Category Archives: News Updates

Deadline: Nov 12, 2024

Donor: Global Disaster Preparedness Center

Grant Type: Grant

Grant Size: Up-to $10,000

The GDPC small grants supports applied,original and impactful research in low-and middle-income countries, that can inform policy, planning community action, etc. With 68% of the world population projected to live in urban areas by 2050, it aims to deepen understanding on urban climate resilience. The program is designed to building more resilient urban environments in face of the climate change.

This award provides up to 10,000 USD for research lasting up to eight months, with a completion deadline of September 30, 2025.

 

Research Topics:

• Community-Led Climate Adaptation and Resilience Solutions in Cities
  1. Community-driven Innovations for Adaptation
  2. Participatory Urban Planning

• Socio_Economic and Industrial Drivers of Climate Resilience in Cities
  1. Socio-economic Pathways to Resilience
  2. Urban Climate Governance

• Urban Ecosystems for Resilience
  1. Climate-Resilient Urban Ecosystem
  2. Community-Based Approaches to Nature-Based Solutions

Eligibility:

• Applicants must be affiliated with an accredited university at the time of submission, including graduate (Master’s and PhD) students, post-doctoral researchers, and faculty members. Teams of researchers are welcome to submit proposals, and collaboration among different institutions is highly encouraged.
• Identification of an experienced supervisor is required for any student research teams. The supervisor should provide guidance and oversight throughout the research process.
• Applications are open to researchers who are nationals of low- and middle-income countries, including least developed and upper-middle-income nations. Research must be focused on these countries. A list of eligible countries can be found here.
• Proposed research projects must align with one of the program’s defined topics and clearly demonstrate how they contribute to the selected area of focus.
• Projects must be feasible for completion within the eight-month program timeline, running from February to September 30, 2025.
• Researchers may conduct their research in any language, but the final research paper must be submitted in English. If translation into English is needed, the budget proposal should include estimated costs for translation services.
• Research must be original, and plagiarism will result in immediate disqualification at any stage of the grant process.

Selection Criteria

Eligible proposals will be reviewed by an expert panel consisting of representatives from GDPC, IFRC, and other humanitarian organizations. Proposals will be evaluated based on the following criteria:

• Scientific meritand rigor, clearly demonstrating how the proposed research advances current knowledge and fills critical gaps.
• Relevanceand the alignment of the proposed research with one of the defined research topics, demonstrating a clear understanding of the research question and how the project contributes to the program’s overall objectives.
• Potential impact and applicabilityof research in informing policy and practice to more effectively take action in strengthening climate resilience.
• A thorough understanding of potential ethical concernsand implications associated with the research, along with strategies to mitigate and address these issues.
• Qualifications and expertiseof the Principal Investigator and key co-investigators (if applicable) to carry out the proposed research. This includes an assessment of the research team’s capability and relevant experience in implementing the proposed project projects, supported by evidence of relevant skills and a proven track record in delivering similar projects.
• Reasonable and realistic budget proposal, including a detailed expense breakdown. For details on eligible and ineligible costs, refer to the FAQ section
• A clear and achievable timeline demonstrating the ability to complete and submit the final research paper by September 30, 2025, or earlier.

Added Value:

• Cross-collaboration and partnership between various institutions. Letter of support from a relevant partner institution should be included in the application.

For More Information: https://preparecenter.org/activity/gdpc-research-activities/call-for-applications-research-grants-on-urban-climate-resilience/

Application Form: https://preparecenter.org/activity/gdpc-research-activities/call-for-applications-research-grants-on-urban-climate-resilience/application-form/

 

Kectile Youth Leadership Programme in Developing Countries

Deadline: Nov 15, 2024

Donor: Kectile

Grant Type: Training

Grant Size: Not available

Area: Leadership, Youth & Adolescents

The Kectile Youth Leadership Program for Talented Youth in Developing Countries is a multiple-week modules training programme with deep dive challenging assignments to address hot issues facing youth globally, led by experts and key youth leaders. Join community engagements to implement social advancements, meet and network with talented passionate youth around the world, and make life-long global friends who share your commitment to advance society.

Kectile is a non-political, religious or cultural organisation which transcends every form of bias. Expect an authentic, honest and candid dialogue environment, good government, peace-keeping, entrepreneurship and innovation, mental health, etc. Merit-based certificates will be awarded at the end of the program.

