Scaling Competition: The MasterCard Foundation Fund for Rural Prosperity

The Scaling Competition

Open from 20 July 2015 to 30 September 2015

The MasterCard Foundation Fund for Rural Prosperity aims to improve the lives of 1,000,000 people living in poverty by enabling businesses to begin or expand financial services in rural areas of Sub-Saharan Africa.

If you are an organization with a proven innovative financial product, service or delivery platform which is capable of increasing financial access for people living in poverty in Africa, then you can apply for support in the Scaling Competition today.

OFFICIAL WEBSITE: http://www.frp.org/competitions/scaling-competition

CODESRIA: Strengthening Phd Programmes in African Universities

Deadline: 21st august, 2015
 
Call for Applications: 2015 Session
The Council for the Development of Social Science Research in Africa (CODESRIA) is pleased to announce the call for applications from research laboratories and doctoral schools in African universities for the first phase of its initiative to support research in the social sciences and humanities.

The support initiative is geared towards alleviating the problems faced by many African universities with respect to research funding, quality and relevance of training in the context of globalization, liberalization and internationalization of higher education. Population pressure on higher education institutions has become a constant concern for African governments and tertiary education needs will continue to increase due to the growing youth population on the continent.

Selected research laboratories and doctoral schools will receive a grant of 10,000 dollars from CODESRIA, which is expected to be used for:

• the purchase of books and journals for the benefit of the entire academic community;
• a scientific seminar exposing PhD students to relevant literature, current debates, and theoretical approaches in relation to a given topic;
• a methodology seminar, and
• a scientific writing workshop

All Applications should be sent electronically to the following address: appui.doctoral@codesria.sn.

OFFICIAL WEBSITE: http://www.codesria.org/spip.php?article2377&lang=en

International Plant Nutrition Institute (IPNI) Science Award

The deadline to apply for the 2015 Science Award is September 30, 2015.
 
The IPNI Science Award is to be presented each year to one agronomic scientist. Private or public sector agronomists, crop scientists, and soil scientists from all countries are eligible for nomination (no self-nomination). The recipient receives a plaque and a monetary award of US$5,000. The award recognizes outstanding achievements in research, extension, or education which focus on efficient and effective management of plant nutrients and their positive interaction in fully integrated crop production that enhance yield potential. The purpose of the award is to acknowledge and promote distinguished contributions by scientists involved with ecological crop intensification where productivity is increased and the environment is improved.

OFFICIAL WEBSITE: http://www.ipni.net/article/IPNI-3160

Acumen East Africa Fellows Program

APPLICATIONS CLOSE: JULY 31, 2015
 
The Regional Fellows Program is a one-year leadership development program designed to build the next generation of social leaders with the audacity to transform society and create a better, more inclusive world.

The program equips 20 extraordinary individuals from across East Africa with the knowledge, support system and practical wisdom to unlock their full potential and drive positive change in society. Over the course of a year, Fellows remain in their jobs while taking part in five week-long seminars, where they receive the tools, training and space to innovate new ideas, accelerate their impact, build a strong network of social leaders from across their region and around the world.

The Fellows are bright minds and big thinkers who dare to do what’s right, not what’s easy, to create positive change in their country. Fellows can come from diverse cultural, geographic and socioeconomic backgrounds and work in any sector, and they must be committed to ending poverty in their community through their work.

The Fellows Acumen seeks are:

• Innovators who either started an organization or enterprise, or who are driving change within an existing organization or company.
• Men and women of all ages and education levels who are able to participate in a program conducted in English.
• East Africans who demonstrate a commitment and concrete connection to the region.
• Leaders with strong personal integrity, unrelenting perseverance and moral imagination.
• Committed individuals ready to undergo an intensive yearlong personal transformation and leadership journey.

OFFICIAL WEBSITE: http://acumen.org/leaders/regional-fellows/east-africa/

Exploratory Research Grants: 20th Call for ERG Proposals

Exploratory Research Grants

 Deadline: July 30, 2015
The 20th Round of the Exploratory Research Grants under the PEDL initiative is now open. Proposals for the 19th call must be submitted by 5pm GMT on July 30, 2015.

