Research proposal writing courses

Many African farmers, especially in marginal areas, rely on neglected and underutilized species (NUS) for their livelihoods. But the commercialization of NUS is constrained by a weak knowledge base, poorly developed value chains and inadequate capacity and policies. Often, bottlenecks require biophysical and socio-economic research to generate new knowledge that value chain actors can apply to increase sales and profits.

The project ‘Strengthening capacities and informing policies for developing value chains of neglected and underutilized crops in Africa’,  through a grant from the EU-ACP Science & Technology programme, is seeking to develop such research capacity.

Bioversity International, the International Foundation for Science (IFS) and our partners now offer young African scientists training in the art of developing research project proposalsthat solve problems related to the value chains of Bambara groundnut and amaranth in particular, and NUS in general.

This Call for Research Applications is focused on the value chains of priority NUS plants in three sub-regions: Eastern Africa, Southern Africa, and West Africa, respectively. We are interested in applications that focus on:

1. The value chains of two target crops:  Bambara groundnut and amaranth (grain or vegetable). Preference will be given to applicants working on these crops.
2. Priority species of NUS plants, as identified at two regional workshops in 2010 (please refer to the call).
3. Other NUS plants of national/regional importance.

Three regional courses will be held, targeting scientists in eligible countries only (see table below).

Download the Call for Research Applications and the Application Form on this page. Please read both carefully and follow the instructions and guidelines for submitting an application and writing the research note on your proposed project.

Deadline for application is 24 August, 2014.

Submit your complete application to the relevant email indicated in the Call and Application form. Late applications will not be considered. Only the selected participants will be notified by 10 September 2014.

Date	Venue	Eligible countries	Organizer
27-31 Oct 2014	Zimbabwe	Botswana, Malawi, Mozambique,  South Africa, Zambia, Zimbabwe	Africa University, Zimbabwe
3-7 Nov 2014	Kenya	Burundi, Kenya,  Rwanda, South Sudan, Tanzania, Uganda	University of Nairobi, Kenya
17-21 Nov 2014	Benin	Benin, Burkina Faso, Ivory Coast,  Mali, Niger, The Gambia, Togo	Laboratory of Agricultural Biodiversity and Tropical Plant Breeding (LAAPT), Benin, in collaboration with University of Lomé, Togo

Course documents

• Full course announcement
  
• Application form

2014 Abdou-Salam Ouédraogo fellowship call now open

The Abdou-Salam Ouédraogo Fellowship strengthens the capacity of young forestry scientists (under 40 years of age) in sub-Saharan Africa.

The 2014 Fellowship is targeting research on forest genetic resources aspects of trees relevant to people’s livelihoods.

Applications should contain a research note that addresses a topic within the following priority areas: diversified forest/woodland management, conservation of tree genetic resources, and restoration of forested landscapes.

The Fellowship amounts up to US$ 10,000 and should be completed within 12 months.

Please read carefully the fellowship announcement and the application form below and follow the instructions and guidelines for submitting an application and writing the research note on your proposed project.

Deadline for application is 24 August, 2014.

Submit your complete application to the email indicated in the ASO Fellowship Announcement and Application Form.

Download Fellowship documents

• Full Fellowship Announcement
• Application Form

For more details, visit Bioversity International.

Youth Citizen Entrepreneurship Competition

The Youth Citizen Entrepreneurship Competition is an exciting new opportunity to develop your innovative ideas and projects to create positive change in your community and the world. With support and feedback from peers around the world, you can turn your passion for a better world into reality.

The Youth Citizen Entrepreneurship Competition is an international contest launched by The Goi Peace Foundation, Stiftung Entrepreneurship (Berlin) and UNESCO. The competition provides a global platform for young entrepreneurs who aspire to create positive change in their communities.

