The Grand Challenges in Global Health (GCGH) has launched the African Agriculture Climate Adaptation Research System aimed at supporting innovations that strengthen agriculture-related risk management processes.
Funding for approved seed projects have a value of up to US$100 000 each.
“This challenge seeks innovative approaches to enhance climate adaptation for agriculture in Africa in ways that link directly with and strengthen the ecosystem of local actors and institutions,” GCGH said in a statement this week announcing the launch of the fund.
“Specifically, the objective of the challenge will be to support innovations that strengthen agriculture-related risk management processes and adaptation prioritisation, planning, and investment, through intra-Africa research collaboration on data, data science, and modeling.”
In 2003, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation launched Grand Challenges in Global Health.
Projects to be considered and approved for funding, according to GCGH, should have a lifespan of between 18 and 24 months.
“Specifically, the objective of the challenge will be: to support innovations that strengthen agriculture-related risk management processes and adaptation prioritisation, planning, and investment, through intra-Africa research collaboration on data, data science, and modelling.”
Examples for funded projects are: programming that promotes co-learning, training, and/or scientist exchanges to strengthen capacities around specific core agricultural adaptation data-related research areas, including modelling and data analysis, data translation for decision makers.
Also considered are: methods for coordinating among researchers and institutions to support prioritisation of climate resilient innovations for a given landscape, assessment of impact from previous priorities and changing climate context, and reprioritization based on responsive learnings; and developing and delivering innovations in connecting ecosystem actors across agriculture, water, planning, development, and environment sectors.
The funders are looking for projects that are based in Africa although other global partners may be included, and women-led projects and organisations are particularly encouraged to apply.
However, GCGH will not fund projects that do not demonstrate that the majority of the work proposed will be undertaken by African scientists at African institutions; and those that are not implemented in low- and/or middle-income countries in Africa.
GCGH added it would also not fund: “Ideas that do not support agri-food system organisations, basic research purely focused on research tools/methodologies that do not provide a clear path to development, and testing of approaches that do not lead to measurable outcomes or impact of enhancing the agricultural climate adaptation system.
“Products or tools intended for use by individual or small groups of (<100) small scale producers, solutions without novel application, for example, replication of an approach in a new geography in the absence of added innovation, training or educational programs or campaigns without clearly articulated, measurable behavior change outcomes, and ideas that present ethical or safety risks.”
The closing date for applications is 15 January 2023
