Please note that the deadline for the call in the application of Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning in Agriculture and Health Service Delivery in Malawi, Zambia and Zimbabwe has been extended.
The closing date has been moved from 14th to 28th August, 2023. All aspiring applicants may still apply.
The “African-German Scientific Exchange” enters its third round – this time in the field of neurosciences and invites researchers from all African countries and Germany to initiate international scientific collaboration.
The “African-German Scientific Exchanges” are designed as integrated two-staged initiatives:
The initiative will be enriched by an integrated “Forum: Connect and Exchange” for the funded research teams to expand African-German networks and give opportunity for mutual learning.
Opening Date: 11th September 2023
Closing Date: 10th October 2023
BACKGROUND
The National Science and Technology Council (NSTC) of the Republic of Zambia and Ministry of Environment, Science, Technology and Innovation of the Republic of Ghana are participating in the Science Granting Councils Initiative in Sub Saharan Africa (SGCI). The SGCI seeks to strengthen the capacities of Science Granting Councils (SGCs) in supporting research and evidence-based policies that will contribute to socio-economic development of the countries. The Initiative is jointly funded by the United Kingdom’s Department for International Development (DFID), Canada’s International Development Research Centre (IDRC), South Africa’s National Research Foundation (NRF), the Swedish International Development Co-operation Agency (SIDA), the German Research Foundation (DFG), the UK´s Foreign Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) and the Norwegian Agency for Development Cooperation (NORAD). The SGCI works through Cooperating Technical Agencies (CTAs), among them being the African Centre for Technology Studies (ACTS). The ACTS is an intergovernmental research think tank focused on strengthening the capacity of African countries to harness application of science, technology and innovation policies for sustainable development in Africa.
In contributing to national research systems in the two countries, NSTC and MESTI are partnering to jointly manage a Grant from IDRC/FCDO, being disbursed by the African Centre for Technology Studies (ACTS)-led Consortium of collaborating Technical Agencies (CTAs) of the SGCI. The grant will support applied research projects in Ghana and Zambia and will encourage the participation of female researchers.
The broad thematic area of focus for this Bilateral Joint Call is Food Production and Processing / Agro-processing specifically focussing on enhancing the Tomatoe, Pineapple and Mango value chains in Ghana and Zambia. The Call will support research projects addressing one or more facets of food production and processing /Agro processing such as processing, preservation, storage, value addition and other post-harvest management of tomatoes, pineapples and mangoes.
RATIONALE OF THE BILATERAL COLLABORATIVE CALL
In line with these global aspirations, Zambia in its National Agriculture Policy 2012-2023 has a vision to develop a competitive and diversified agricultural sector driven by equitable and sustainable agricultural development through promoting sustainable increase in agricultural productivity of major crops with comparative advantage. Similarly, Ghana in its Accelerated Agricultural Growth and Development Strategy (AAGDS) has an objective of accelerating agricultural growth in order to enable it contribute to the country’s economic growth.
Zambia and Ghana are endowed with a variety of agricultural produce, which sometimes goes to waste due to limited food conservation and value addition processes. Investing in applied research in food processing and value addition offers economic, social and environmental benefits. Adding value to agricultural products contributes to sustainable development, poverty reduction and improved food security while promoting innovation and economic development in the food sector. To contribute towards efforts to enhance value addition in food production in the two countries, NSTC and MESTI seek to fund collaborative research projects in the area of Food production and processing / Agro processing, specifically focussing onenhancing the Tomatoe, Pineapple and Mango value chains.
Processing tomatoes, pineapples and Mangoes will transform these raw agricultural products into high value products that would create new market opportunities and result in both economic and social benefits. It can contribute to food security by improving the shelf life and reducing post-harvest losses. Value addition to tomatoes, pineapples and mangoes can promote the coordination and integration of various players along the value chain and enable the two countries to diversify their export portfolios.
The Bilateral Collaborative Call aims at fostering international cooperation and knowledge exchange between the two countries, with the view of promoting value addition to fruits and vegetables produced in the two countries, to increase industry competitiveness, job creation and reduce poverty. The specific objectives are to:
ELIGIBILITY
Note: Applicants have the responsibility to find research partners in the collaborating country.
