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DST-NRF Professional Development Programme 2016: Supporting Young Scientists & Professionals

Deadline: 29 April 2016

Department of Science and Technology (DST) and the National Research Foundation (NRF) has announced DST-NRF Professional Development Programme (PDP) block grant Call for 2016 in order to support the professional development of the next generation and emerging researchers.

Objectives

  • To leverage innovation and research at public Research Institutions, Science Councils and National Facilities in South Africa, through the implementation of science and technology related skills development.
  • To enable recently qualified Doctoral graduates and those currently engaged in Doctoral studies to gain further research experience in a Research Institution, Science Council or National Facility thereby strengthening their Curriculum Vitae and consequently improving their prospects of permanent employment in the science and technology system.
  • To attract and retain young scientists and professionals of the highest caliber in order to complement senior researchers’ influence on the current science and technology research system.
  • To support young scientists and professionals in basic and applied research, and to promote innovation.

Supporting Areas

  • Space Science and Technology;
  • Human and Social Dynamics
  • Farmer to Pharma
  • Energy
  • Climate Change

Eligibility Criteria

  • For the Doctoral Supervisors and Postdoctoral Mentors
    • Applicants must be listed as a supervisor within the block grant application
    • Applicants should ideally hold an honorary or part/time academic position at a South African public university for the full duration of the awarded grant
    • Applicants must hold a doctoral degree and have postgraduate supervision experience to host and supervise postgraduate students
    • Applicants must hold a full-time permanent position as a researcher at the host institution, or a contract position as a researcher for the full duration of the Block Grant
  • For PDP Doctoral Students and Postdoctoral Fellows
    • Only bona-fide South African citizens or permanent residents may receive a PDP Doctoral Scholarship or Postdoctoral Fellowship;
    • To be awarded a PDP Doctoral Scholarship the individual must have obtained his/her Master’s degree no more than five (5) years before commencement of Doctoral studies. In the case of female candidates that are returning to postgraduate studies after a period of absence from research due to family responsibilities, this criterion may be waivered.
    • To be appointed as a PDP Postdoctoral Fellow, the individual must have obtained his/her Doctoral degree no more than five (5) years before commencement of the PDP Postdoctoral Fellowship. In the case of female candidates that are returning after a period of absence from research due to family responsibilities, this criterion may be waivered.
    • Permanent employees of public Research Institutions, Science Councils or National Facilities may not hold a PDP scholarship or fellowship.

How to Apply

Applications must be submitted electronically at the NRF Online System via given website.

For more information, please visit DST-NRF PDF.

ESRC-NRF Newton Call for Collaborative Research: Higher Education in Africa

Deadline: 3 May 2016

The Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) and National Research Foundation (NRF) invite Collaborative Research between the UK and South Africa, offering additional value to existing programmes of education research, and contribute to the economic development and welfare of South Africa and Africa more broadly.

Thematic Areas

Proposals addressing the following themes are invited:

  • Organisation of higher education systems, higher education institutions (HEIs) and alternative providers
  • Equity in higher education access and participation
  • Curriculum, pedagogy and modes and levels of provision
  • Higher education for the public good
  • Higher education and the labour market

Funding Information

  • The ESRC has allocated up to £2.5 million and NRF has allocated RAND 10 million;
  • Proposals are invited for joint UK and South African projects; each proposal may request £415,000 – £630,000 at 100 per cent fEC from the ESRC and R1.67m to R2.5m from NRF over 30 months in duration.

Eligibility Criteria

  • UK applicants must meet the ESRC eligibility.
  • Full-time employees at an NRF-recognised research institution in South Africa, who are eligible to apply according to the general NRF regulations and conditions, are invited to apply.
  • Part-time employees on contract at an NRF-recognised research institution (as defined above) in South Africa are invited to apply, but on condition that their appointment at the South African institution is for (at least) the duration of the project applied for in the submission. The length of the contract should be stated in the proposal form. Salaries must be paid by the research institution, and the primary employment of the individual concerned must be at that institution. A contract researcher appointed at a research institution on behalf of a third party to fulfill a very specific function for the latter does not qualify for support.
  • Retired academics/researchers are invited to apply, provided that they meet all set criteria as stipulated below:
    • Are resident in South Africa
    • Are formally affiliated to a South African higher education institution (eg appointed as an emeritus professor, honorary research associate/professor, supernumerary/contract employee).

How to Apply

Applicants must submit identical proposals via respective websites.

For more information, please visit ESRC-NRF.

