Taxonomic training & access to collections in Belgium (CALL CLOSED)
Introduction
The second specific convention between the Belgian Development Cooperation (http://www.dgdc.be) and the Royal Belgian Institute of Natural Sciences (RBINS) spans the period 2008-2012. The overall goal of this framework agreement is to alleviate poverty in developing countries by building a sufficient amount of human and infrastructural capacity to achieve sustainable development that recognises and reinstates biodiversity and its free ecosystem services.
Activity 1 (labelled T1) of the framework agreement focuses on the reduction of the so-called taxonomic impediment through the Global Taxonomy Initiative (GTI) (cf. http://www.cbd.int/gti/) established under the UN Convention on Biological Diversity. The overall purpose of the GTI is to reduce the knowledge gaps in our taxonomic system, the shortage of trained taxonomists and curators, and the impact these deficiencies have on our ability to understand, manage and preserve biodiversity.
Type of projects
Activity T1-GTI-02 foresees funding for taxonomists and parataxonomists from developing countries (list of eligible countries below) for study visits to Belgium. For beginning taxonomists these study visits involve an à la carte theoretical training of one week in the RBINS, coupled to a hands-on training in a Belgian centre of taxonomic expertise (RBINS or other taxonomic institution or university). For already professional taxonomists, for whom training is not longer compulsory, study visits entail only access to Belgium-based natural history collections, literature, infrastructure and expertise.
Projects that originate with staff of institutions with which the RBINS has past or ongoing collaboration, even if not funded via the Belgian National Focal Point to the Global Taxonomy Initiative (Belgian GTI NFP from here onwards), are encouraged.
Please note that the present call for proposals does not:
- fund travel to scientific conferences and meetings
- fund equipment
- fund publication costs of scientific writings (inclusive of taxonomic works). This type of support can be examined within our Abc Taxa programme.
Estimated number of supported projects to be supported in 2009
From 2004 to 2008 six calls for proposals saw the application of 284 candidates from over 50 countries, 66 of which beneficiated from taxonomic and/or collection management training in Belgium. Most study visits included one week of theoretical training provided by the Belgian GTI NFP. Hands-on training was provided in the RBINS, but also in the Royal Museum of Central Africa, the National Botanic Gardens of Belgium and several Belgian universities. On average a study visit was allocated 2,500 to 3,000 EUR (dependent on the length of the training) and included all travel, insurance and daily allowance costs.
Unfortunately, in 2009 only very limited funding (30,000 EUR) is available and thus only 10 to 12 short study visits will be covered. The Belgian GTI NFP will give preference to those applicants who need a follow-up visit to Belgium to finalise their taxonomic project started during an earlier call. However, a minority of new students will still be accepted, given that they come from a scientific institution with which the Belgian GTI NFP has a privileged relationship.
Funding per project will be fair and equitable and will take the expressed needs as much as possible into account.
Content requirements of proposals
Only pure taxonomic projects (e.g. elaboration of checklists, taxonomic revisions, …) or biodiversity assessment projects with a strong taxonomic component (e.g. inventory and monitoring of biodiversity,…) for which the grant seeker needs training or access to Belgium-based collections, expertise or infrastructure will be considered. Only extant taxa will be considered, with priority for zoological taxa.
Priority partner countries
The Belgian Development Cooperation has chosen to have privileged relations with 41 partner countries. From 2008 onwards, only applicants from these countries will be eligible:
Algeria, Bangladesh, Benin, Bolivia, Brazil, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, China, Colombia, Côte d’Ivoire, Cuba, D.R. Congo, Ecuador, Ethiopia, Guatemala, Guinea, Haiti, India, Indonesia, Kenya, Madagascar, Mali, Morocco, Mozambique, Nicaragua, Niger, Palestine, Peru, Philippines, Rwanda, Salvador, Senegal, South Africa, Suriname, Tanzania, Uganda, Vietnam, Zambia, Zimbabwe.
Project period
All projects will be carried out between 1 April 2009 and 31 March 2010.
Project philosophy
Project proposals must be written in an outcome-oriented style, whereby the deliverables it aims to produce must be clearly linked to the alleviation of poverty in the partner country.
Eligibility checklist for the 2009 call
Before jumping to the application form, make sure that you or your institution are eligible for this call! The questions below will provide you with a quick answer to your or your institutions eligibility.
- Does your project address taxonomic and/or curatorial components?
- Does your project address priority taxonomic and/or curatorial key gaps of your country or region?
- Does your project aim at building taxonomic and curatorial expertise in your country or region?
- Are you a citizen of one of the priority partner countries listed above?
- Are you in any way linked to a scientific institution with which the Belgian GTI NFP has a privileged relationship?
Proposal preparation and submission instructions
Grant seekers must submit a complete application form in English or French to the Belgian GTI tutor. The application form can be downloaded as a Word file from our website here, or can be provided by email to interested parties.
Electronic submission to the general email address of the Belgian GTI NFP (cbd-gti@naturalsciences.be) is strongly encouraged. Alternatively, if electronic submission should be impossible, paper copies can also be sent by ordinary mail to the postage address of the Belgian GTI NFP as mentioned on the application form.
All projects application form must be complemented with an up to date curriculum vitae.
All candidates will receive acknowledgment of receipt when the Belgian GTI NFP receives their application form.
Indicative timeline for review of proposals and execution of projects
| 30 January 2009 | Calls for proposals distributed |
| 15 March 2009 | Proposals due |
| 16-30 March 2009 | Proposals reviewed |
| 31 March 2009 | All applicants notified on eventual acceptance |
| 1 April 2009- 31 March 2010 | Execution of projects |
At the end of each project candidates will be expected to fill out a short report. The standard form can be downloaded from our website here.
Principles by which proposals will be reviewed
Successful projects will support the combined DGDC and GTI objectives by demonstrating a commitment to increase human and institutional taxonomic and/or collection management capacity. The favorable outcome of the applications will depend on the quality of the submitted project, the quality of the candidate as judged from his CV, the eligibility of the candidate and the expertise, collections and infrastructure available at the RBINS and in Belgium.
Principles by which selected projects will be executed
The Belgian GTI NFP will, via email, agree with the selected candidate on the time, duration and other practical modalities of the foreseen study visit.
The Belgian GTI NFP will cover all transport (both national and international), housing, insurance and daily allowance costs (35€/day) associated with the planned study visit. The selected candidate will also be assisted in
regard to visa and other administrative procedures linked to the planned study visit.
Contact and further information
Drs Yves Samyn & Marie-Lucie Susini
Belgian National Focal Point to the Global Taxonomy Initiative
Royal Belgian Institute of Natural Sciences
Vautierstraat 29
B-1000 Brussels
Belgium
Tel.: +32 2 627 41 24 (Y. Samyn) or +32 2 627 45 90 (M.L. Susini)
Fax: +32 2 627 41 41
Email: cbd-gti@naturalsciences.be
