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Upcoming webinar reviews Nagoya Protocol for sharing genetic resources

 The American Institute of Biological Sciences is holding a webinar on Thursday, February 27 when Patrick Reilly from the U.S. State Department will discuss the Nagoya Protocol, the system of rules for sharing genetic resources. 

During “Life Finds A Way: An Overview of the Nagoya Protocol from the U.S. Government,” Reilly will give a short history of how the protocol was developed, what it actually says (and what it doesn’t), the difference between monetary and non-monetary benefit sharing, and how the U.S. government can help.

 The Nagoya Protocol is a multilateral treaty that sets up a legal framework for utilizing genetic resources. It should be a part of every researcher’s thinking, from how to conduct research, to manage collections, and how to work with partners. Even for researchers based in the United States, familiarity with the protocol, and what it requires, is important as provider countries may have rules/regulations/laws that carry obligations that apply to samples even after they have left the country, such as restrictions on use, third party transfer, and tracking of any shared benefits.

The webinar will be February 27 from 1:30-2:30 p.m. Eastern Time. The session is free, but registration is required.

For more details or to register, go to https://www.aibs.org/events/webinar/nagoya-protocol.html

Submit a concept note to review programs in USAID resilience focus countries

USAID’s Bureau for Humanitarian Assistance is accepting concept notes – preferably from multidisciplinary teams of researchers and development professionals – to undertake a resilience, food and nutrition security Desk Review and Market Study (DRMS); a Political Economy Analysis (PEA) and a secondary data analysis to inform the design strategies and approaches of future multi-year Resilience Food Security Activities (RFSA) in USAID Resilience Focus Countries.  

Every applying team needs to have at least one participant from a Higher Education Institution (HEI). Participation from HEIs in Low- and Middle-Income Countries (LMICs) is strongly encouraged. The CN will be assessed according to the strength and experience of the team as a whole.

This call is restricted to USAID’s Resilience Focus Countries: Burkina Faso, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Haiti, Ethiopia, Kenya, Malawi, Mali, Mozambique, Niger, Nigeria, Somalia, South Sudan, Uganda, and Zimbabwe.

Researchers and development experts may submit concept notes by 5 p.m. EST, 18 Feb. 2022.  

Go to the LASER PULSE site to download the full call for concept notes and associated materials.

Send concept notes, including associated documentation or technical questions to Dr. Priyanka Brunese (pshah@purdue.edu) using specific instructions provided in the call for concept notes.

Funding offered African scientists to present bioeconomy research in Argentina

Funding is available for 20 scholars from African universities or research institutes to attend this year’s International Consortium on Applied Bioeconomy Research, but the deadline to apply is fast approaching.

This conference, held in Cordoba, Argentina, has the theme “Accelerating Bioeconomy Growth Through Applied Research and Policy Change.”

Applicants go through the regular abstract process to present a paper at the conference  and then fill in a form  which can also be accessed through the ICABR website, https://icabr.net.

The deadline for applications is February 25, 2020.

 

 

New Crop Innovation Lab looking to partner with NARS institutions

The Innovation Lab for Crop Improvement soon will begin accepting applications for Centers of Innovation, National Agriculture Research System institutions that would work with the innovation lab on crop improvement research, variety development and release.

Projects through the ILCI must be led by a Principal Investigator (PI) based at a NARS institution from a Feed the Future target or aligned country in East Africa (Ethiopia, Kenya, Uganda, Burundi, Malawi, Mozambique, Rwanda, Somalia, South Sudan, Tanzania, Zambia, Zimbabwe), West Africa (Ghana, Mali, Niger, Nigeria, Senegal, Burkina Faso, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Guinea, Liberia, Sierra Leone), Asia (Bangladesh, Nepal, India, Burma, Cambodia, Georgia, Tajikistan) and Latin America and the Caribbean (Guatemala, Honduras, El Salvador, Belize, Costa Rica, Nicaragua, Panama, Haiti, Mexico).

Applications must clearly define all product profiles for target crops described in the application. ILCI target crops include root and tuber vegetables, legumes (excluding peanut and soybean), sorghum and millets. (more…)

Expert sought to improve peanut processing safety, quality in Senegal

The Farmer-to-Farmer program is looking for a volunteer for three weeks to train peanut processors in Senegal about proper post-harvest and processing techniques. Through Farmer-to-Farmer, U.S. volunteers provide technical assistance on practical interventions that increase food production and income, improve farm and agribusiness operations, help farmers gain access to markets, build local capacity, and conserve natural resources.

Over the 21-day trip, the volunteer will travel to Kaffrine and Touba in Senegal where he or she will train peanut processors in good practices and improved techniques and technologies, as well as develop a syllabus and training module focusing on this topic.

The volunteer will help build the capacity of two hosts, ANAMO (Touba House of Tools) and Birkelane Associations Agreement (EGABI), in peanut processing. (more…)

Proposals sought for research in food and water security in East Africa

LASER PULSE, the Long-term Assistance and Services for Research Partners for University-Led Solutions Engine, at Purdue University has issued a request for proposals for innovative research – and associated research translation – focused on development challenges in the areas of Basic Education, Food Security, and Water Security in East Africa (Kenya, Uganda, and Tanzania).  Basic Education funding is limited to Kenya and Uganda only.

Four to six grants, totaling $1 million, will be awarded for 12 to 24 months of research and translation.

The deadline to submit questions on the RFA is October 11. Webinars will be held on Oct. 17 and 18 to discuss questions, and the deadline for concept notes is November 15 at 2 pm GMT.

LASER PULSE is a five-year program implemented by a consortium made up of Purdue University (lead institution), the University of Notre Dame, Indiana University, Makerere University, and Catholic Relief Services. LASER PULSE is funded by the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) under Cooperative Agreement 7200AA18CA00009.

For programmatic questions, please email Betty Bugusu at td@laserpulse.org . For more info, go to https://stemedhub.org/groups/laserpulse/funding

Young Africans can apply for six weeks of leadership training in the U.S.

The Mandela Washington Fellowship, A Program of the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs, is accepting applications from young African professionals who are leaders in business, non-profits, or government. The six weeks of leadership training in the U.S. is limited to people age 35 and younger who live and work in Africa. Deadline is Oct. 9.

Apply Now! 2020 Fellowship Application Opens

New scholarship launched for Malawian grad students

A new scholarship fund will more than 20 Malawian graduate students to continue their studies in the U.S. or South Africa.

The Agricultural Transformation Initiative (ATI) has awarded a grant to the Institute of International Education, Inc. (IIE) for the Fellowship and Scholarship Fund (FSF), a new initiative is designed to strengthen capacity in research areas related to agricultural transformation in Malawi. The FSF will be designed, implemented, and administered by IIE in coordination with the Lilongwe University of Agriculture & Natural Resources (LUANAR). The fund will support more than 20 fellowships and scholarships for graduate study and postdoctoral research in the United States or South Africa.

“This program is providing graduate students and postdoctoral researchers the opportunity to study internationally in high-priority disciplines,” said Candida Nakhumwa, ATI’s Country Director for Malawi. “The goal is to help educate students about innovations in the various sectors that can be applied in Malawi to help the country’s economy become less dependent on tobacco crops and contribute to the transformation of the agricultural sector.”

The FSF is offering opportunities for study and research in agriculture, business, data science, ecology and environment, economics, and engineering. Applicants should be residents or citizens of Malawi and hold a bachelor’s degree or doctorate, depending on the desired program. Applications are due by October 17. For more information, go to www.iie.org/ATI or email ATI@iie.org.