster risk management, and other areas related to natural resources and environment. The eligibility requirements for scholarships are specific to each country/regional program. The application deadline for submissions Group 1 is 14 March 2019, and 28 March 2019 for Group 2. Annie’s Sustainable Agriculture Scholarship Program is open to full-time undergraduate and graduate students studying at an accredited college or graduate school in the USA during the 2019/2020 school year. Students must be focusing their studies on sustainable agriculture. International students may apply as long as they are studying at an eligible institution in the USA. The program offers scholarships of US$10 thousand each. The application deadline is 15 March 2019. Taiwan’s program of development assistance includes scholarships for university students in eligible developing countries to study in Taiwan. The program provides full scholarships for applicants from selected countries in the Asia-Pacific region, Sub-Saharan Africa, the Caribbean region, Latin America, and certain other countries. Subject areas at Taiwan’s participating universities include tropical agriculture, aquaculture technology and management, environmental sustainable development, and others. Undergraduate students receive NT$12 thousand per month as an allowance, Masters students receive NT$15 thousand per month, and PhD students receive NT$17 thousand per month, plus travel, fees and other costs for the program. The application deadline is 15 March 2019. The Wageningen UR Centre for Development Innovation invites participants for new short-term courses in 2019. Courses have different deadlines and locations. Thematic areas include Climate Change, Water Management, Agriculture, Fisheries, Livestock, and others. Most courses are open to professionals of government departments, NGOs and civil society organisations, businesses, development agencies, universities and colleges for higher education, and individual consultants. The deadline to apply for course scholarships through the Orange Knowledge Programme is 19 March 2019. 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 and proposals are 25 March 2019 and 09 August 2019. The Regional Universities Forum for Capacity Building in Agriculture (RUFORUM), in partnership with Mastercard Foundation, will provide 110 undergraduate and 110 Masters Scholarships over a period of eight years. The scholarships are intended for disadvantaged, marginalized communities and those coming from conflict and post conflict areas of Africa. For the academic year 2019, 50 Undergraduate and 20 Masters Scholarships will be made available, of which 70% will be for Kenya and Uganda nationals. About 50% of the scholarships will be awarded to female applicants. The deadline to apply is 31 March 2019. NextWorldNow (NWN) is committed to working with community leaders who are solving difficult social problems. This includes social problems related to water, sanitation, deforestation, smallholder productivity, and food security — among other subject areas. Grants are up to US$10 thousand. To apply, community organizations submit a short “Notification of Interest” to register their intent to submit a formal grant application. NWN will screen the initial requests and forward a full application form to selected community organizations. The deadline to submit a “Notification of Interest” is 31 March 2019. UNU-WIDER (World Institute for Development Economics Research) invites applications for its PhD research internships program in Helsinki, Finland. Preference is for applicants who live or work in developing countries, and who are in the later stages of their PhD. UNU-WIDER provides a travel grant to cover the costs of travel and a monthly stipend of €1,600 to cover living expenses in Helsinki. Program themes in WIDER include the economics of energy, climate change, food security, and others. The application deadlines are 31 March and 30 September each year. (Note: The link to the online application form will only become active one month prior to the submission deadline.)
The Nordic Africa Institute (NAI) provides funding to social science researchers from Sub-Saharan Africa for short-term collaborative assignments at the NAI in Uppsala, Sweden. Female researchers are especially encouraged to apply. The scholarship includes air-fare (economy class), accommodation, a subsistence allowance of SEK300 per day plus an installation grant of SEK2,500. The thematic research programs include the topics of economic growth, poverty alleviation, sustainable livelihoods, climate change, and sustainable development, among others. The application deadline is 01 April 2019.

International Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology — Research Grants 2019
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 of each year. The Ekhaga Foundation makes grants for research in ecological agriculture and biological medicine. Universities, research institutes, etc., from all over the world are invited to apply. Ekhaga requires cooperation with a Swedish institution for applications that do not come from Europe or North America. The deadline for applications is 20 May 2019. The “young scientists’ mobility grant” aims to develop new research partnerships and collaborations between Switzerland and MENA countries. Priority countries under this call are: Egypt, Lebanon, Morocco, Palestine, Qatar, Tunisia, and the United Arab Emirates. Mobility grants can be awarded to young scientists who hold a Bachelor or Master’s degree (no PhD) and have less than 6 years of professional research experience. The call is open for activities and research visits in all scientific disciplines and fields of research. The applicant’s mobility visit should have a minimum duration of 4 weeks and with a maximum of CHF5 thousand per grant. (Note: The application form must be completed by the Swiss main applicant). Applications will be accepted until 31 December 2019.

AWARDS and O T H E R
The BAF Awards serves to showcase and award entrepreneurs who are running early-stage for-profit and not-for-profits that are addressing Africa’s unique needs through technology or differentiated business models. These needs are in health, education, energy, financial inclusion, gender inclusion, nutrition, commerce, industrial development, and other socioeconomic good. Deadline: January 2019 The Arrell Food Institute seeks nominations for the 2019 Arrell Global Food Innovation Awards. The Award recognizes global excellence in food innovation and community impact through research and food security. Individuals or teams of any country are eligible for nomination. Two winners will receive C$100 thousand each, plus up to C$25 thousand for travel and accommodation to participate in the Arrell Food Summit 2019. Nominations are accepted until 31 January 2019. Ideas for Action is a knowledge platform of the World Bank Group and the Zicklin Center for Business Ethics Research at the Wharton School. The annual Ideas for Action competition seeks innovative ideas and actionable projects to support the implementation of the UN Sustainable Development Goals. Past winners include water solutions for better fish farm yields, women-led business models to improve sustainable access to energy, web-based solutions for agriculture processes, and many more. Teams must consist of two to six members and may be formed across different schools, institutions, companies, or countries. Students and young professionals between the ages of 18-35 years from around the world are invited to participate. The winners of the competition present their ideas at the annual meeting of the World Bank Group, receive support from a project incubator and coaching. The deadline for submissions is 28 February 2019. The Right Livelihood Award, widely known as the ‘Alternative Nobel Prize’, will be presented for the 40th time in December 2019. The Swedish Foundation behind the Award is now inviting people from across the globe to propose candidates who are working in a visionary and exemplary manner to solve global problems. The deadline is set to 1 March 2019. 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 14 May 2019.
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 2019.

UPCOMING EVENTS IN AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH FOR DEVELOPMENT (AR4D) - JANUARY-DECEMBER 2019

31 January, 2019. France. HNV-Link Conference 'Innovation to sustain High Nature Value farming: Who needs to do what?
4-8 February 2019. Worcester, South Africa. Workshop on Bioinformatics and Wheat Genomics II
11 February, 2019.  Start online course: “Feeding a Hungry Planet: Agriculture, Nutrition and Sustainability”

11-13 February 2019. World Sustainable Development Summit. This summit aims to accelerate the implementation of the 2030 Agenda.

12-13 February 2019. Addis Ababa, EthiopiaFirst FAO/WHO/AU International Food Safety Conference
12-14 February 2019. Arusha, Tanzania. ECHO East Africa Biannual Symposium on Sustainable Agriculture and Appropriate Technologies


18 February 2019. Brussels. WEBCASTRecent trends and Outlook in African Agricultural Trade

18 February 2019. Brussels. ARCH. 2nd workshop on Diversity in Food Systems. See conclusions first workshop

20 February 2019. Brussels. Food Industries for People and Planet (FIPP) Program Roundtable: European Chapter Kick-off Meeting.
The event will be hosted jointly by IFPRI and CEPS with the goal of organizing the European chapter of the program. This roundtable discussion will aim to identify concrete priority areas for collaborative research by the FIPP program, as well as opportunities for knowledge sharing (through the consortium) and research fundraising

20-21 February 2019. Lome, Togo. Colloque multi-acteurs sur la gestion durable des ressources naturelles, en particulier dans les écosystèmes de mangroves.

