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International Foundation for ScienceInternational Foundation for Science
Building Scientific Capacity in
Developing Countries
Over 30 years’ experience
Kassa AmareMekelle UniversityNovember 2012
The IFS Supports developing country scientists research relevant to the renewable utilization of the biological resource base .
IFS support is primarily financial and in the form of research grants
International Foundation for ScienceInternational Foundation for Science
IFS exists.....
..... to support young researchers in
developing countries
Back groundAn IFS grant is neither a travel grant nor a study fellow ship, but rather it is intended for the purchase of basic tools for research equipment, expendable supplies, literature and field activities.
IFS also supports to grantees in order that young researchers may develop new skills .
This kind of support includes providing professional contacts for the grantee; offering research support in the form of literature search and access to data base and organizing workshops and regional meeting.
Supplementary travel grants can also be awarded.An important service provided by IFS is the purchase and delivery of equipment and supplies to guarantee.
International Foundation for ScienceInternational Foundation for Science
Founded 1972Founded 1972
International Research CouncilInternational Research Council
Non-Governmental OrganisationNon-Governmental Organisation
International Board of TrusteesInternational Board of Trustees
Secretariat in StockholmSecretariat in Stockholm
1,000 Scientific Advisers1,000 Scientific Advisers
IFS Research AreasIFS Research Areas Crop ScienceCrop Science Aquatic ResourcesAquatic Resources Animal ProductionAnimal Production Food scienceFood science Forestry, Biodiversity and Forestry, Biodiversity and
ConservationConservation Natural ProductsNatural Products Water ResourcesWater Resources Social SciencesSocial Sciences
StrategyStrategy
Identify, through competitive grants Identify, through competitive grants and careful screening, young and careful screening, young promising scientists;promising scientists;
Support them in their early careers to Support them in their early careers to enable them to get established and enable them to get established and recognised as scientists;recognised as scientists;
Not just a research grant: support is Not just a research grant: support is given throughout the granting period.given throughout the granting period.
IFS Supports ResearchIFS Supports Research
Proposed project:Proposed project:
o Research or Research or Development/Extension?Development/Extension?
o IFS supports only researchIFS supports only research
Focus is mainly on the Focus is mainly on the individual individual (though some (though some teams are also supported)teams are also supported)
Research GrantResearch Grant
Maximum amount USD 12,000Maximum amount USD 12,000
Research project 1-3 years Research project 1-3 years
Two renewals Two renewals
Equipment, supplies, literature, Equipment, supplies, literature, local travel, extra manpower local travel, extra manpower
Granting ProcessGranting Process
SimpleSimple
RapidRapid
Two granting sessions per annumTwo granting sessions per annum
1500 applications1500 applications
Each application is evaluated on a Each application is evaluated on a competitive basiscompetitive basis
Criteria for EligibilityCriteria for Eligibility Citizen of a developing countryCitizen of a developing country
Younger than 40 Younger than 40
Beginning of research career Beginning of research career
Usually MSc or equivalent degreeUsually MSc or equivalent degree
Working at a university or research Working at a university or research institution in a developing countryinstitution in a developing country
Carrying out research project in a Carrying out research project in a developing countrydeveloping country
Granting Process Granting Process .... .... Next Next stage of evaluation processstage of evaluation process
Pre-screeningPre-screeningEligibility criteriaEligibility criteria
””light” scientific screening light” scientific screening
Expert Advisors – Expert Advisors – in depth evaluation in depth evaluation of proposalof proposal
Granting ProcessGranting ProcessApplication are submitted directly to the IFS secretariat and are welcome on a year-bases basis.
•Applicants are pre-screen at the secretariat by the scientific staff.
Those that meet the criteria for eligibility are then reviewed by an independent international panel of scientific advisors. If a proposal is recommended, it will be prioritized according to the availability of funds.
Only application forms that are properly filled in according to the guidelines , the projects that are well justified and argued, and that are well presented with sufficient details on all items will be processed.
Granting Process Granting Process .... .... AdvisorsAdvisors
Expert Advisors (>1,000) Expert Advisors (>1,000) provideprovide in- in- depth evaluation of proposaldepth evaluation of proposal
Provide comments Provide comments which are sent to which are sent to all applicantsall applicants
Granting ProcessGranting Process
Pre-screeningPre-screening
Expert Advisors Expert Advisors
Scientific Advisory Committee Scientific Advisory Committee
Recommendation of grants Recommendation of grants (280 in 2007)(280 in 2007)
Evaluation CriteriaEvaluation Criteria
Applicant's training and experienceApplicant's training and experience Available and requested resourcesAvailable and requested resources Realistic goals and time planRealistic goals and time plan
Applicant and feasibility of project
Scientific quality Well-formulated hypothesis/up-to-date knowledgeWell-formulated hypothesis/up-to-date knowledge Sound experimental designSound experimental design Relevant methodsRelevant methods Developmental applicabilityDevelopmental applicability Generation of Scientific Generation of Scientific
knowledgeknowledge National prioritiesNational priorities
1,656[30%]
331 Argentina269 Mexico256 Brazil176 Chile141 Uruguay
Asia & the Pacific Sub-Saharan Africa
268 Nigeria161 Kenya157 Cameroon94 Tanzania90 Burkina Faso78 Uganda
395 China225 Philippines185 India166 Thailand156 Indonesia144 Sri Lanka
Middle East & North Africa
403[7%]
251 Morocco77 Tunisia41 Egypt14 Iran10 Algeria
1,734[31%]
Latin America & Caribbean
1,801[32%]
Correct to May 2005Correct to May 2005
IFS Grants awardedIFS Grants awarded[top recipient countries]
Results of IFS SupportResults of IFS Support
IFS grantees remain active IFS grantees remain active researchers in their own researchers in their own countrycountry
IFS grantees publish more IFS grantees publish more frequently in mainstream frequently in mainstream journalsjournals
Internationalisation of many Internationalisation of many grantees’ careers grantees’ careers
Increased collaboration with Increased collaboration with other scientistsother scientists
More success accessing further More success accessing further fundingfunding
How to make the best How to make the best possible use of the possible use of the
research grant:research grant:
Supporting package accelerates Supporting package accelerates and helps guarantee permanency and helps guarantee permanency of capacity buildingof capacity building
Pre-grantsPre-grants
Possible to obtain a small (pre-) grant to Possible to obtain a small (pre-) grant to identify research questions. E.g. Survey identify research questions. E.g. Survey work work
What do Scientists in What do Scientists in eligible Countries want from eligible Countries want from IFS? IFS? The Capacity-Enhancing The Capacity-Enhancing
Package:Package:
** Research grantsResearch grants ** MentorshipMentorship ** [Project proposal writing courses][Project proposal writing courses] ** Travel for capacity activitiesTravel for capacity activities ** Scientific paper writing coursesScientific paper writing courses ** Thematic workshopsThematic workshops