PEDL will support approaches that promise to produce credible research results that will be useful for policy-making. It will promote research related to private enterprises of all sizes and will initially focus on four research themes:

• Modelling market frictions in LICs using newly available data
• Understanding how constraints interact using micro-founded macro models
• The dynamics of SMEs: Informality and entrepreneurship
• The role of export-oriented industries in driving growth

Proposals that address the following cross-cutting issues will be encouraged.

• Fragile and conflict affected states
• Gender
• Climate, environment and social compliance

Exploratory Grants are research grants of between £10,000 and £35,000 that are designed to allow researchers to:

• explore new approaches to the study of firms in low-income-countries (LICs); and
• to develop new (or build on) existing sources of data on firms in LICs.

If you have any issues with the website, please contact: pedl@cepr.org.

OFFICIAL WEBSITE: http://pedl.cepr.org/node/4029

Call for Applications: AuthorAID Small Grants 2015 (Second Set)

AuthorAID is pleased to announce the second set of AuthorAID small grants for 2015. AuthorAID plans to award the following grants to people working in eligible developing countries, following a competitive selection process.

•  8 travel grants ($1500 each): For researchers who have an accepted abstract or proposal to present at a conference. Deadline to apply: 22 July 2015, 10 PM GMT.
•  8 workshop grants ($2500 each): For experienced researchers or administrators who would like to organise a workshop on research writing or grant proposal writing. Deadline to apply: 29 July 2015, 10 PM GMT.
•  2 online course grants ($1500 each): For experienced researchers with exposure to online training who would like to organise an online course on research writing or grant proposal writing. Deadline to apply: 29 July 2015, 10 PM GMT.

If you’re interested, please go through the PDF copy of the application form:

•  Copy of application form: Travel grant
•  Copy of application form: Workshop grant
•  Copy of application form: Online course grant

When you are ready to apply, please fill out the online application form for the relevant grant:

AuthorAID We will announce the next set of grants in January 2016.

OFFICIAL WEBSITE: http://www.authoraid.info/en/news/details/918/

TREE Fund: Jack Kimmel International Grant Program

DEADLINE: October 1 each year

This grant is administered by the TREE Fund, with participation from the Canadian TREE Fund in the evaluation process.

Projects are expected to be completed within one to three years. Grant award amounts are limited to a maximum of $10,000 and will vary depending upon the adjudged value of the project relative to the needs of the arboriculture community. No project may receive more than one award from this program. Please note that funds cannot be used to pay for overhead expenses or student tuition and fees.

OFFICIAL WEBSITE: http://www.treefund.org/grants/research-grants/kimmel

Norad Grant to civil society in the Oil for Development Programme 2016-2018

DEADLINE 1 October 2015.

Norad calls for proposals from civil society as part of the Oil for Development Programme for the period 2016 to 2018

The aim of the Oil for Development Programme is to reduce poverty by promoting economically, environmentally and socially responsible management of petroleum resources.

The main approach in the Oil for Development Programme is capacity development through institutional collaboration. Norwegian public institutions enter into long-term agreements with public institutions in a partner country.

The support for civil society will contribute to the Oil for Development Programme’s third outcome: Partner countries authorities are held accountable for the management of petroleum resources. Applications must demonstrate how the project will contribute to this outcome.

Four thematic areas
In order to achieve the Oil for Development third outcome, four thematic areas are of particular importance. Therefore, applicants are asked to submit proposals within the following thematic areas:

• Environmental protection
• Transparency in revenue generation and distribution
• Local participation in decision-making processes
• Labour rights

Eligible Countries

OFFICIAL WEBSITE: http://www.norad.no/en/front/funding/grant-to-civil-society-in-the-oil-for-development-programme/

Buffett Award for Leadership in African Conservation

2016 Call for Nominations: Africa

Nominations must be received no later than January 22, 2016.

