JRS Biodiversity Foundation call for Pre-Proposals.  Applicants can submit requests from July 5 – August 16, 2010 via the Foundation website www.jrsbdf.org.  

 

Grants made through this opportunity will be expected clearly and specifically to advance the field of biodiversity and to provide training within the field. We highly value projects that identify and implement ways for biodiversity information simultaneously to educate both the public and policy-makers to promote the sustainability of life on earth. 

 

The Foundation has an interest in supporting efforts that cut across traditional disciplinary boundaries.  Specifically, we are interested in supporting projects that have a practical and useful impact on the conservation of biodiversity.  JRS is particularly interested in building collaborations between African lead institutions and partner biodiversity organizations, preferably (but not obligatory) south of the equator. 

 

Foundation interests include fostering the use of information technologies for the acquisition of new knowledge in the area of biodiversity; assuring that the knowledge is used to maintain or enhance biodiversity and sustainability; fostering the training of the next generation of scientists; and educating decision-makers.  The Foundation has a particular interest in efforts that lead to the promulgation of public policies that enhance environmentally friendly practices.

 

A core precept of the Foundation is to promote human capacity through its grants. We strongly encourage proposals to include aspects of staff development, involvement of mentors, and travel for short courses for junior and mid-level staff, and similar activities that will build biodiversity competency in developing nations. 

 

Foundation grant awards for approved projects will be in the $100,000 to $200,000 USD range. 

 

Timetable:

 

July 5, 2010:  Pre-Proposals accepted on JRS website.

 

August 16, 2010: Deadline for submission of Pre-Proposals

 

September & October 2010: Screening of Pre-Proposals by Grants Committee

 

November 2010:  Pre-Proposal initial review by the Foundation Board of Directors

 

November 2010:  Selection of limited number of organizations to invite to submit full proposals and notification to applicants of Foundation decision

 

February 2011:  Final full proposals due to Foundation by invited applicants

 

March 2011:  Review of final proposals by Foundation Grants Committee

 

April 2011:  Final proposal evaluation and funding decision announcement by Foundation

 

You will be allowed 1000 words in your description of concept, impact and outcomes.  In that space you should describe applicant organization, the statement of problem(s) for which funding is sought, the goals of the work, the steps to address the problem, the way the work will improve local and/or global biodiversity, how the activities will be evaluated, and any training or education that will be built into the program.

 

At this phase of the application process, supplemental documents cannot be attached or uploaded.