Call for Applications 2016: Global Cleantech Innovation Programme for SMEs in South Africa

Deadline: 29 April 2016

The Global Environment Facility (GEF), United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) and the Technology Innovation Agency (TIA) are currently inviting applicants from South Africa for its Global Cleantech Innovation Programme (GCIP) 2016 to promote clean technology innovation and supporting SMEs and start-ups in developing and emerging economies.

Focus Areas

  • Energy Efficiency
  • Water Efficiency
  • Renewable Energy
  • Waste Beneficiation
  • Green Buildings

Programme Covers

  • Extensive mentoring & training on core business related competence for start-ups and SMEs as well as specific technological, IP, Financial & marketing skills.
  • The possibility to liaise with potential investors and partners.
  • Opportunities to showcase their technological innovations to the media and the public.
  • A chance to win a monetary prize in addition to a fully sponsored trip to the USA to participate in the Cleantech Open Global Forum.

Eligibility Criteria

  • Innovation start-ups and small and medium-sized enterprises focused on commercialisation of cutting-edge and innovative clean technology solutions.
  • A two person team at a minimum and at least one team member must be a South African resident, citizen, or legal alien.

How to Apply

Applicants must apply online via given website.

For more information, please visit Innovation Programme.

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Making All Voices Count: Joint Initiative to Support Civil Society Groups

Applications to be submitted before April 2016

Making All Voices Count (MAVC) is currently inviting applications for its Joint Initiative to Support Civil Society Groups.

MAVC is a global initiative that supports innovative and tech-focused approaches to addressing governance issues.

Objectives

With this call, MAVC is seeking innovative civil society-led projects that can contribute to:

  • the shaping of OGP National Action Plans and their commitments.
  • the implementation of OGP National Action Plan Commitments
  • civil society monitoring and supporting governments to achieve OGP commitments
  • civil society monitoring and challenging governments over how they pursue these commitments

Activities Included

MVAC is open to considering a wide range of different activities, including where civil society groups:

  • campaign for their country to participate in the OGP process;
  • strategically organize themselves for effective OGP participation (playing a coordinating role)
  • advocate for, set up and/or play a leadership role in OGP permanent dialogue mechanisms;
  • organize campaigning activities to influence new OGP action plans;

Eligibility Criteria                                                                                           

Civil society leaders in the following countries are encouraged to apply for Making All Voices Count support:

  • Countries producing new OGP plans in 2016: Indonesia, Kenya, South Africa, Tanzania
  • Countries currently implementing OGP plans: Ghana, Liberia, Philippines
  • Countries where civil society is campaigning for the government to join OGP: Nigeria

How to Apply

  • The organizations interested should design proposals strongly rooted in the national context and the opportunities that the prevailing context offers. Proposals should also include realistic assessments of the local political appetite for open governance reform and OGP.
  • The concept notes/ideas must include a summary of issues the project is addressing, partnership/alignment with OGP country plans, how long the project is proposed for, and overall budget.
  • The applications must be submitted via respective country emails.

For more information, please visit Making All Voices Count.

UNESCO/ Poland Co-Sponsored Fellowships Programme 2016

Deadline: 30 April 2016

Applicants are invited to apply for UNESCO/POLAND Co-Sponsored Research Fellowships Programme whose aim is to promote human resource capacities in the developing countries and to enhance international understanding and friendship among nations and the people of Poland.
The fellowship will be an opportunity to undertake an individual research programme in the field of Science, Technology and Engineering.

Eligible Countries

  • Africa: Angola, Benin, Botswana, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chad, Comoros, Congo, Côte d’Ivoire, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Djibouti, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Gabon, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Kenya, Lesotho, Liberia, Madagascar, Malawi, Mali, Mauritius, Mozambique, Namibia, Niger, Nigeria, Rwanda, Sao Tome and Principe, Senegal, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Somalia, South Africa, Swaziland, Togo, Uganda, United Republic of Tanzania, Zambia, Zimbabwe
  • Asia & Pacific: Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Brunei Darussalam Cambodia, China, Fiji, India, Indonesia, Kazakhstan, Kiribati, Kyrgyzstan, Lao People’s Democratic Republic, Malaysia, Maldives Mongolia, Myanmar, Nauru, Nepal, Niue, Pakistan, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, Samoa, Sri Lanka, Tajikistan, Thailand, Timor-Leste, Tonga, Turkmenistan, Tuvalu, Uzbekistan, Vanuatu, Viet Nam
  • Europe: Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Georgia, Republic of Moldova, The former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Turkey, Ukraine
  • Latin America & The Caribbean: Argentina, Barbados, Belize, Bolivia (Plurinational State of), Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cuba, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Grenada, Guatemala, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Jamaica, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Suriname, Trinidad and Tobago, Uruguay, Venezuela(Bolivarian Republic of)

