Deadline: 1-Mar-21
TESF is inviting expressions of interest from research teams based in Rwanda, Somalia/ Somaliland and South Africa interested in developing proposals for plus funded research projects that can assist us in meeting their objectives.
The Transforming Education for Sustainable Futures (TESF) Network Plus is a research network funded by the UK Global Challenges Research Fund for three and a half years. They have partners in India, Rwanda, South Africa, Somalia/Somaliland (their countries of research focus) as well as in the UK and the Netherlands.
Their aim is to generate new knowledge that can assist education policy makers, institutions, non-governmental and community-based organizations and businesses in their countries of research focus to implement education policies and practices that can contribute to equitable and environmentally sustainable development in the following areas:
- Skills and agency of young people and adults for sustainable livelihoods;
- Sustainable cities and communities;
- Climate action.
Research Objectives
- Objective One
- Develop a sustainable network of researchers based in universities, NGOs, government departments, social movements and community-based organisations with the capacity to undertake rigorous transdisciplinary, innovative, impactful research facilitated through the work of four national hubs in India, Rwanda, Somalia/Somaliland and South Africa.
- Objective Two
- Synthesise and disseminate existing and emerging knowledge about the nature of sustainable development and how it shapes the need for transformative education system change.
- Objective Three
- Co-produce the evidence and arguments urgently needed to transform education and training systems so that they become drivers of socially and environmentally just development.
Funding Information
- They anticipate funding approximately 70 plus funded research projects in their countries of research focus within an overall budget of approximately £2 million. This summary includes the projects they will be funding in India, which are not covered by this call.
- There are three levels of award:
- £5-10k;
- £10-30k;
- £30-100k.
- Proposals under £30k will last for a maximum of 12 months and support activities that have a strong capacity development element;
- Proposals over £30k will last for a maximum of 18 months. They are targeted at more experienced researchers and research teams but should also be innovative in nature and support capacity development.
What kinds of activities are eligible?
A grant may be used for any research related activity and to communicate the findings of research. Activities that are not eligible for funding include:
- Activities that do not contain an element of new research;
- Fees for individuals to undertake university undergraduate or postgraduate courses;
- Any application where equipment forms over 25% of the total budget;
- Any application where more than 10% of the total budget goes to researchers or organizations outside of the countries of research focus.
Who is eligible to apply?
- The project team will be composed of a Principal Investigator (PI) (responsible for the leadership of the project) and up to three Co-Investigators (Co-Is). The PI must be based in Rwanda, Somalia/Somaliland or South Africa.
- Where an Investigator is from is judged by the location of the institution at which they are employed. There are instances where an institution, such as an NGO, might be based in one country, but operate in another. In this instance, the application needs to demonstrate that the majority of work, including the work of the individual investigator, will be taking place in one of the countries of research focus. The calls in Rwanda and South Africa are open calls.
Which host institutions are eligible?
- The host institution must be based in Rwanda, Somalia/Somaliland or South Africa. The application must be made through a host organization (e.g. a University, Research Institute, an NGO, government department, business, school, community group social enterprise, arts or cultural organization) where the appropriate authority has agreed for the application to take place.
For more information, visit https://tesf.network/call-for-proposals/