Deadline: 30-Apr-21
The International Water Management Institute (IWMI) is seeking proposals for the 2nd Round of Solar Irrigation for Agricultural Resilience (SoLAR) Innovation Fund (IF) Grants Program in South Asia funded by the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC).
This project aims to contribute to respective country governments’ national determined contribution (NDC) commitments of reducing emissions from agriculture through the promotion of solar irrigation.
The SoLAR Innovation Fund (IF) aims to support the development and testing of technological, financial and institutional innovations to address the constraints and challenges of scaling solar irrigation, with a special focus on the problems faced by small-scale, marginal, and women farmers in South Asia (specifically Bangladesh, Nepal, India and Pakistan). The IF will aim to support innovations and practices that can influence policy or be expanded and integrated into public, donor and private sector programs and practices with the support of additional funding sources.
The objectives of the IF are as follows:
- Support innovations that help to bridge the gaps that hamper the uptake of solar irrigation pumps in South Asia.
- Support innovations targeted at reducing barriers for sustainable adoption and use of solar irrigation pumps by small-scale, marginal, and women farmers.
- Support innovations that encourage the sustainable use of groundwater resources when using solar-based irrigation.
- Support innovations that enhance climate-resilient livelihood options for small-scale, marginal, and women farmers in the region.
Funding Information
- Funding per project: Individual proposals will be awarded between 40,000 and 50,000 CHF (equivalent USD).
- Period of projects: Minimum 12 months and maximum 24 months from the date of start of the project.
Geographic Scope: Bangladesh, India, Nepal and Pakistan
Criteria
Innovation fund grantees will be selected from an open competitive process. The SoLAR IF Grant will be open to all nongovernmental organizations, universities, technical institutes, research institutes, public and private sector enterprises and research laboratories, and government agencies, including local government institutions working in any of these four countries who are eligible for this grant. This is not a research grant, and all innovations have to be tested on the ground under real-life field conditions. Applicants must already have the required registrations and permits needed to work in the country they select, and proof of such registration/permit must be sent together with the application letter. Collaboration with Swiss firms/organizations is encouraged, though not mandatory.
Short-listed proposals will be judged on the following criteria:
- Nature and scope of the innovation and its relevance to the aims of this call
- Strategic and innovative value for meeting the challenges set out in the call
- Logic and clarity of the innovation and its design
- Technological, social, institutional and financial feasibility
- Potential for replication and scaling
- Effectiveness in improving climate change adaptation
- Financial viability of the innovation and exit strategy
- Value for money and cost-effectiveness of the project
- Expertise and qualifications of the project team
- Background and experience of the project team in handling similar projects
For more information, visit https://solar.iwmi.org/innovation-funds/call-for-innovation-funds-round-2/