Deadline: 7-Jul-23
The Botswana Digital & Innovation Hub has launched a bilateral call for research proposals in Agro-Processing and Renewable Energy.
The Science Granting Councils Initiative (SGCI) seeks to strengthen the capacities of the participating SGCs in supporting research and evidence-based policies that will contribute to socio-economic development of the countries. The Initiative is jointly funded by the United Kingdom’s Department for International Development (DFID). Canada’s International Development Research Centre (IDRC), South Africa’s National Research Foundation (NRF), the Swedish International Development Co-operation Agency (SIDA). the German Research Foundation (DFG). the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) and the Norwegian Agency for Development Cooperation (Norad).
Scope of the Call
- The demand for energy in the region has been rising due to economic activities in the countries, particularly in the mining, manufacturing and agriculture sectors. Energy generation in the region relies almost entirely on hydropower, however, the recent droughts experienced in the region have caused serious electricity supply deficits. Govemments are now actively seeking to enhance the renewable energy sector which has abundant renewable energy resources yet to be fully exploited. The Southern African Development Community (SADC) through its Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Strategy and Action Plan recommends that member states must achieve energy security by closing the current supply/demand deficit in the power sector and enable future economic growth and industrialization through transitioning to and/or increasing the use of renewable energy sources and developing innovative ways of using energy to drive sustainable development. Agro-processing and Renewable Energy was identified as National Research Priority Areas in Mozambique and Botswana.
- To contribute towards efforts to enhance the agroprocessing and renewable energy sector in the two countries, FNI and BDIH will fund collaborative research projects in both areas. The objective of this Bilateral Joint Call is to generate critical knowledge that will help in strategic development and utilization agriculture production and energy sources to diversify the energy mix and accelerate achievement of the countries’ energy generation targets, increase industry competitiveness, improve service delivery and reduce poverty.
Thematic Focus
- The researchers in the area of agriculture and renewable energy in the two countries will collaborate to prepare joint research proposals in the priority areas named below. The FNI and BDIH will, therefore, co-fund demand-led, collaborative research projects that address issues of relevance in the following priority areas in which research project proposals are invited;
- Agroprocessing
- Renewable Energy (Resource efficiency, sustainability of renewable energy systems. management of renewable energy systems for socio economic development)
Funding Information
- The budget limit for project activities in each research proposal will be no more than 2000 000MT for the research team in Mozambique. The budget limit for project activities for the research team in Botswana will not exceed BWP 650 000.
Criteria
- Note: Principal investigators from Mozambique will have to first download the application template, fill it and then upload it on the FNI online system together with other required documents as specified herein.
- For Botswana, Principal investigators, will have to first download the application template and forward to the research fund email address.
- All documents (full research proposal, CV, detailed budget, letters of support) have to be submitted in PDF.
- The review, selection of proposals and communication to applicants will be done by 18th August 2023, 1700 hrs CAT.
- All proposals will be received and processed in confidentiality with acknowledgment of intellectual property rights of the applicants.
- Decision of BDIH and FNI will be final.
For more information, visit Botswana Digital & Innovation Hub.