Researchers (IUCEA)

Researchers (IUCEA)

THEME: Climate Change and Food Security in the Lake Victoria Basin
Introduction and Background
The Inter-University Council for East Africa (IUCEA) is one of the autonomous institutions of the East African Community, the umbrella body that together the Republics of Burundi, Kenya, Rwanda, Tanzania and Uganda. Since its inception in 2002, IUCEA has implemented Phases 1(2003-2005) and 2(2006 - 2008) of the Lake Victoria Research Initiative (VicRes) through a secretariat based in Kampala, Uganda. VicRes is a regional collaborative multidisciplinary research program funded by the Government of Sweden through the Swedish International Development Agency (Sida). The geographical focus of VicRes is the Lake Victoria Basin (LVB).

The goal of VicRes is to contribute to the development cooperation of the East African Partner States by supporting high quality scientific research that applies a regional/transboundary approach to poverty alleviation in the Lake Victoria Basin (LVB). VicRes Phase 3 covers the period 2009 - 2014.

The objectives of VicRes Phase 3 are to:
• Increase the rote of research in contributing to poverty alleviation.
• Enhance the state of the Lake Victoria water and the environment in the LVB.
• Ensure sustainable management and utilization of Lake Victoria and the natural resources found in the basin.
• Increase the application and utilization of research findings, recommendations and innovations in the development agenda of the East African Community Partner States.
• Use the research findings to inform the planning, decision making and policy reform and implementation.

Research Focus and sub-themes:

Research on climate change and Food Security in the Lake Victoria Basin is one of the key areas of focus in the VicRes Phase 3 Strategic Plan. In this call, collaborative-multidisciplinary research projects that demonstrate high scientific quality, transboundary/regional approach to poverty alleviation and address Climate Change and Food Security in the Lake Victoria Basin will be considered for funding under the following sub-themes:
A. Aquaculture and Fisheries
B. Natural Resources Governance
The proposal must clearly show how Climate Change and Food Security has been articulated in any of the above sub-themes.

Eligibility and team composition
Researchers from public and private universities and research institutes in the East African Community Partner States are eligible to apply in teams. The Principal Investigator (PI) and team members must be full-time members of staff in university or research institute. In addition to high scientific quality and regional/transboundary approach, the proposals must address the following aspects:
Multidisciplinarity: each team should comprise members from different disciplines with clearly defined roles The Principal Investigator must hold a PhD — in the relevant research discipline and have a demonstrable track record of research leadership.
Gender: each team must have at least one female researcher.

Capacity building of young researchers (bachelor’s degree holders): each team should have at least one young researcher.
Note: Participation of researchers from Burundi and Rwanda is particularly encouraged.


Budget and funding duration
Successful proposals will be awarded up to a maximum of USD 200,000 per project-per year. Depending on the progress and scientific quality, funding may be renewed annually up to a maximum of three years.

Proposal format:

The proposal must have the following: Cover page (with title, names of team members, institutions of affiliation and contact addresses including e-mails and telephones), Executiye Summary, Background to the Study, Research Problem, Justification/Significance of the study, Conceptual Framework, Literature Review, Aim and Objectives, Research Questions or Hypotheses, Methods of Data Collection and Analyses, Expected outputs, Methods of Data Collection and AnalysesWork Plan, Logframe, Budget, References and one-page resume of the Principal Investigator and each team member. The proposal must not exceed 20 pages typed on one side of A4 paper-at single line spacing using Times New Roman font size 12. Proposals that do not adhere to the format will not be reviewed, Letter of commitment from the Pl's host institution indicating that it will supervise project implementation and manage research funds if the proposal is successful..

Invitation and proposal submission deadline:

VicRes in conjunction with the inter-University Council for East Africa hereby invites eligible researchers to submit proposals for consideration under Phase 3 funding support. Hard and electronic copies of proposals must be submitted to the VicRes Regional Coordination Office latest by 5:00 p.m. on 30th June 2011. Late submissions will be rejected and no correspondences related to rejection shall be entered into thereafter. Electronic copies must be sent to the email address 5elow only and you will receive auto acknowledge reply.

This call can also be accessed on the VicRes website http//:www.vicres.net.