Eligibility

• High potential youth
• Have demonstrated a talent and passion for leadership, scholarship and innovation
• Proficient in English
• Aged 17-26
• From least developing countries
• Have access to a computer and the internet

 

For More Information: https://kectil.com/

Apply: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfN-u19C2N2cLBUCdICuNNbZB5Q1AuNCroj3kQ3GTBLGyncqg/viewform

Science for Nature and People Partnership (SNAPP) 2024

Deadline: Nov 01, 2024

Donor: Science for Nature and People Partnership

Grant Type: Events

Grant Size: $500,000 to $1 million

Countries/Regions: All Countries

Area: Climate Change, Energy, Environment, Science, Sustainable Development, Water Management

The Science for Nature and People Partnership is requesting proposal applications to fund expert teams to deliver rapid solutions to the most critical challenges facing humans and our planet.

SNAPP, a first-of-its-kind scientific joint venture between The Nature Conservancy (TNC) and Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS), is a tool for developing sustainable solutions to global conservation challenges. Since inception, SNAPP, through its working groups, has provided science and user-friendly tools backed by hard data to identify and quantify nature’s role and value in preventing and solving some of the most complex challenges the world faces around food and water security, climate change, and energy.

Each year, SNAPP provides up to US $1 million total across 4-6 approved working groups, led by academic, governmental agency, multilateral, or nonprofit institutions. SNAPP funds teams of 12-15 people from diverse organizations to gather for 3-4 collaborative sessions over the course of 12-24 months. Between sessions, members collaborate remotely; work with long-term implementation partners; identify emerging opportunities for tangible, lasting change; develop and test tools and products; and publish research.

Full SNAPP proposals are evaluated on the following criteria:
Research Question The question(s) that the proposal will address are clearly at the intersection of nature conservation and sustainable development, are critically important, and the proposed work will add value to the current state of knowledge.

Methods: The proposal clearly incorporates both biophysical and socioeconomic methods and analysis. The choice of methods is appropriate for the question(s).

Data: The data and information sources are interdisciplinary and include both biophysical and socioeconomic sciences. Datasets or sources of information the applicant anticipates using for this project are comprehensive and appropriate for addressing the question using methods described.

Implementation: The proposal specifically outlines which organizations are eager for the scientific results from this group, and it is reasonably clear how they will be used to improve conservation and sustainable development policy and practice. Detailed letters of support are included from these organizations.

Inclusion: The group composition includes confirmed members representing diversity in sectors and disciplines. This is a collaborative effort with no one or two organizations dominating. Group demographics and worldviews are varied and inclusive of the Global South and other groups less dominant in academic literature.

Research Fellows: The proposal budget includes at least one full-time research fellow with a well-thought-out mentorship plan.

How To Apply

Before developing a full proposal for the 2024 SNAPP RFP, applicants should submit a “concept note” through SNAPP online portal for review.

To start a concept note, log into the system or create an account the link Register: https://awards.snappartnership.net/profile.asp.

Then navigate to the “My Dashboard” menu within the system.

All submitted concept notes will receive written feedback within 10 business days on which aspects of your ideas could be the best fit for SNAPP’s scope and what would need to be strengthened to make your proposal competitive. Be sure to review the What We Fund tab before crafting your concept note. Only concept notes submitted through the SNAPP portal will receive feedback.

For More Information: https://awards.snappartnership.net/

The World Bank announced that it has approved an additional $1.57 billion loan to the Nigerian government to fund three projects.

The Washington-based bank disclosed this in a statement on Monday.

The World Bank noted that new funding will support Nigeria in addressing governance challenges in education and healthcare, improving primary healthcare services, and increasing resilience to climate change through enhanced dam safety and irrigation infrastructure.

According to the World Bank, the approval of the loan was made last week on September 26, 2024.

The approved funding highlights the World Bank’s commitment to strengthening Nigeria’s human capital and building resilience in the face of climate threats.

This financing package, including a $1.5 billion loan and a $70 million grant, is part of broader efforts to improve key sectors such as education, healthcare, and water management, while also tackling poverty and boosting productivity.

In June last year, the World Bank approved, $2.25 billion loan facility for Nigeria to back President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s economic policies.

The development had further increased the country’s debt burden which stood at N121.67 trillion as of March 2024 according to the Debt Management Office.

This comes as financial experts continue to lament Nigeria’s rising debt burden amid a widening infrastructural deficit.

The Director, Centre for Climate Change and Development (CCCD), Alex Ekwueme Federal University, Ndufu-Alike, Ikwo (AEFUNAI), Ebonyi State, Prof. Chukwumerije Okereke, has called on global leaders to make the 29th Session of the Conference of the Parties (COP29) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) holding in Baku, Azerbaijan, in November 2024, a decisive moment for global climate action for improved climate finance. He emphasised that the world is not on track to meet the critical 1.5 degrees target set by the Paris Agreement.

Prof. Okereke made the submission in a keynote address on behalf of Allied for Climate Transformation by 2025 (ACT2025) at the China Media Salon themed: “Looking Ahead to COP29: How to Accelerate Action Amid Intensifying Climate Impacts,” The China Media Salon was organised by Tipping Point Monthly E-magazine and hosted by The Paper on September 19, 2024, as a hybrid event.