By highlighting the best examples of youth entrepreneurship, the competition aims to empower the young generation to take the initiative in social innovation and become pioneers in building a harmonious and sustainable society. With their innovative ideas and leadership, these global citizens will tackle some of the key challenges of today and offer a model of the entrepreneurial potential that will fuel our future.

All participants will receive free training at the online Entrepreneurship Campus. This training provides methods and techniques for developing ideas into solid business models, to turn a budding idea into a fully developed concept, or to improve on an existing business model.

Everyone has the potential to become an entrepreneur.

You do not have to be born as an entrepreneur,
you do not have to work twelve hours a day,
and you do not need a patent or a lot of capital.
You do not even need detailed knowledge of business management,
legal issues, marketing, or finance.
You only have to start your company from pre-existing components or by working in a team
to complete the missing competencies, instead of building everything yourself.
It is not easy, but you can do it!
You have the power to become a successful entrepreneur!

Deadline for submission of Idea: 30th June, 2014

Competition guidelines

Web 2.0 and Social Media Learning Opportunity University of Port Harcourt Choba, Rivers State, Nigeria 19-23 May 2014

Technological innovation is taking place at a breath-taking pace. Simple, open source internet-based applications and services designed to enhance on-line collaboration are now available to the wider public at little or no cost at all. These new online technologies known as Web 2.0 and ‘social media’ enable people to collaborate to create, share and publish information.

The Technical Centre for Agricultural and Rural Cooperation EU-ACP (CTA) has a mandate to facilitate access to and dissemination of information in the fields of agriculture and rural development in 78 countries in Africa, the Caribbean and the Pacific (ACP). Supporting the adoption of Web 2.0 applications represents a great opportunity for meeting it.

The University of Port Harcourt (UNIPORT) in collaboration with CTA will host a 5-day Web 2.0 Learning Opportunity on 19-23 May, 2014. Participants will be introduced to selected web 2.0 applications and will learn how to use them hands-on.The Learning Opportunity will cover advanced online searching, getting information served via alerts and RSS, collaborating remotely using wikis and Google Docs, using VoIP, online mapping and social media. Participants will get a chance to see what others have done, get hands-on experience on how to use innovative applications, and assess how they could adopt these innovations within the context of their work and organisation. This Learning Opportunity forms part of CTA initiatives that support development partners in networking, accessing and disseminating information more effectively.

Programme of the Learning Opportunity

• Introduction to the participatory World Wide Web (Web 2.0) and to Social Media;
• Search Magic: How to conduct advanced multilingual online searches;
• Information Self Service: How to get selected information served to you via alerts and RSS feeds;
• Remote collaboration: How to develop content remotely using wikis and Google Docs;
• Online mapping: How to locate your organisation and your projects on a online Map;
• How to communicate voice over the internet at no cost;
• Online publishing (micro-blogging and blogging);
• Professional / corporate social networking (LinkedIn and Facebook);
• Web 2.0 self-instruction (introduction to iMARK)

Participants – Eligibility and responsibilities

Participation in the Learning Opportunity is free of charge, but subject to acceptance by the organisers. 25 participants will be accepted for the event.

Eligibility criteria

• be computer literate and conversant with browsing the Internet;
• have regular access to a computer ( ownership of a computer is an advantage);
• be competent in the use of the English language;
• have an active e-mail account;
• be actively engaged in agriculture and rural development / natural resource management / biodiversity conservation in the domains of ICT for development (ICT4D), policies, markets; publishing, communication and media;
• be in a position to take along a WIFI-enabled laptop to the training;
• be a resident of Nigeria.

Responsibilities

Accepted participants will be responsible for all costs related to their travel to and from the venue at the University of Port Harcourt, their accommodation, breakfast and supper, their daily subsistence allowances, and for bringing their own WIFI-enabled laptop to the event.

Entitlements

During each event, the organisers will provide lunch and refreshments and distribute copies of CTA publications and instructional material.

Feedback

The organisers will inform successful applicants about the status of their application two weeks before the commencement of each course. Successful applicants will receive confirmation letters; others will be duly informed about the outcome of their application.