SCOPE OF FUNDING
i. The maximum funding amount per research project is 550,000.00 Ghana Cedis for the research team in Ghana and not exceeding ZMW800,000.00 for the research team in Zambia.
A guide on how to use the OGMS is available on the NSTC website www.nstc.org.zm.
CONTACT DETAILS:
For further information and inquiries, contact
In Ghana:
Wilfred Edem Dennis
Telephone: +233 243274389
Principal Research Officer (MESTI)
E-mail: wilfred.dennis@mesti.gov.gh
Mr. Cephas Adjei Mensah
Director, Research, Statistics and Information Management and HORC (MESTI)
Telephone: +233 244888566
E-mail: cephas.mensah@mesti.gov.gh
In Zambia:
Phica N. Jalabani
Telephone: +260-211-255854
E-mail: pnjalabani@nstc.org.zm
Atridah Mulonga
Telephone: +260-211-255854
E-mail: amulonga@nstc.org.zm
For more details, find the full call in the attachment Above.
APPLICATION PERIOD: 4TH SEPTEMBER 2023 – 13TH OCTOBER 2023
DEADLINE FOR SUBMISSION: 13TH OCTOBER 2023 at 23:59Hrs
The National Commission on Research, Science and Technology (NCRST), Namibia and the National Science and Technology Council (NSTC), Zambia, within the framework of the Science Granting Councils Initiative (SGCI), invites interested researchers from Namibia and Zambia to respond to this Call.
Strategic thematic area: Climate-smart Agriculture
Focus Area: Agriculture with focus on Climate-smart agriculture technologies that are to provide a means to respond to the challenges posed by climate change.
Call Objective: The objective of the call is to minimize the impact of climate change on the agriculture sector throughutilizing climate smart technologies and techniques that will enhance market access for agricultural producers.
Project Location: Namibia and Zambia
TO APPLY: visit www.ncrst.na and www.nstcms.nstc.org.zm for detailed Call Guidelines and online application.
For more information, please contact:
Namibia: Oswald Mughongora, Telephone: +264 61 431 7000; E-mail: omughongora@ncrst.na
Zambia: Phica N. Jalabani, Telephone: +260-211-255854; E-mail:pnjalabani@nstc.org.zm
A critically important part of any research project is telling others about what your research found. On 5th September 2023, 11–12 AM Central Africa Time, Springer Nature, in partnership with the National Science and Technology Council of Zambia, is hosting a webinar on scientific and scholarly publishing for Zambian researchers.
In this webinar, we’ll introduce you to the fundamentals of publishing your research results, from understanding the structure of a typical research paper to deciding where to submit it. We’ll explain the peer review process and the procedures that will lead to your paper being published. And we’ll describe the training resources that are available to you through Nature Masterclasses Online to learn more about how to write clear and impactful research papers and to ensure that your research is read by those who need to hear about it.
To attend the webinar, please register here: https://forms.gle/Ao2CUiMsaqk5dfXw9
1.0 BACKGROUND
The National Commission for Science and Technology (NCST) of the Republic of Malawi, the National Science and Technology Council of Zambia (NSTC) and the Research Council of Zimbabwe (RCZ) are participating in the Science Granting Councils Initiative (SGCI) Phase II-plus. During this phase, NCST, NSTC and RCZ are jointly administering a Grant aimed at managing collaborative research calls in the application of artificial intelligence in agricultural and health service delivery in Malawi, Zambia and Zimbabwe. The Initiative is funded by the African Centre for Technology Studies.
Under this collaborative agreement, NCST, NSTC and RCZ purpose to strengthen research collaborations between researchers in the three countries on application of Artificial Intelligence in agriculture and delivery of health services. It is the vision of this joint collaboration to strengthen the sustainability of health and agricultural systems through artificial intelligence in pursuance of sustainable economies and societies.
2.0 RATIONALE AND SCOPE OF THE JOINT CALL
In a bid to promote the utilisation of emerging technologies in the socio-economic development of Malawi, Zambia and Zimbabwe there is need to leverage these technologies on our existing capacities so as to improve livelihoods. Research collaborations on artificial intelligence in health and agriculture can drive innovation, solve real-world challenges, and bridge the gap between research and implementation. In that regard, the contribution of artificial intelligence in generating sectoral and organizational efficacies and efficiencies is key to developing nations which seek immediate solutions their health and agriculture systems. By bringing together experts from various national boundaries, diverging fields and involving industry stakeholders from the three countries in the research process, it is envisaged that this programme can develop more effective and practical artificial intelligence based solutions that have the potential to transform the health and agriculture sectors of Malawi, Zambia and Zimbabwe.
3.0 THEMATIC FOCUS
Researchers in the area of artificial intelligence and machine learning directed to health and agriculture in Malawi, Zambia and Zimbabwe will collaborate to prepare trilateral research proposals focusing on either artificial intelligence application in health systems and agriculture. Project proposals submitted under this call may include, but are not limited to, the following research areas:
4.0 EXPECTED OUTCOMES
It is expected that interventions of the projects will improve the utilization of emergent technologies in the above stated areas of health and agriculture sector of Malawi, Zambia and Zimbabwe. Projects should also aim within their proposed duration to enhance the capacity of researchers and relevant sectors in the practicability of artificial intelligence.
5.0 FUNDING LEVEL
The budget limit for project activities in the proposal will be not more than the local equivalent of USD 45,000.00for the research team in Malawi and Zambia, while in Zimbabwe the budget limit for project activities will be USD 45,000.00. Budget modalities will include three separate budgets, one for each team representative of their respective countries. Collaborative research projects will be implemented for a period not exceeding nineteen months (19 months) from 1st October 2023 to 31st July, 2025. Permissible budget items include the following:
The mode of application and submission of the full application package (i.e with all the required attachments) shall primarily be through the web-based online grants management system of both NCST at www.grants.ncst.mw; RCZ at https://rczgrants.org/ and NSTC at https://nstcms.nstc.org.zm/web/ . Application packages submitted via email will NOT be accepted under this Grant scheme.
Any enquiries from Malawi researchers should be directed to Mr Kondwani Gondwe at kgondwe@ncst.mw. Enquiries from Zimbabwe researchers should be sent to Ms Zolisa Gumede at zgumede@rcz.ac.zw .Enquiries from Zambia should be sent to Atridah Mulonga on srf@nstc.org.zm.
Call Closing Date: 28th August, 2023
For more details, download the full call details below.
GIZ: Think SADC – e-learning program for Agricultural Management of natural resources via climate-smart agricultural technologies in the context of climate change: TEAM3C project Invites you to the upcoming virtual stakeholder engagement see the invitation below for your attention. Follow the workshop link STAKEHOLDER ENGAGEMENT WORKSHOP – 30 May 2023 (arc.agric.za) to learn more about the event and registration.
Call Opening Date: 24th May 2023
Call Closing Date: 24th June 2023
1.0 BACKGROUND
The Fundo Nacional de Investigação (FNI) of the Republic of Mozambique and the National Science and Technology Council (NSTC) from the Republic of Zambia are science granting councils participating in the Science Granting Councils Initiative (SGCI) for Sub Saharan Africa.
The SGCI seeks to strengthen the capacities of the participating SGCs in supporting research and evidence-based policies that will contribute to socio-economic development of the countries. The Initiative is jointly funded by the United Kingdom’s Department for International Development (DFID), Canada’s International Development Research Centre (IDRC), South Africa’s National Research Foundation (NRF), the Swedish International Development Co-operation Agency (SIDA), the German Research Foundation (DFG), the UK´s Foreign Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) and the Norwegian Agency for Development Cooperation (Norad).
In contributing to their national research systems, the SGCs (in the two countries) secured a Grant from the International Development Research Centre under the auspices of the SGCI which aims at supporting research projects in sustainable economies and societies.