Highlighting that there is an acute lack of resources to face the scale of impact brought on by climate change disasters, Professor Okereke called on developed countries to take the lead and help put the world back on track by mobilising and providing climate finance that is enough for solving climate change challenges beyond the usual rhetoric and failed promises.

Prof. Okereke, who is also President, Society for Planet and Prosperity (SPP), further emphasised that in addition to the fact that vulnerable countries are being hit first and worst from the impacts of the global climate crisis as seen through devastating floods in Bangladesh, Kenya and Nigeria in recent months; inequality, conflict and development challenges always heightens these vulnerabilities.

Citing current data, Professor Okereke projected that developing countries need an estimated $5.8-5.9 trillion to implement their national climate plans, the Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) up to 2030, and adaptation finance could reach $1.7 trillion annually by 2050.

While presenting the ACT2025’s call-to-action, an agreed set of expectations by the consortium ahead of COP29, bothering on the priority needs of climate vulnerable countries, Okereke reiterated that the four main priority expectations: 1) Ambitious Climate Finance is Non-Negotiable; 2) Scaling Up Adaptation Efforts; 3) Responding to loss and Damage with sufficient action and support; and 4) Accelerating Mitigation Ambition and Implementation.

Okereke later expanded on the four priorities established by the ACT2025 Call-to-action as which can be downloaded at https://www.wri.org/initiatives/allied-climate-transformation-act2025/resources/cop29-call-action-climate-vulnerable-countries for further details.

On ambitious Climate Finance, ACT2025 demanded that COP29 must deliver an ambitious 1.5°C-aligned New Collective Quantified Goal (NCQG) that reflects the real financial needs of climate-vulnerable nations and must be accessible, concessional and transparent.

On scaling up adaptation efforts, ACT2025 made bold that COP29 must unpack the gaps and challenges in adaptation planning and implementation if it must make sense.

On responding to Loss and Damage with sufficient action and support, ACT2025 demanded that new Fund for Responding to Loss and Damage must be adequately funded and fully operational by COP29. ACT2025 believed that the new Fund is meaningless if it does not result in accessible finance at scale to meet the immediate needs of vulnerable developing countries in responding to losses and damages, without imposing further burdens such as debt.

On accelerating mitigation Ambition and implementation, ACT2025 demanded that countries must implement equitable and rapid transitions away from fossil fuels with clear pathways to net-zero GHG emissions, while ensuring that their phaseouts are conducted through people-centered, just transitions. Okereke reiterated that ACT2025 is desirous to see ambitious NDCs reflected in the upcoming updated NDCs 3.0 with G7 and G20 countries leading by example.

Okereke, a Senior Adviser on Climate Change and Sustainable Development to the Enugu State Government, acknowledged China’s unique and important role in global climate action and justice through greening of its overseas investments. Okereke noted that COP29 and the next round of NDCs present critical opportunities for China to continue to showcase critical global leadership such as aligning its actions with the demands of vulnerable countries through solidarity and increased ambition that is 1.5-aligned in their new 2035 NDC.

Okereke expressed confidence that China holds a pivotal role in driving these results, positioning itself as a leader of the Global South and a key player in global climate governance. He equally emphasised that China has a unique role to play in fostering unity and driving global progress toward a sustainable and equitable future through its support for climate-vulnerable nations leveraging on the role it played with the G77 in calling for and establishing a loss and damage fund at COP27.

He further highlighted importance of China and the Global South, including China-Africa cooperation in shaping a sustainable and equitable climate future while alluding to the recent outcomes from the 9th Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC).

In closing, Okereke called on the international community to rally and push for the finance, ambition, and climate resilient development pathways needed to prepare for the impacts of climate change and secure a just and equitable transition to a sustainable future.

“The outcomes of COP29 and the decisions we make as a global community this decade will massively impact the trajectory of our civilization and collective future,” he said.

ACT2025 is a consortium of thought leaders with core partners from: Caribbean Community Climate Change Centre (Belize), Centre for Climate Change and Development at AEFUNAI (Nigeria), International Centre for Climate Change and Development (Bangladesh), Manila Observatory (Philippines), Power Shift Africa (Kenya), Transforma (Colombia), and World Resources Institute (Global).

Download the call to action:        https://www.wri.org/initiatives/allied-climate-transformation-act2025/resources/cop29-call-action-climate-vulnerable-countries

By Ugochukwu Uzuegbu (Media and Communication Specialist, CCCD-AEFUNAI) and Gboyega Olorunfemi (Senior Research Associate, CCCD-AEFUNAI)