Apply, Click here. Deadline is 22nd April, 2014.

Download PDF here.

Source: Web2forDev Website

Intra-ACP Academic mobility Project: Inter-University Co-operation to Train Crop Scientists for Enhancing Agriculture in Africa (CSAA)

Deadline: 

 25 Mar 2014

What is the programme about?

The ACP-EU under its academic mobility programme, Mwalimu Nyerere, has provided funding to support training of graduate students in African universities. In this mobility programme twelve African partner institutions will collaborate in the training of professionals to enhance agricultural productivity and assure food security for sub-Saharan Africa.

43 Masters and 20 PhD will be trained in the thematic areas of Plant Production and Protection, Environment and Adaptation to Climate Change, Management of Protected Areas and Natural Grasslands, Dryland Management for Agriculture, Agro-forestry and Environment, Research Methods and Approaches in Agriculture and Women and Gender in Agriculture. In addition 10 administrative staff will participate in a capacity building program mainly in areas of financial and international student management among others.  Mobility partners will either act as sending and/or hosting institutions.  The project will provide fellowships for full degree programs (PhDs and MSc) as well as short term mobility for students and staff and will run from 2014 until 2018.

The project is expected to contribute to a) access to quality education and training b) resource rationalization c) regional networking and peer support  d) quality assurance and student mobility e) hasten training of mid-carrier level scientists f) providing new cadre of scientists and provide mobility of staff and students.

The Call for applications will open on 05th February 2014 and will close on 25th March 2014.   All applications sent to the host institution and co-ordinating will be submitted online.Information on host institutions and their admission requirements will be placed on the programme website.  Please note that candidates will only be allowed to apply to institution outside of their home countries.  Female candidates are particularly encouraged to apply.

Intra-ACP Academic mobility Project: Inter-University Co-operation to Train Crop Scientists for Enhancing Agriculture in Africa (CSAA) Website

PhD Position – Fishboost: Wageningen University

Deadline: 

 25 Mar 2014

Function

In the EU funded project Fishboost, the Animal Breeding and Genomics Centre of Wageningen University has a vacancy for a PhD student for four years.

The aim of FISHBOOST is to improve the efficiency and profitability of European aquaculture by advancing selective breeding to the next level for each of the six main finfish species (Atlantic salmon, common carp, European seabass, gilthead seabream, rainbow trout and turbot) through collaborative research with industry. Within this EU-funded project, the PhD candidate will contribute to the work package on economic evaluation of fish breeding in Europe. This work package aims for the six target species:

• to perform an economic review of existing breeding programs;
• to perform an economic assessment of traits;
• to perform a cost‐benefit analysis of existing breeding programs;
• to compare the impact of alternative selection indices.

Function Requirements

We are looking for a versatile team player with the following qualities:

• A motivated researcher with MSc degree
• Relevant experiences in animal breeding, economics, modelling or a related field
• Basic understanding of fish breeding and aquaculture is an asset
• Good understanding of economic analysis
• Affinity with modelling and statistical data analysis
• A keen interest in fundamental and applied research
• Has creative, innovative ideas and can initiate independently research
• Accurate in performing research
• Ability to execute the tasks as defined in the project proposal
• Excellent spoken and written communicative skills in English

Working conditions

We offer a full-time employment (38 hours a wee) as PhD research with the animal Breeding and Genetics Group for 18 months with a possible extension of 30 months after a positive evaluation. The gross salary will increase from € 2799,- in the first year to € 3831,- per month in the fourth year (baed on fulltime employment).

Contactinformation

Additional information can be obtained from dr. Hans Komen, e-mail:hans.komen@wur.nl

Phone +31-317-482335

How to apply

You can apply till 25 march 2014.  Please don’t email directly to the person mentioned above, but use the website to apply and upload your CV and short motivation letter.