The National Geographic Society is currently soliciting nominations for the 2016 Buffett Award for Leadership in African Conservation.

The award has honored the unsung heroes of conservation, celebrating the recipient’s achievements and supporting ongoing work in conserving nature or culture in Africa. The award includes a $25,000 grant.

OFFICIAL WEBSITE: http://www.nationalgeographic.com/explorers/explorers/2016-africa-nominations/

Royal Academy for Overseas Science: 2016 Competition

Every year each Section of the Academy puts two questions forward on specific subjects. Each award-winning work in the yearly competition is granted a prize of 2,500 EUR.

Questions for 2016
Studies must reach the secretariat of the Academy before 1 March 2016.

Question 1
An original study is requested on the involvement of colonial troops in the First World War, either on the European front or outside Europe. The topic also concerns the memory of this involvement and can be tackled from the standpoint of any human science.

Question 2
A study is requested on the management and reduction of flood risks in developing countries.

Question 3
 A social and economic impact study, in the broad sense of the word (health, education, security, …), is requested on the development of digital communications networks in emerging countries. The study may also deal with the possibilities of South-North cooperation given by digital networks through information exchange platforms in the field of research.

OFFICIAL WEBSITE: http://www.kaowarsom.be/en/competitions

German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD): Postgraduate Studies in Germany 2016-2017

DEADLINE: Around September-October

Scholarship applicants from developing countries (on the DAC List of the OECD) can apply directly to the postgraduate course. For further information about the application deadlines please contact the respective postgraduate course, because the deadlines may vary from university to university.

Development-Related Postgraduate Courses: Academic year 2016/2017
Postgraduate courses for professionals from developing countries at German institutions of Higher education
 Duration: 12-24 months, depending on the particular institution
 Internationally recognized Master's degree
 Includes German Universities and “Fachhochschulen” (Universities of Applied Science)
 Support of selected programmes with a variety of full or partial scholarships
 Funded by the BMZ (Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development) but admission is also open to self-financed participants or students financed through government or other sources
  
The selection process generally takes place at the universities in the period from November to February.

Scholarships are usually awarded for the following winter semester.

OFFICIAL WEBSITE: https://www.daad.de/entwicklung/studierende_und_alumni/bildung_postgradual/ast/08492.en.html

Elsevier Foundation Awards for Early-Career Women Scientists in the Developing World

Deadline: September 1, 2015

Elsevier Foundation Awards for Early-Career Women Scientists in the Developing World recognize the achievements of researchers who have made significant contributions to the advancement of scientific knowledge. The program is run by TWAS, the academy of sciences for the developing world, the Organization for Women in Science for the Developing World (OWSD) and the Elsevier Foundation.

Succeeding in the competitive world of science is challenging under the best of circumstances. But women scientists in countries with scarce resources and competing cultural expectations face significant additional obstacles as they strive to excel at careers in science. This awards program takes those factors into account by recognizing the research excellence of early-career women scientists from 81 developing countries. The program builds on the Elsevier Foundation-OWSD Awards for Young Women Scientists from the Developing World, which granted awards in 2010 and 2011.

Prizes will be awarded annually on a rotating basis among the disciplines of life sciences, chemistry and physics/mathematics. Each of the five winners will present their papers at the annual conference of the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS), which is attended by leading scientists, engineers, educators and policymakers from around the world.

Each year a total of five winners are selected, one from each of the following regions: Latin America and the Caribbean; East and South-East Asia and the Pacific; Arab region; Central and South Asia; Sub-Saharan Africa.

For the coming years, the awards are assigned in the following fields:

  2016: Biological Sciences (agriculture, biology and medicine)
  2017: Engineering Sciences (engineering, innovation and technology)
  2018: Physical Sciences (chemistry, maths and physics)

OFFICIAL WEBSITE: http://www.elsevierfoundation.org/new-scholars/elsevier-foundation-awards-for-early-career-women-scientists-in-the-developing-world/