2.0 RATIONALE AND SCOPE OF THE JOINT CALL
Sustainable development means that the needs of the present generation should be met without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs. Economies must be productive to meet the needs of the world’s growing population. Societies must be inclusive, providing opportunities for decent work for all, reducing inequalities and effectively eliminating poverty. In implementing sustainable development strategies, it is important to foster international cooperation among countries. In this context sustainable economies and societies: Sustainable Agriculture Practices and Renewable Energy was identified as research priority area to develop collaboration between Mozambique and Zambia.
To contribute towards efforts to enhance the implementation of sustainable economies and societies in the two countries, FNI and NSTC will fund collaborative research projects in this area. The objective of this Bilateral Joint Call is to generate critical knowledge that will help in strategic development and utilization of sustainable economies and societies to increase industry competitiveness, improve service delivery and reduce poverty.
3.0 THEMATIC FOCUS
The researchers in the two countries will collaborate to prepare joint research proposals in the priority area named below. The FNI and NSTC will, therefore, co-fund demand-led, collaborative research projects that address issues of relevance in the following priority areas in which research project proposals are invited;
a) Sustainable economies and societies: sustainable agriculture practices e.g. organic farming, green enterprises, crop rotation, increased crop diversity, integrated pest management (IPM), integration of livestock and crops, sustainable agroforestry practices, and precision farming),
b) Renewable energy (e.g. solar, wind, water, geothermal, biomass energy etc)
APPLICATION GUIDELINES AND ELIGIBILITY
The application guidelines and other requirements including eligibility criteria are downloadable from any of the following website and links;
www.fni.gov.mz/ http://gms.fni.gov.mz/sistemamonitoria/
5.0 SUBMISSION AND PROCESSING OF PROPOSALS
Submission of an application package should be in a form of electronic copy. The deadline for submission is 24th June, 2023. Application package shall include full proposal specified herein; Principal Investigator’s covering letter; letter of support from the institution of the Principal Investigator; and CVs of the Principal Investigators. Applications received after the deadline will not be considered. When the full application package is duly completed save the document as “last names of principal investigators–NSTC-FNI Call for Proposals 2023”. The electronic copy should be in PDF.
6.0 ENQUIRIES
Any enquiries from researchers shall be directed as follows;
a) Enquiries from researchers in Zambia should be directed to Atridah Mulonga on amulonga@nstc.org.zm and Phica Jalabani on pnjalabani@nstc.org.zm (Telephone +260-211-255854).
b) Enquiries from researchers from Mozambique should be directed to Dirce Madeira on dirce.madeira@fni.gov.mz or dmadeiramac@gmail.com (Tel No. 258-845-633807) and Edson Faria on edson.faria@fni.gov.mz (Tel No. 258-844-122705)
The National Science and Technology Council (NSTC), gives annual Science and Technology (S&T) Merit Awards in the male and female scientists categories, to recognize their outstanding achievements and contributions in advancing the socio-economic development of the country through research and development in science and technology.
The NSTC is hereby inviting Zambian scientists/researchers, to enter the 2022 S&T Merit Awards. candidates are required to complete and submit the Individual S&T Merit Award Application Form, which can be accessed by following the link below:
https://nstc.org.zm/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/2022-Individual-ST-Merit-Award-Application-Form.doc
Applications should be submitted to zsc2022@nstc.org.zm by Friday 11th November 2022.
For more information, visit the NSTC website or Facebook page. For inquiries, contact Ms. Nsama Mataka or Mr. Raphael Zimba on Tel: +260-211-255854, E-mail: nmataka@nstc.org.zm; rkzimba@nstc.org.zm
NSTC – Committed to the promotion of Science, Technology and Innovation for improved quality of life in Zambia.
Pre-Call Announcement: Initiation of Cooperation in the Area of Agriculture between Sub-Saharan African and German Researchers
The Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG, German Research Foundation) invites interested scientists from all Sub-Saharan African countries and researchers at all universities and research institutes in Germany, explicitly including universities of applied sciences, to take part in a scientific exchange in the field of agricultural sciences with special emphasis on the sustainable intensification of agriculture. The invitation is issued in close cooperation with the Fundo Nacional de Investigação (FNI) of the Republic of Mozambique and the National Science and Technology Council (NSTC) of the Republic of Zambia.
