Deadline: 20 April 2012
Countries/Region: AFRICA
The African Union Commission (AUC) is committed to ensure that science and technology in Africa contributes to its sustainable development efforts. The Act establishing the Union recognizes the need for Africa to embark on an ambitious strategic science and technology development programme, aimed at contributing to the wellbeing and improved quality of life for the African citizens. To this end the establishment of the AU in 2002 was accompanied by the setting up the AUC with a special Department of Human Resources, Science and Technology to drive this strategic programme.
The Specific objective of this Call for Proposals is to award grants to finance research projects in the fields of (a) Post-harvest and Agriculture, (b) Renewable and Sustainable Energy, or (c) Water and Sanitation. It is highly envisaged that the deployment and the improvement of science and technology research in these challenging areas will effectively contribute to Africa’s poverty reduction strategies, economic growth and social development efforts.
ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA:
There are three sets of eligibility criteria, relating to:
- applicant(s) which may request a grant (2.1.1), and their partners (2.1.2);
- actions for which a grant may be awarded (2.1.3);
- types of cost which may be taken into account in setting the amount of the grant (2.1.4).
Who can apply:
- be legal persons and
- be nationals of African Union , ACP, EU Member States, Least Developed Country as defined by the United Nations (LDCs), European Economic Area (EEA) Member States, one of the official EU candidate countries or, for proposed actions taking place in at least one LDC, reciprocal access shall be granted to the members of the OECD/Development Assistance Committee and
- be directly responsible for the preparation and management of the action with their partners, not acting as an intermediary and
- be registered locally in ( or have a memorandum of understanding in relevant research areas, with) an eligible African country prior to the publication of this call for proposals and
- have at least a three-year record in the formulation and/or implementation of research activities in Africa for which they will have to provide the relevant legal documents and
- be able to demonstrate their experience and capacity to manage activities corresponding in scale and complexity to those for which a grant has been requested and
- have stable and sufficient sources of finance to ensure the continuity of their organisation throughout the implementation of the proposed action and
- belong to consortia of scientists as explained under 2.1.2 (2)- composition of partnerships. and
- belong to at least one of the following categories:
- National or regional science and technology organizations, research institutions, universities, government ministries or public institutions dealing with scientific research including regional science and technology institutions, with separate legal status, not belonging to any national system but formally recognized by one of the eligible countries; or
- Established science and technology networks provided that: all network members and the network headquarters are located in eligible countries; the network has a legal status; the network is applying in its own right; and the network has been registered for a minimum of two years.
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