African-German Scientific Exchange: “Sustainable Intensification of Agriculture”
Deadline: 30 September 2022
The Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG, German Research Foundation) invites interested scientists from all Sub-Saharan African countries and researchers at all universities and research institutes in Germany, explicitly including universities of applied sciences, to take part in a scientific exchange in the field of agricultural sciences with special emphasis on the sustainable intensification of agriculture. The invitation is issued in close cooperation with the Fundo Nacional de Investigação (FNI) of the Republic of Mozambique and the National Science and Technology Council (NSTC) of the Republic of Zambia.
This initiative covers all (interdisciplinary) research questions that are primarily concerned with agriculture. Subject areas include (integrated) animal production and cropping systems, animal and plant breeding technologies, soil and plant microbiome interaction, abiotic and biotic plant stressors, digital methods in agriculture, livestock farming and animal disease control as well as socioeconomic aspects of agriculture.
Aim of the Initiative
The aim of the initiative is for participating researchers to identify joint interests in the area of agricultural research and initiate new collaborative ventures.
Structure of the Initiative
The initiative comprises three consecutive steps:
- Identification of collaboration partners through previously submitted posters reflecting the researchers’ expertise, research interests and ideas for collaborative research projects;
- the subsequent opportunity to submit DFG proposals to support the Initiation of International Collaborations;
- a Status Workshop in Bonn/Germany to convene all researchers funded under this call.
Eligibility: Qualified researchers from all Sub-Saharan African countries and Germany are invited to take part in the initiative (as a rule they should hold a doctorate and have a track record in their respective research field). Applicants from German research institutions are required to fulfil the DFG eligibility requirements.
(1) Invitation to Submit Posters
Submitted posters should reflect the profile of the researcher as well as showing their expertise, experience and contact details. At the same time, the posters should highlight current research interests and ideas for joint research projects. Posters that show solely the results of previous research projects are out of scope and will not be considered. Posters must comply with the template provided below. Researchers are required to submit their posters in either English or French by 30 September 2022. The submission of posters is a prerequisite for participation in the subsequent call for proposals.
(2) Call for the Initiation of International Collaboration
The call for the Initiation of International Collaboration serves to establish and facilitate collaborative relationships between researchers from Sub-Saharan Africa and Germany. For this purpose, three different modules are available: “Exploratory Workshops”, “Trips Abroad” and “Guest Visits”. In general, the DFG can only fund bilateral or multilateral Sub-Saharan African/German projects under this initiative. More details regarding the specifics of this call will be provided to the participants of the poster platform in October 2022. For further information on the programme and instructions for proposal preparation, please refer to the “Guidelines on Proposals for Grants to Support the Initiation of International Collaboration” (DFG form 1.813). Proposals must be submitted in English by 28 February 2023.
(3) Status Workshop
Approved travel funds from the funding for the Initiation of International Collaboration must be used to enable Sub-Saharan African project partners to participate in a Status Workshop in Bonn in the week of 8 to 12 April 2024. This workshop will be organised centrally by the DFG with the aim of assessing the need for a possible joint call for project proposals and collect lessons learnt regarding the framework within which such Sub-Saharan African/German collaborations can evolve.