This initiative covers all (interdisciplinary) research questions that are primarily concerned with agriculture. Subject areas include (integrated) animal production and cropping systems, animal and plant breeding technologies, soil and plant microbiome interaction, abiotic and biotic plant stressors, digital methods in agriculture, livestock farming and animal disease control as well as socioeconomic aspects of agriculture.
The aim of the initiative is for participating researchers to identify joint interests in the area of agricultural research and initiate new collaborative ventures.
The initiative comprises three consecutive steps:
Eligibility: Qualified researchers from all Sub-Saharan African countries and Germany are invited to take part in the initiative (as a rule they should hold a doctorate and have a track record in their respective research field). Applicants from German research institutions are required to fulfil the DFG eligibility requirements.
Submitted posters should reflect the profile of the researcher as well as showing their expertise, experience and contact details. At the same time, the posters should highlight current research interests and ideas for joint research projects. Posters that show solely the results of previous research projects are out of scope and will not be considered. Posters must comply with the template provided below. Researchers are required to submit their posters in either English or French by 30 September 2022. The submission of posters is a prerequisite for participation in the subsequent call for proposals.
Only posters that comply with the eligibility requirements (i.e. the duty to cooperate in the case of participants from Germany) and the scope of the initiative will be accepted and uploaded to a poster platform. The posters will only be accessible to participating researchers and to the partnering funding agencies. When the poster platform goes live, participating researchers will be invited to view all posters, contact potential collaboration partners, develop joint research ideas and prepare a DFG proposal for the Initiation of International Collaboration.
The call for the Initiation of International Collaboration serves to establish and facilitate collaborative relationships between researchers from Sub-Saharan Africa and Germany. For this purpose, three different modules are available: “Exploratory Workshops”, “Trips Abroad” and “Guest Visits”. In general, the DFG can only fund bilateral or multilateral Sub-Saharan African/German projects under this initiative. More details regarding the specifics of this call will be provided to the participants of the poster platform in October 2022. For further information on the programme and instructions for proposal preparation, please refer to the “Guidelines on Proposals for Grants to Support the Initiation of International Collaboration” (DFG form 1.813). Proposals must be submitted in English by 28 February 2023.
All proposals must include at least one applicant from Germany and one cooperation partner from Sub-Saharan Africa who have both previously submitted a poster. However, proposals can only be submitted by researchers from Germany. Scientists from Sub-Saharan Africa act as cooperation partners and can also receive funding.
Approved travel funds from the funding for the Initiation of International Collaboration must be used to enable Sub-Saharan African project partners to participate in a Status Workshop in Bonn in the week of 8 to 12 April 2024. This workshop will be organised centrally by the DFG with the aim of assessing the need for a possible joint call for project proposals and collect lessons learnt regarding the framework within which such Sub-Saharan African/German collaborations can evolve.
Participation in the workshop will be limited to applicants from Germany and their cooperation partners from Sub-Saharan Africa with funding under the Initiation for International Collaboration.
This call for proposals is also available in French:
Poster template:
Platform for poster upload:
Guidelines on Proposals for Grants to Support the Initiation of International Collaboration with Proposal Preparation Instructions (DFG form 1.813):
Please note the DFG’s data protection notice on research funding, which can be viewed and downloaded at:
If necessary, please also forward this information to those individuals whose data will be processed by the DFG due to their involvement in your project.
For questions on this initiative and DFG collaboration with African countries, please contact:
For questions concerning DFG funding of projects in the field of agricultural sciences, please contact:
For questions concerning the Fundo Nacional de Investigação (FNI), please contact:
For questions concerning the National Science and Technology Council (NSTC), please contact:
This text is available at
www.dfg.de/en/research_funding/announcements_proposals/2022/info_wissenschaft_22_54
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