Organization

Department of Animal Sciences, Animal Breeding and Genomics Centre

The Animal Breeding and Genetics Centre (ABGC) provides education and generates knowledge on the role and sustainable use of genetic variation in animals. ABGC contributes to our quality of life by generating knowledge to support the adequate supply of safe and healthy food of animal origin, and to enhance the health, welfare and productivity of animals. The group combines expertise in quantitative and molecular genetics related to the biological functioning of animals at population level. ABGC studies genetic variation in farm and companion animals, and examines opportunities to use naturally occurring genetic variation in selection schemes.

Fishboost

14 well-recognised RTD participants in Europe on aquaculture breeding will collaborate in this five year comprehensive research project with 7 SMEs, 4 large industries and 1 NGO throughout Europe. A mixture of low and high-tech technological advances will be developed to move the breeding programmes of the six main fin fish species to the next level. This step-change advance will facilitate balanced and sustainable breeding programmes applying a wide set of traits, breeding tools and technologies. For more information please visit Fishboost.

Wageningen University Jobsite

Web 2.0 and Social Media Learning Opportunity Bowen University Iwo, Osun State, Nigeria 07-11 April 2014

Technological innovation is taking place at a breath-taking pace. Simple, open source internet-based applications and services designed to enhance on-line collaboration are now available to the wider public at little or no cost at all. These new online technologies known as Web 2.0 and Social Media applications enable people to collaborate to create, share and publish information.

The Technical Centre for Agricultural and Rural Cooperation EU-ACP (CTA) has a mandate to facilitate access to and dissemination of information in the fields of agriculture and rural development in 78 countries in Africa, the Caribbean and the Pacific (ACP). Supporting the adoption of Web 2.0 applications and Social Media represents a great opportunity for meeting it.

The Bowen University in collaboration with CTA will host a 5-day Web 2.0 and Social Media Learning Opportunity on 7-11 April 2014. Participants will be introduced to selected web 2.0 applications including social media and will learn how to use them hands-on.

The Learning Opportunity will cover advanced online searching, getting information served via alerts and RSS, collaborating remotely using wikis and Google Docs, using VoIP, online mapping and social networking. Participants will get a chance to see what others have done, get hands-on experience on how to use innovative applications, and assess how they could adopt these innovations within the context of their work and organisation.

This Learning Opportunity forms part of CTA initiatives that support development partners in networking, accessing and disseminating information more effectively.

Programme of the Learning Opportunity

• Introduction to the participatory World Wide Web (Web 2.0) and to social media;
• Search Magic: How to conduct advanced multilingual online searches;
• ·         Information Self Service: How to get selected information served to you via alerts and RSS feeds;
• ·         Remote collaboration: How to develop content remotely using wikis and Google Docs;
• ·         Online mapping: How to locate your organisation and your projects on an online map;
• ·         How to communicate voice over the internet at no cost;
• ·         Online publishing (micro-blogging and blogging);
• ·         Professional / corporate social networking (LinkedIn and Facebook);
• ·         Web 2.0 self-instruction (introduction to IMARK).

Participants – Eligibility and responsibilities

Participation in the Learning Opportunity is free of charge, but subject to acceptance by the organisers. 25 participants will be accepted for the event.

Eligibility criteria

• be computer literate and conversant with browsing the Internet;
• have regular access to a computer (ownership of a computer is an advantage);
• be in a position to take along a WIFI-enabled laptop to the training;
• be competent in the use of the English language;
• have an active e-mail account;
• be actively engaged in agriculture and rural development / natural resource management / biodiversity conservation in the domains of ICT for development (ICT4D), policies, markets; publishing, communication and media; and
• be resident in Nigeria.

Responsibilities

Accepted participants will be responsible for all costs related to their travel to and from the venue at the Bowen University in Iwo, accommodation, breakfast and supper, daily subsistence allowances, and for bringing their own WIFI-enabled laptop to the event.

