The 2015 internal call for proposals for taxonomic research and capacity building for RBINS researchers is open!

In 2014, the RBINS renewed its specific convention with the Belgian Development Cooperation. The CEBioS programme (formerly known as the DGD-RBINS programme) is in charge of the implementation of this specific convention. The overall goal of this convention is to alleviate poverty in developing countries by reinforcing human and technical capacity so that conservation and sustainable management and use of biodiversity and ecosystem services can be achieved.

The first specific objective of the CEBioS programme is to strengthen the scientific and technical knowledge base on biodiversity and on its linkages with ecosystem services and poverty reduction.

One of the expected results of this specific objective is to build new scientific and technical expertise or to increase the existing expertise of our partners in the South. To that aim, in 2015, we will fund taxonomic research projects that have clear-cut poverty reduction components and that respond to clearly identified taxonomic or curatorial needs within an eligible developing country. Every project must include some training of recipient country personnel/students within the country, as well as a component of dissemination or extension.

Please note that the list of eligible countries has been modified according to the new Belgian Development Cooperation Policy. The eligible countries are: Algeria*- Benin* - Bolivia* - Burkina Faso – Burundi* - Cabo Verde - Cambodia - Cote d'Ivoire - DR Congo* - Ecuador* - Gambia - Ghana - Guinee - Guinee Bissau - Kenya - Laos - Liberia – Mali* - Morocco* - Mozambique* - Niger* - Nigeria - Palestinian Territory* - Peru* - Rwanda* - Senegal* - Sierra Leone - South Africa* - Tanzania* - Thailand - Togo – Uganda* - Vietnam*.

Priority will be given to projects taking place in countries belonging to the 18 priority partner countries of governmental cooperation (with an asterisk in the above list) and/or with partner institutions of the CEBioS programme (UAC, OBPE,…).

These research and training projects are open to application by all RBINS researchers. The maximum allocated budget is 15,000 € for one year.

The deadline for the submission of proposals is 17 April 2015. Selected projects will be announced on 30 April 2015. Projects will be able to start as soon as the promoter has signed a Memorandum of Understanding linked to his project. Projects must end before 31 December 2015.

Projects can be submitted in English or French.

More information regarding the call here: http://www.taxonomy.be/gti_calls/grants_seekers/inside_be/

Please note that this information has expired.