Facilities Offered

  • By Polish Authorities:
    • Free tuition and access to the university facilities based on the local regulations.
    • Accommodation at the AGH UST Student Campus organised for fellows by the UNESCO AGH Chair
    • Monthly allowance of 1350 PLN (1 USD = approximately 3.9 PLN)
  • By UNESCO:
    • International travel expenses
    • Health insurance for fellowship beneficiaries who are declared medically fit

Eligibility Criteria

Applicants must be:

  • Individuals from the member states (mentioned above) are eligible to apply.
  • Hold the Bachelor’s or M.Sc. degrees.
  • Be proficient in reading and writing English.

How to Apply

Applicants must download the application from via given website.

For more information, please visit Fellowships Programme.

Submit Your Applications for DREAMS Innovation Challenge 2016!

Deadline: 28 March 2016

Do you have an innovative approach to help keep adolescent girls and young women AIDS-free? If yes, then apply for this Dreams Innovation Challenge!

Applications are open for the DREAMS Innovation Challenge 2016 with a motive to reduce HIV infections by infusing new thinking and high-impact approaches to meet the urgent, complex needs of adolescent girls and young women in 10 sub-Saharan African countries.

Focus Areas

  • Strengthening Capacity of Communities for Service Delivery
  • Keeping Girls in Secondary School
  • Linking Men to Services
  • Supporting Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP)
  • Providing a Bridge to Employment
  • Applying Data to Increase Impact

Award Information

DREAMS will award a total of up to $85 million for innovations that help girls in the DREAMS countries develop into Determined, Resilient, Empowered, AIDS-Free, Mentored, and Safe women.

Focus Countries

Kenya, Lesotho, Malawi, Mozambique, South Africa, Swaziland, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia, Zimbabwe.

Eligibility Criteria

  • The Challenge greatly encourages applications from organizations that have not previously received U.S. government funding, either directly or indirectly, and/or are based in one or more of the 10 DREAMS countries (mentioned above).
  • DREAMS encourage applications from most types of organizations – including for-profit, non-profit, academic organizations, and multilateral organizations.
  • Applicants may submit approaches that apply to just one of the Challenge Focus Areas or that cut across numerous issues.
  • Written submissions must be completed in full to be considered eligible for review. Submissions will only be accepted in English; any other language will be considered ineligible.

How to Apply

Interested organizations can apply by submitting an Expression of Interest (EOI) through the Challenge Application Portal.

For more information, please visit Innovation Challenge.

Embassy of France in South Africa: 2016-2017 SAFe Think Scholarship Programme

Deadline: 21 March 2016

The Embassy of France in South Africa is seeking applications for its 2016-2017 SAFe Think Scholarship Programme to support exceptional students wishing to undertake a Master’s degree at a higher education institution in France.

The scholarship program addresses students in the following fields of study: political sciences, international relations, sociology, public affairs, security studies, conflict studies, human rights/humanitarian law and development studies.

The SAFeThink programme was launched in 2010 with an aim of strengthening the connections between South African academic institutes and Think Tanks and their French counterparts, specifically in the fields of Human and Social Sciences. By assisting research partners in establishing sustainable cooperation, the French government aims at facilitating the integration of South African research and policy-oriented institutions into French, European and francophone African scientific networks.

Benefits

Full bursary includes:

  • Annual tuition fees (up to 6000€/ year)
  • Round-trip flight ticket (South Africa – France)
  • Health insurance
  • Monthly stipend towards living expenses
  • Schengen visa fees

Eligibility Criteria

Applicant can be considered for a bursary if:

  • His/her field of study is in political or social sciences (international relations, sociology, public administration, peace and security, conflict studies)
  • She/he is a citizen of South Africa or Lesotho. Temporary/ permanent residents and candidates from other African countries cannot be considered.
  • She/he holds or is in the process of completing a Bachelor’s or Honor’s degree. The degree has to be completed by September 2015.
  • She/he has applied to at least 2 French universities and Master programmes. Should you be awarded a SAFeThink scholarship, applicant will need to provide his/her university admission letter by 20 June 2016 otherwise the scholarship offer will be withdrawn.

How to Apply

Interested applicants can download the application forms via given website.

For more information, please visit SAFe Think Programme 2016.

Call for Proposals: GBIF Capacity Enhancement Support Program 2016

Deadline: 11 April 2016

The Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF) is accepting proposals for its 2016 Capacity Enhancement Support Programme, which seeks to enhance the long-term capacity of GBIF Participants through collaborative projects. GBIF mission is to provide free and open access to biodiversity data.

