Grants from JRS Biodiversity Foundation

Description

1) Objective

The JRS Biodiversity Foundation is an independent grantmaking foundation based in Seattle, Washington that awards grants to increase the access to and use of biodiversity information in Sub-Saharan Africa. They have the following three programmatic focus areas: (1) freshwater biodiversity and resources; (2) pollinator biodiversity and services; and (3) capacity-building and partnerships in biodiversity informatics.

JRS invites the submission of concept notes for project funding from sub-Saharan Africa to enhance capacity for mobilization, use and dissemination of biodiversity data in support of policymaking for sustainable development. This RFP offers support for four grant types in 2022:

• Grants that establish or strengthen Freshwater biodiversity collaborations to increase research and data addressing local, national or regional freshwater development policy;
• Grants that further Pollinator biodiversity research, data use and collaborations to demonstrate the critical importance of pollinators to African economies and ecosystems;
• Grants that support African 30-by-30 goals for conservation (an aspirational CBD goal), using best science and data for decision-making;
• Grants that aim to enhance African representation in the post-2020 Global Biodiversity Framework process especially through building capacity in generating, analyzing, communicating and sharing African biodiversity information.
  In addition, proposals should contain common elements regardless of thematic focus:

All proposals must demonstrate elements of capacity-building for African stakeholders and institutions in bioinformatics, biodiversity science and applied data use for key African stakeholders and institutions. All proposals must demonstrate an intent and modality to communicate project results to key audiences and decision-makers. All proposals should articulate ways in which scientific and biodiversity data can clearly respond to a specific policy need for African institutions and society

2) Eligibility

JRS grants are open to institutions based in sub-Saharan Africa.

3) Location

Their regional funding focus is Sub-Saharan Africa.

4) Budget

An average grant award is about $175,000 over three years. About ten grants are awarded each year. JRS is willing to support expenses typical of indirect costs but requires these be directly accounted for. JRS is a charitable entity and does not match the indirect cost rates of the U.S. government or other entities.

5) Application

Concept notes must be submitted by 31 July 2022 through the JRS website. Following review of the concept notes, JRS will invite applicants successful in this round to submit a full proposal. Following final review and selection, funded projects are expected to start in early 2023 with a project implementation period of between 12 and 36 months.