Entitlements

During each event, the organisers will provide lunch and refreshments and distribute copies of CTA publications and instructional material.

How to apply

If you are interested in applying, please click on this link to complete the online form.

Deadline for applications: 24 March, 2014

Feedback

The organisers will inform successful applicants about the status of their application ~two week before the commencement of the course. Successful applicants will receive confirmation letters. Others will be duly informed about the results of their application.

Web2forDev Website

Web 2.0 and Social Media Learning Opportunity, University of Namibia Windhoek, Namibia 07-11 April 2014

Technological innovation is taking place at a breath-taking pace. Simple, open source internet-based applications and services designed to enhance on-line collaboration are now available to the wider public at little or no cost at all. These new online technologies known as Web 2.0 and Social Media applications enable people to collaborate to create, share and publish information.

The Technical Centre for Agricultural and Rural Cooperation EU-ACP (CTA) has a mandate to facilitate access to and dissemination of information in the fields of agriculture and rural development in 78 countries in Africa, the Caribbean and the Pacific (ACP). Supporting the adoption of Web 2.0 applications and Social Media represents a great opportunity for meeting it.

The Department of Information and Communication Studies of the University of Namibia (UNAM) in collaboration with CTA will host a 5-day Web 2.0 and Social Media Learning Opportunity on 7-11 April 2014. Participants will be introduced to selected web 2.0 applications including social media and will learn how to use them hands-on.

The Learning Opportunity will cover advanced online searching, getting information served via alerts and RSS, collaborating remotely using wikis and Google Docs, using VoIP, online mapping and social networking. Participants will get a chance to see what others have done, get hands-on experience on how to use innovative applications, and assess how they could adopt these innovations within the context of their work and organisation.

This Learning Opportunity forms part of CTA initiatives that support development partners in networking, accessing and disseminating information more effectively.

Programme of the Learning Opportunity

• Introduction to the participatory World Wide Web (Web 2.0) and to social media;
• Search Magic: How to conduct advanced multilingual online searches;
• Information Self Service: How to get selected information served to you via alerts and RSS feeds;
• Remote collaboration: How to develop content remotely using wikis and Google Docs;
• Online mapping: How to locate your organisation and your projects on an online map;
• How to communicate voice over the internet at no cost;
• Online publishing (micro-blogging and blogging);
• Professional / corporate social networking (LinkedIn and Facebook);
• Web 2.0 self-instruction (introduction to IMARK).

Participants – Eligibility and responsibilities

Participation in the Learning Opportunity is free of charge, but subject to acceptance by the organisers. 25 participants will be accepted for the event.

Eligibility criteria

• be computer literate and conversant with browsing the Internet;
• have regular access to a computer (ownership of a computer is an advantage);
• be in a position to take along a WIFI-enabled laptop to the training;
• be competent in the use of the English language;
• have an active e-mail account;
• be actively engaged in agriculture and rural development / natural resource management / biodiversity conservation in the domains of ICT for development (ICT4D), policies, markets; publishing, communication and media; and
• be resident in Namibia.

Responsibilities

Accepted participants will be responsible for all costs related to their travel to and from the venue at the University of Namibia (UNAM), accommodation, breakfast and supper, daily subsistence allowances, and for bringing their own WIFI-enabled laptop to the event.

Entitlements

During each event, the organisers will provide lunch and refreshments and distribute copies of CTA publications and instructional material.

How to apply

If you are interested in applying, please click on this link to complete the online form.

Deadline for applications: 24 March, 2014

Feedback

The organisers will inform successful applicants about the status of their application ~two week before the commencement of the course. Successful applicants will receive confirmation letters. Others will be duly informed about the results of their application.

PhD course – Global Challenges: Urbanization, Livelihoods, and Food Security

A collaborative effort of SLU, University of Botswana, DocLinks, and ANAFE is providing opportunity for PhD students for a short course on Urbanization, Livelihoods, and Food security.

