IFS - INWRDAM - COMSTECH
Strengthening Capacity in OIC Countries for Water Resources Research
The Strengthening Capacity in OIC Countries for Water Resources Research Initiative is a joint initiative of the Inter-Islamic Network on Water Resources Development and Management (INWRDAM) http://www.inwrdam.org/, the Organization of the Islamic Conference's Standing Committee for Scientific and Technological Cooperation (COMSTECH) http://www.comstech.org.pk/, and International Foundation for Science (IFS).
The objective of the INWRDAM – COMSTECH – IFS Strengthening Capacity in OIC Countries for Water Resources Research Initiative is to stimulate water resources research in OIC countries that generates new knowledge and appropriate technologies for sustainable water resource management, and thereby contributing to the outcome document of the United Nations Millennium Summit in 2000. The essence of necessary supportive actions in the fight against poverty has been formulated in the eight Millennium Development Goals (MDG). Commitment to poverty eradication was reconfirmed by world leaders at the World Summit for Sustainable Development (WSSD) in Johannesburg 2002. Water and sanitation goals were re-emphasized as central to development and the target set to reduce by half the number of people lacking adequate water and sanitation conditions in year 2015. The fact that the earth is facing a serious water crisis, and that the poorest are the most vulnerable to the effects of the crisis, underscores the need for action.
This objective will be reached through a granting programme that supports promising young researchers in OIC countries working individually or in teams.
Call for Proposals
Hence, INWRDAM, COMSTECH and IFS invite research grant applications containing high-quality research proposals from individual researchers and team members that will address water resources research. Research projects should last between one and three years. Teams should be self-forming and may consist of young researchers from one institution or from multiple institutions. Teams may be national or international. However, INWRDAM, COMSTECH and IFS will not provide funding for team-formation activities. Teams should generally consist of 2-5 researchers and a Team Coordinator.
Eligibility for an IFS Grant
Applicants for a research grant in this special call addressing OIC countries must be citizens of one of the countries listed below. Applicants must be 40 years of age or younger (researchers from Sub-Saharan Africa are eligible for IFS support up to the age of 45, provided they have completed their highest academic degree, MSc, MA, PhD, Post-Doc or equivalent, in the previous 5 years), and holders of at minimum a MA/ MSc degree or the equivalent. Applicants must be attached to a university, a national research institution or a research oriented NGO in a developing country; the institution is expected to guarantee that the applicant has a salary (or other source of income) and provide basic research facilities. Researchers with temporary positions at international research institutes, whom also have an affiliation with a national research institute are eligible to apply. Women are particularly encouraged to apply.
The research must be carried out in a developing country which does not have to be the country of citizenship. The proposed research must be relevant to the needs of the country or region, contribute to the advancement of knowledge in the grantee's field, and fall within the research topics described below.
A researcher may only submit one application at a time for consideration by IFS.
Team coordinators must be citizens of one of the listed OIC countries, holders
of a PhD or the equivalent and attached to a research institution in a developing
country. There is no age limitation for team coordinators.
OIC countries
How to apply
Applications by Individual applicants and by Team members
Applications for research grants should be made using the standard application form available from INWRDAM, COMSTECH or IFS and downloadable from this page (below). Each applicant may request up to USD 12,000 in research support for the duration of a project lasting between one and three years.
Applications are accepted year-round. Funding decisions are made twice yearly for applications received before the end of December and before the end of June.
Download
application form (in Microsoft Word format).
If you have problems with this application form or downloading it, we can send it to you as an attachment in an email or alternatively as a paper application form by ordinary mail. If you want one of these alternatives, please fill in the following information and then click on the button 'Send to IFS':
What do you want us to send you:
Each application is sent separately to IFS: applications@ifs.se . The first page of each application form has to be signed by the Head of Institution, and is thereafter sent to IFS by regular mail.
For Team applications only
Prior to sending the application forms for Team members the Team Coordinator must submit a Conceptual Proposal (2-5 pages) to IFS including:
- An explanation of the overall objectives and justification for the team research project ,
- An explanation of the role of each team member in attaining the objectives,
- An explanation of how the Team Coordinator intends to mentor the team members and support their efforts to meet their stated objectives including a CV of the Team Coordinator and
- A budget estimate including requests by team members and by the Team Coordinator.
The Team Coordinator's budget is in addition to the research grants requested by team members and may not exceed USD 1,000 for the period of the project.
After approval of the conceptual project proposal by IFS, each group member is asked to fill in an IFS application form according to the above instructions.
Each researcher in a team should complete an application form describing both her/his own individual research objectives as well as her/his contribution to meeting the objectives of the team. Each individual application from a Team member will be evaluated based on individual merit as well as contribution to the team objectives.
The applications from all Team members are jointly sent to IFS for assessment together with an updated version of the Conceptual proposal, now called the Overall Project Description (approximately 5 pages). The Overall Project Description should include the four items of the Conceptual Proposal together with a short description of existing laboratory facilities to be used by the team, plans for the service and maintenance of the equipment (cost can be included in the budget), when appropriate, a compilation of important stakeholders (researchers and organizations), national legislations and governmental activities related to the research topic. The Overall Project Description is sent electronically to Ms Eva Rostig at IFS: eva.rostig@ifs.se .
Eligible research topics
This initiative requires that research projects specifically address water resources research in terms of the following priority themes. More information on research topics can be found in the document "IFS strategy for strengthening capacity for water resources research in developing countries".
Water for livelihood
Safe drinking water: Availability of drinking water, Drinking water
quality, Drinking water quality standards.
Sustainable sanitation: Impact on freshwater resources and aquatic
ecosystems, Improved availability of drinking water and water for agriculture,
Recycling of nutrients to agriculture.
Pollution abatement: Pollution sources and polluting activities, Pollution
pathways, Water quality, Reduction of polluting effluents, Precautions and
remediation of polluted aquifers and land areas.
Water treatment: Waste-water and effluent collection and characterization,
Development of waste water treatment techniques, Development of treatment
strategies for re-use and re-circulation.
Integrated water resources management (IWRM): Production and transfer
of knowledge for sustainable water management, Socio-economic issues.
Transboundary issues: Sustainable solutions to conflicts over access
to water resources, Communication with stakeholders, Public acceptance issues.
Make women a central part of the water agenda: Acknowledge women involvement
in the economic production, Secure a balanced allocation of water for household
needs.
Increasing the number of women scientists: Facilitate the possibilities
to do scientific careers.
Communication with women stakeholder: Communication with both women
and men community representatives, Public acceptance issues.
OIC countries
Countries eligible for support by the INWRDAM - COMSTECH – IFS Strengthening Capacity in OIC Countries for Water Resources Research Initiative are as below:
Islamic State of Afghanistan |
Malaysia |
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