NL: Fourth call Food & Business Global Challenges Programme

NWO-WOTRO has launched the fourth call for proposals for the Food & Business Global Challenges Programme (GCP). GCP aims to generate research-based advanced understanding of 1) emerging key issues in food security and their impact on regional and local food security and 2) the role of private sector development. This fourth GCP call specifically focuses on contributing to business models, incentives and innovative finance for scaling Climate Smart Agriculture. The call is developed in close collaboration with the Food & Business Knowledge Platform (F&BKP) and the CGIAR Research Programme on Climate Change, Agriculture and Food Security (CCAFS).

Transdisciplinary proposals can be submitted by teams of researchers and other (public/private) partners from both the Netherlands and from at least one Low- and Middle-Income Country (LMIC).

Purpose
The Food & Business GCP aims to encourage scientific research and innovation projects (covering technological, organizational, policy, and social innovations) on food security and related private sector development that contribute to long-term access to affordable, safe and nutritious food for vulnerable and resource-poor populations in LMICs.

The focus of this call has been identified by the Steering Committee of the Food & Business Knowledge Platform in consultation with experts, including those from CCAFS. To facilitate outcomes, proposed activities should be complementary to and reinforce existing (field) research initiatives of CCAFS. The aim of this call is to contribute to business models, incentives and innovative finance for scaling Climate Smart Agriculture.

Who can apply
Proposals should be submitted by consortia of research organisations, a public and/or private organisation from an LMIC and CCAFS.

The consortium coordinator (who is the main applicant) should be a senior researcher with a PhD degree employed by a Dutch research institute (partner 1). Other consortium members should be at least one senior researcher from an LMIC research organisation (partner 2), a representative of another (non-academic) public or private organisation from the LMIC involved (partner 3) and a CCAFS Project Leader (partner 4). Partner 3 can be from any public or private organisation that can be seen as an actor or stakeholder in food security. Partner 4 can be identified in consultation with CCAFS.

Additional partners from (other) LMIC or high income countries are welcomed and encouraged.

What to apply for
A maximum of 250,000 euro can be applied for per Fast Track Research project (FTR), with a duration of two to three years. FTR projects focus on short-term research and may consist of exploratory research, policy oriented research or research with a more applied focus, but should remain of an analytical nature. Each consortium can apply for one FTR project. This call invites full proposals for FTR projects to be submitted, preceded by a Letter of Intent.

In-kind co-funding of CCAFS to cover the personnel costs of partner 4 is a prerequisite.

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