21 February 2019, Brussels: ''Do Good: Save Food! Educating future generations for a zero food waste world''

25-26 February 2019. Paris, France AGRICULTURE 2019:  Innovations in Science: Agriculture and Horticulture

25 to 28 February 2019. Gabarone, Botswana. CABI Africa Member Governments’ Meeting. The meeting will see government representatives from 22 African countries, joining delegates from 14 partner organisations – such as the African Union Commission (AUC), the Southern Africa Development Community (SADC), Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA), the African Development Bank (AfDB) and other Regional Economic Communities (RECs) – to discuss how we can work better together to support millions of farmers to grow more and lose less to agricultural pests and diseases.
26 February 2019. Brussels. WEBCAST. The Contribution of Organic Agriculture to the SDGs: Scientific evidence from comparative research

26 February 2019. Cairo. IFPRI Egypt- National Nutrition Committee Joint seminar| “100 million healthy lives: Scientific evidence on double burden of malnutrition in Egypt”

26 February 2019. WEBINAR. WORLD MYCOTOXIN REPORT: IMPACT 2019. A live webinar with experts from BIOMIN and Romer Labs as they discuss mycotoxin occurrence patterns, the latest annual results of the BIOMIN Mycotoxin Survey and detection tools to better understand and control the risk of contamination in raw materials and feed.
20-21 March 2019. Washington, DCGlobal Food Security Symposium 2019
20-21 March 2019. Amsterdam, Netherlands. 4TH INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON FOOD PROCESSING AND TECHNOLOGY
24–29 March 2019. Montevideo, Uruguay. 6th Farming Systems Design Conference (FSD6)
25 - 30 March 2019. VI GLOBAL CONFERENCE ON FAMILY FARMING: A Decade to improve the life of family farmers
31 March - 3 April 2019. Tel Aviv, Israel. 19th edition of Africa-Israel Agricultural Trade Mission
1-2 April 2019. Abu DhabiAgricultural Innovation for agriculture summit. Conference Theme: Artificial Intelligence in Agriculture.
9 April 2019. Brussels, Belgium. The Forum for the Future of Agriculture 2019

22 to 26 April 2019. Bamako, Mali. Forum International sur Alimentation et Agriculture durable
23-24 April 2019. Geneva, Switzerland. The FAO/WHO/WTO International Forum on Food Safety and Trade. 
20-22 May 2019. Montpellier, France. CALL FOR ABSTRACTS: 4TH WORLD CONGRESS ON AGROFORESTRY
21-22 May 2019. Chicago The Future of Food
29–31 May 2019 Arusha, TanzaniaCfP Conference: Pesticide Politics in Africa
12-13 June 2019. Stockholm, SwedenEAT Stockholm Food Forum 2019
9-12 July 2019. Accra, Ghana. Evidence to Action Conference 2019. Institute of Statistical, Social and Economic Research, University of Ghana
15-19 July 2019. Brighton, United Kingdom. Transforming Nutrition: Ideas, Policies and Outcomes
7 to 22 August 2019. Herrsching, Germany. International Leadership Workshop for Rural Youth

25-29th August 2019. Kigali. African Potato Association Conference 
25 August 2019. Wageningen, Netherlands. Start Summer School Greenhouse Horticulture
3-6 September 2019. Accra, Ghana. African Green revolution forum

13 September 2019. Meise, Brussel, Belgium. African Diaspora Agro Food Forum.

18 - 20 September 2019. Kassel, Germany. Tropentag 2019: Filling gaps and removing traps for sustainable resources management

29 September - 5 October 2019Curitiba, Brazil. XXV IUFRO World Congress. 2019"Forest Research and Cooperation for Sustainable Development"
28-31 October, 2019. Cairo, Egypt. 8th Africa Agriculture Science Week and FARA General Assembly. This the biggest assembly of actors in Agricultural Research for Development organized every three (3) Years by the Forum for Agricultural Research in Africa (FARA) and Partners at the regional (ASARECA, CCARDESA, CORAF, NAASRO and AFAAS) and country levels (NARES). The 2019 edition is hosted by the Egyptian Agricultural Research Centre (ARC) and the North Africa Agricultural Sub-Regional Research Organization (NAASRO). 
4-6 November 2019. Brazil. YOUTH AG SUMMIT IN BRASILIA: THE AGRICULTURAL LEADERS OF TOMORROW

9-11 December 2019. Cairo. Food Africa