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)

IFS Supports ResearchIFS Supports Research

Basic or Applied Research?Basic or Applied Research?

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]

Number of IFS Grants given by Country in Africa

Grants to WomenGrants to Women

0%

5%

10%

15%

20%

25%

30%

35%

74

76

78

80

82

84

86

88

90

92

94

96

98

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

Thank you.Thank you.