The programme aims to address specific capacity needs identified by Participants by facilitating capacity transfer and collaboration at the regional and global levels. Participants for capacity enhancement projects based on combinations of the following types of action:

  • Mentoring activities
  • Regional training support
  • GBIF advocacy actions
  • Documentation
  • Needs Assessment

Funding Information

The maximum total funding request is fifteen thousand euros (€15,000) per project.

Eligible Countries

Andorra, Argentina, Australia, Belgium, Benin, Chile, Colombian, Costa Rica, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Ghana, Guinea, Iceland, Ireland, Kenya, Korea, Madagascar, Mauritania, Mexico, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Peru, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Tanzania, Togo, Uganda, United Kingdom, United States, Uruguay.

Eligibility Criteria

  • The 2016 call is only open to GBIF Participants (mentioned above).
  • All project concept notes and proposals must be jointly prepared by all the partners involved in the project, with one Participant acting as the main contact point in each proposal.
  • Only concept notes that have been endorsed by the Head of Delegation or Node Manager of a GBIF Participant and in which all partners have confirmed their participation will be considered eligible for evaluation.

How to Apply

Applicants must download the Concept notes via given website.

For more information, please visit Global Biodiversity Information Facility.

2016 South Africa Youth Development Fund: Serving Freedom, Equity, Security and Human Dignity to Youth!

Deadline: 8 April 2016

The TK Foundation is seeking applications from non-profit organizations for its South Africa Youth Development Fund 2016. The foundation envisions a world where all youth have access to opportunities that allows them freedom, equity, security and human dignity.

The TK Foundation is interested in supporting youth development programmes that are meeting the needs of motivated disadvantaged youth ages 15-25 through innovative and effective programmes that improve educational achievement and prepare the programme’s young beneficiaries for employment and careers that will allow them to become self sufficient in adulthood.

Focus Areas

  • Improving youths’ educational achievement
  • Preparing youth for succeeding in the workforce
  • Providing support services to youth
  • Promoting youth leadership skills

Grants Information

Grant awards will range between R900, 000 and R4.5 million over three years.

Eligibility criteria

  • Eligible applicants must be Non-Profit / Public Benefit Organisations that are exempt from income tax under Section 30 of the Income Tax Act.
  • Applicants are to be located in, and/or have programmes operating within South Africa.
  • Applicants must operate without discrimination on the basis of race, religion, gender, sexual orientation, age, national origin, or disability.
  • Applicants who are a previous or current TK Foundation Fund grantee must have completed all reporting requirements to date.

How to Apply

Applicants must apply online via given website.

For more information, please visit South Africa Youth Development Fund.

Call for Applications: ACU Early Career Academic Grants 2016

Deadline: 15 April 2016

The Association of Commonwealth Universities (ACU) is currently inviting applicants from ACU member universities for its Early Career Academic Grants 2016.

Applications will be strengthened by the applicant providing evidence of the submission/acceptance of a paper or poster, or other communication with the conference organisers.

Eligible Countries

  • Australasia: Australia, New Zealand
  • Caribbean: Antigua and Barbuda, The Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Dominica, Grenada, Guyana, Jamaica, St Kitts and Nevis, St Lucia, St Vincent and the Grenadines, Trinidad and Tobago
  • East Africa: Uganda, Kenya, Malawi, Mauritius, Mozambique, Rwanda, Seychelles, Tanzania, Zambia, Zimbabwe
  • East Asia: Brunei Darussalam, Hong Kong, Malaysia, Singapore
  • Europe: Cyprus, Malta, United Kingdom
  • North America: Canada
  • South Asia: Bangladesh, India, Maldives, Pakistan, Sri Lanka
  • South Pacific: Fiji, Kiribati, Nauru, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tonga, Tuvalu, Vanuatu
  • Southern Africa: Botswana, Lesotho, Namibia, South Africa, Swaziland
  • West Africa: Cameroon, Ghana, Nigeria, Sierra Leone

Grants Information

Grants can be used to cover travel and visa costs, conference fees, accommodation, and subsistence.

Eligibility Criteria

  • Applicants must be employed in an academic role by an ACU member institution (mentioned above).
  • Applications are open to university staff who are less than ten years from the start of their employment in an academic role.
  • Academic staff who have recently returned to work after a career break can also be considered: applicants to whom this criteria applies should make this clear in their application.

How to Apply

Applicants must fill the application form via given website.

Note: The grant must be used to participate in a conference between 1 July 2016 and 31 December 2016.

For more information, please visit Academic Grants.