The course will take place between July 7th and August 15th 2014. During the first two weeks, the course participants will spend time at home reviewing the literature and preparing for the course. Then between July 28th and August 8th, the students will attend the course in Botswana together with other course participants and facilitators from around the world. The course programme will include lectures, discussions and four field trips. Lastly, the time between August 9th and August 15th, the students will be expected to complete their individual written assignments to successfully complete the course.

The residential venue for the course is at the University of Botswana main campus in Gaborone. The address is 4775 Notwane Rd. Gaborone, Botswana.

All PhD students from SLU, African Universities and other universities in Europe  that have relevant bachelor and master’s degrees, are welcome to apply for the course.

Funding from SLU will partially cover PhD students’ travel costs, accommodation, food costs, and other costs related to the course depending on need and availability of funds. The number of participants is limited to 30 students and it is necessary to apply to attend the course.

To apply, click here. Deadline for application is 30th April, 2014, will results of application will be published on 31st May, 2014.

For more details, click here.

PhD studentship in Agricultural Economics: Ghent University

• Last application date: Feb 15, 2014 12:00
• Department: LA01 – Department of Agricultural economics
• Contract: bepaald
• Degree: MSc-level university degree in in a relevant field Bioengineer, Economics, Political Science with specialisation in the field of econometrics
• Occupancy rate: 100%
• Vacancy Type: wp

Job Description

The MODERNA team of the department of Agricultural Economics of the Ghent University is seeking a highly motivated PhD student for a 4 years position. MODERNA stands for Modelling and Optimisation of Decisions in Economics, Resources, Nature and Agriculture. The candidate will conduct scientific research in the EU project ‘Improved Nutrient and Energy Management through Anaerobic Digestion (INEMAD)’. The current biomass and food production relies very heavily on the external input of nutrients such as nitrogen and phosphorus, produced by or harvested from fossil sources. The INEMAD project will analyse options to improve the recycling of nutrients and to make food, fibre and biomass production more sustainable (www.inemad.eu). The PhD candidate will focus on the modelling of the different technological options and their economic and environmental impact. The research in this project together with the research from other (European) and consultancy projects in the domain of agricultural and natural resources combined with econometric modelling will eventually result in a PhD at the Ghent Doctoral School (http://www.ugent.be/doctoralschools/en). This main task of research will alternate with disseminating your scientific findings and supervising dissertations of Master students. What we offer you: The position consists of a fulltime, four-year PhD position at Ghent University. We offer you the possibility to work in an academic environment with a dynamic atmosphere at one of the best ranked universities in Belgium (top 3) and worldwide (top 200). Our work is published in top journals such as the European Review of Agricultural Economics, Energy Policy, Journal of Economic Policy Reform, and Food Policy… Furthermore the different European projects gives you access to a broad European network. You get the opportunity to participate in national and international projects, to follow seminars and to present the research in Belgium and abroad to different stakeholders: policy makers, scientists, NGOs…

The Ghent University offers a unique world-class multidisciplinary PhD training programme. This provides students with in-depth, advanced research training, as well as training in professional and transferable skills.

Profile

• You are interested and want to broaden your knowledge about agriculture, nutrient management, technological processes for agro-based conversion of biomass into energy and nutrient recovery and related policy.
• You have some affinity with economic optimization, environmental impact assessment and policy simulation.
• Proficiency in English is a prerequisite.
• Experience with modelling software such as GAMS, R, Matlab, … is an advantage.
• You can work independently, are able to develop your own ideas and know how to communicate them. However you will ask for guidance and feedback whenever needed. You take your responsibility, meet deadlines and are persistent.

How to apply

The application (in English) should include:

• A motivation letter (maximum 1 page)
• curriculum vitae
• contact information (e-mail) of at least one referee

These documents should be sent to berenice.dupeux@ugent.be and ann.verspecht@ugent.be before the 15th of February.

Source: Ghent University, Belgium