Pour les chercheurs en Belgique
BOURSE DE TYPE 2 - Support for taxonomy-based research and training projects (in English only)
Who can apply?
If you are a member of the scientific staff of the Royal Belgian Institute of Natural Sciences you are eligible to enter a project proposal for this type of grant.
If you are not a member of the scientific staff of the Royal Belgian Institute of Natural Sciences you are not eligible for this type of grant. However, you are free to contact a member of the scientific staff of the Royal Belgian Institute of Natural Sciences to seek collaboration so that you can jointly submit a proposal. In any case the scientific staff member of the RBINS is the promoter of the project. To discover the scientific expertise available in the RBINS browse to our institute’s website.
With what kind of project can I apply?
This type of grant foresees limited funding (on average some 12,500 EUR) to initiate or elaborate taxonomic research projects that have clear-cut poverty reduction components and that respond to clearly identified taxonomic or curatorial needs within a developing country (list of eligible countries here). Projects must at all times expedite taxonomic research by enhancing the standing taxonomic and curatorial capacity in the developing country. As such, projects must include some training of recipient country personnel either within that country or in Belgium.
Projects that complement initiatives or programs that are already operational (even if carried out by another institution or funded by another country or relevant organization) are encouraged.
Projects may span only one year, but promoters may re-submit a prolongation of their project the following year.
How can I apply?
There exists no application form for this call for proposals. Proposals are to be structured as follows:
- Project summary - an umbrella statement of the project and an abstract of the entire proposal (maximum 250 words)
- Identified taxonomic or curatorial needs (maximum 100 words)
- Project description - a brief description of the proposed project (maximum four pages) that addresses the following items:
- short-term objectives of the project (to be achieved before 31 March of the year following the call for proposals);
- long-term objectives of the project (it must be specified when these will be achieved);
- the human and institutional infrastructure needed to accomplish the project;
- the main project milestones and a detailed timeline;
- institutional support and potential partnerships, if applicable;
- the technical and/or human resources necessary to complete the project. Sustainability - a brief description that demonstrates in concrete ways the long-term viability of the project (e.g. how will the gained taxonomic capacity be implemented in the developing country)
- Poverty reduction component - a brief description on how the gained taxonomic and/or curatorial capacity will alleviate poverty in the partner country
- Global change component - a brief description on how a better knowledge on the taxonomy of the focus taxon could possibly aid in showing the effects of climate change (for instance: documenting invasive species, change in distribution, …)
- Proposed project budget - a detailed budget that shows how DGDC support would be spent. It must be noted that the RBINS accountancy only operates with original receipts and that no per diem will be paid to the Belgian investigators.
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- Proposals can include information about contacts with other institutions (both nationally and internationally). Cooperation with the Royal Museum of Central Africa and the National Botanic Garden is encouraged.
Proposals must be submitted electronically to cbd-gti@naturalsciences.be. The Belgian National Focal Point to the GTI will at all times send an acknowledgment of receipt.
When can I apply?
Project proposals can only be entered when a call for proposals is open. Generally a call for proposals is launched around the end of each calendar year whereby the call stays open for two months. After closure of the call the Belgian GTI National Focal Point takes about one month to review and select the received applications.
The 2010 call for proposals opened on 1 February 2010 and will close on 15 March 2010 (midnight; GMT+1). Decision on eventual acceptance will be notified to all the candidates by31 March. All projects will be carried out between 1 April 2010 and 31 March 2011.
How will my project proposal be reviewed?
Successful projects will support the combined objectives of the Belgian Development Cooperation and the Global Taxonomy Initiative by:
- demonstrating a commitment to increase human and institutional taxonomic and/or collection management capacity;
- concentrating on partner developing countries or encompassing activities at the regional or sub-regional level.
Successful projects will have an identifiable and measurable outcome or product, which will have a demonstrable impact for developing countries, especially in the alleviation of poverty (e.g. management of natural resources, sanitation, bioprospecting, etc.)
This type of grant does not aim to finance infrastructure (buildings, cars, etc.). However, some financial support for training material and equipment will be considered on a case by case basis. For local participants a maximum of 2 to 3 months of salary at local rates can also be envisaged in the project proposal.
The review board will be composed of RBINS and DGDC members.
When will selected projects be executed?
Selected projects will be executed before the end of March of the calendar year following the launch of the call for proposals.
Principles by which selected projects will be executed?
Promoters of selected projects enter into a Memorandum of Understanding with the Belgian National Focal Point to the GTI. The structure and contents of this MoU adhere closely to the working philosophy of the Belgian National Focal point to the GTI, i.e. capacity building directly beneficial for partner developing countries.
Where can I get additional information?
Answers to the most common questions can be found in the FAQ section.
However, if you would still have an unanswered question, you can contact the Belgian GTI National Focal Point directly.
Drs Yves Samyn, Marie-Lucie Susini & Anne Franklin
Belgian National Focal Point to the Global Taxonomy Initiative
Royal Belgian Institute of Natural Sciences
Vautierstraat 29
B-1000 Brussels
Belgium
Tel.: +32 2 627 41 24 (Y. Samyn), +32 2 627 45 90 (M.L. Susini), +32 2 627 45 87 (A. Franklin)
Fax: +32 2 627 41 41
Email: cbd-gti@naturalsciences.be
