Deadline: 2 November 2015
Driver of food Choice is currently accepting proposals for competitive grants program to improve food & nutrition security in Lower and middle income countries. The DFC Competitive Grants Program will fund research grants that use qualitative or quantitative methods or both to examine key aspects of food choice in one or more of the thirty-four countries that account for 90% of the global burden of under nutrition.
This grants program is funded by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and UK aid from the UK government through the Department for International Development (DFID). The objective of the Program is to
- Provide a deep understanding of the drivers of food choice among the poor in South Asia and Sub-Saharan Africa.
- Incorporate a gender-transformative or gender-aware approach to increase the likelihood that outcomes will benefit women and children.
Priority Countries
Afghanistan, Angola, Bangladesh, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Chad, Congo, Cote d’Ivoire, Egypt, Ethiopia, Ghana, Guatemala, India, Indonesia, Iraq, Kenya, Madagascar, Malawi, Mali, Mozambique, Myanmar, Nepal, Niger, Nigeria, Pakistan, Philippines, Rwanda, South Africa, Sudan, Tanzania, Uganda, Vietnam, Yemen, Zambia.
Research Topics
- Development of an understanding of factors that influence food choice among consumers in lower wealth quintiles in LMIC to inform policy and practice.
- Investigation of how changes to traditional food environments and food systems influence food choice among consumers in LMIC settings.
- Evaluation of the impact of nutrition-sensitive agricultural interventions on food choice behaviors of different household members, especially women and children.
Funds available & duration
The DFC Competitive Grants Program anticipates distributing a total of $2,152,500 in the first two year funding cycle and $2,152,500 in the second two-year funding cycle of the grants program. Grant requests may not exceed $300,000 for the total duration of the project. Grant requests should be for two-year projects.
Eligibility Criteria
- Research organizations, non-government organizations, public (e.g., government) institutions, and private sector organizations with a demonstrated interest and commitment to improving food and nutrition security in LMIC are eligible to apply.
- All recipients must have prior experience conducting relevant nutrition, food systems, or agricultural research, and must demonstrate prior experience in efficient and effective fiscal management.
- In the case of partnerships, a lead organization should be identified that meets these criteria and can submit the concept memo as the prime applicant.
Application Process
- Applicants can apply through two-step application process:
- Submission of a concept memo. Selected applicants will be asked to submit a full proposal.
- Submission of a full proposal. Selection of full proposals for grant award will be made.
- Concept memos and cover sheets must be submitted by email.
For more information, please visit DFC Grants program.