Call for research applications on sustainable development in developing countries

List of those who has received a grant.

The Swedish Research Council Formas and Sida (Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency) will together fund a two-year program with the aim to promote participation of scientists from Sweden in sustainability research in developing countries. The overall intention is to contribute to global sustainable development in the spirit of the UN Conference in Johannesburg 2002. The program will start 1st of January 2010 and 10 million SEK per year will be available, with Formas and Sida contributing equal shares.

Missions of Formas and Sida
Formas promotes high-quality research in support of sustainable societal development. Such a development requires that the health and welfare of man and animals together with biodiversity, environment, nature’s production capacity, economy as well as ethical, social and cultural aspects, should all be considered. Formas funds environmental research, agricultural research, building research and research on urban and rural development.

Sida’s overall objective within this program is to strengthen the research capacity of developing countries and to promote development-oriented research. Sida also aims to promote scientific co-operation between researchers in Sweden and in developing countries.

Eligibility
The applications must be relevant for Formas areas of responsibility - Formas research strategy 2009 – 2012 and for Sida´s areas of responsibility - Sida Strategy for research Cooperation 2010- 2014.

While the Sida-funding is restricted to research at the institutes or field stations within the CGIAR-system, Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research www.cgiar.org, the Formas-funding is open for research at other institutes or universities as well.

A project can last for one or two years and should comprise a 2-4 month stay per year for the main applicant from Sweden at a host research organisation in a developing country. The stay could be distributed on two or more occasions, but no individual stay should be shorter than 1 month. This call covers research visits during 1 January 2010 – 31 December 2011.

The main applicant should have a PhD and be employed at a Swedish university or research institute when the application is submitted. The university or the institute in Sweden will administer the grant. 

The project should have a co-applicant (also PhD), employed by the host organisation, who will actively participate in the research. The name, role and CV of the co-applicant have to be given in the application. One short visit (maximum 2 months) in Sweden for the co-applicant can be included in the project.

Research plan
A research plan must be included in the application and be prepared in cooperation with the co-applicant. It should describe the rationale for the project and present the theoretical framework and the state of the art in the international literature. Key references should be included. The methodology should be outlined and costs specified. The importance of the project for sustainable development in developing countries must be explained. 

Budget
Valid major costs are those related to the Swedish applicant, i.e. salary during the visit in the host country, travelling from and back to Sweden, accommodation and subsistence allowance in the host country. Other research-related costs in the host country may also be applied for, e.g. occasional labour, material, analyses and travelling. The CGIAR institutes are expected not to require bench fees. Salary for the co-applicant from the host organisation may not be included. However, costs (travel, accommodation and subsistence allowance) for one visit in Sweden may be applied for. A normal application should not exceed 500 000 SEK per year. The total costs of the project, divided into direct and indirect costs (overhead) should be included in the application.

Submission of applications
Applications should be submitted digitally via an online form on Formas' website. The last day for submitting applications is 1st of December 2009. Please read and consider relevant parts in Formas' Handbook 2009.

An authorized representative of the host organisation should provide a letter of invitation that affirms that the main applicant from Sweden is welcome to perform the intended joint research and that the necessary facilities are in place. This letter of invitation (Appendix I) should be submitted with the digital application, but a signed version should also be sent without delay to Formas by ordinary mail. The receipt of this signed version, at the latest on 20th of December 2009, is required for the final approval of the application.

Evaluation of applications
An expert panel appointed by Formas, also including Sida representation, will evaluate the applications. Formas' Scientific Council will make the final decision on funding at their meeting in February 2010.

For further information please contact 
Senior International Officer Viktoria Halltell
Phone: +46 8-775 40 62
E-mail: