Calls

GTI calls (Global Taxonomy Initiative)

Several institutions in Belgium host important natural history collections, extensive libraries, well-equipped research facilities and well-trained taxonomists and curators. To ensure that this can also serve developing countries in addressing their taxonomic needs, the Belgian Focal Point to the GTI as a sub-program of CEBioS issues three types of grants:

GTI Short-term Scholarship

The GTI Scholarships fund short-term research stays (up to 4 weeks) of individual students or scientific staff members from eligible developing countries at a Belgian center of taxonomic expertise (e.g., Royal Belgian Institute of Natural Sciences, Meise Botanic Garden, AfricaMuseum, a specific university research group or another taxonomic facility).

The internships are focused on (a) specific taxonomic group(s) relevant to sustainable ecosystem management and sustainable local livelihoods – it may concern plants, animals, fungi, bacteria or other (micro)organisms – and typically include combined theoretical and hands-on training in taxon identification, taxon classification and/or collection management.

Access to scientific literature, to specialized databases and to specific Belgium-based infrastructure and collections can also be obtained during the study visits.

For more details on the eligibility criteria and application modalities, as well as the GTI Scholarship Grants awarded in the past, please visit the dedicated website of the Belgian Focal Point to the GTI.

A call for proposals is issued once a year, usually between March and June.

GTI Thematic Training Grant

This new grant type funds the participation of (para)taxonomists from eligible developing countries in short-term general trainings or workshops (co-)organized by the Belgian GTI NFP in Belgium or abroad (up to 2 weeks).

In contrast to the trainings at Belgian research institutes provided in the context of the GTI Scholarship Grants, which usually focus on specific taxonomic groups, these general workshops aim to enhance the participant’s knowledge and/or skills in domains that are relevant across taxa.

General trainings are ad hoc or demand-driven and may cover the following topics (without being exhaustive):

  • Introduction to taxonomy
  • Introduction to natural history collections
  • Nomenclature and classification
  • Species concepts
  • Evolution
  • Molecular biology and phylogenetics
  • DNA barcoding
  • Combining taxonomy with GIS, remote sensing, aerial photography to upscale towards land use management
  • Scientific & project writing
  • Interpretation and visualization of taxonomic data (including statistics)
  • Integrating taxonomic research into policy recommendations (e.g., producing policy briefs) for better biodiversity conservation and local livelihoods
  • Networking (alumni, regional mycologists, etc.)
  • Mainstreaming GTI and taxonomy in other scientific domains, other sectors, development cooperation, etc.

To learn more about the thematic trainings and to view associated course material, please visit the dedicated website of the Belgian Focal Point to the GTI.

Calls for training participants are launched on a regular basis.

GTI Capacity Development Grant

GTI Capacity Development Grants support taxonomic research projects of Belgian scientists (see note) in eligible developing countries. Projects should focus on well-defined taxonomic groups that play an important role in ecosystem functioning and the delivery of ecosystem services, in order to support sustainable ecosystem management and sustainable livelihoods of local communities.

Importantly, research activities must always be accompanied by capacity-development activities and both components should address clearly identified taxonomic and/or curatorial needs of the partner country.

For more details on the eligibility criteria and application modalities, as well as the GTI Capacity Development Grants awarded in the past, please visit the dedicated website of the Belgian Focal Point to the GTI.

A call for proposals is launched once a year, usually between March and June.

Note: All scientific staff of the Royal Belgian Institute of Natural Sciences (RBINS) are welcome to respond to this call. Researchers from Meise Botanic Garden can also apply, provided that they have actively contributed to GTI activities in the past. Taxonomists from other Belgian research institutes can take part as invited experts, not as promotors.

The first two are awarded to selected taxonomists and parataxonomists from eligible developing countries, while the last grant type is reserved exclusively for Belgian taxonomists combining research with capacity development in developing countries.

CHM reinforcement calls (Clearing-House Mechanism)

The digital world has evolved considerably since the early days of the Belgian CHM partnership. New web-based tools are continuously being released, and society’s needs and use of the Internet are constantly changing. Focal Points around the world have to adapt to these unceasing changes, taking full advantage of emerging technologies in their work on the CHM.

To assist partner countries in this task and increase their contribution to the CHM websites, the Belgian Focal Point to the CHM as part of the CEBioS program regularly launches calls for proposals. The objective of the initiative is to obtain websites that are:

  • officially endorsed by the national authorities
  • operational both in terms of format and content
  • updated with relevant and comprehensive information, data and national documents
  • key to the follow up of the implementation of National Biodiversity Strategies and Action Plans (NBSAPs)
  • linked to other relevant websites at national and international level.

From 2006 to 2018, national CHM websites were based on the Portal Toolkit (PTK) Content Management System (CMS), but since 2019, there has been a migration to the Bioland CMS developed by the Secretariat of the Convention. In this context, the CHM reinforcement call plays an important role in helping countries of the Belgian CHM partner network make the transition to the Bioland CMS and feed information and data into these new websites.

More information about the CHM reinforcement calls can be found here.

MRV calls (Measuring, Reporting and Verification)

Calls for projects are regularly launched by CEBioS to implement the MRV approach, with the objective to
  • valorize existing data,
  • promote the development of policy-relevant biodiversity indicators,
  • improve monitoring capacity,
  • strengthen the science-policy interface in the field of biodiversity.
The projects are submitted by a tandem of scientists and decision makers, to bridge the gap between data collection by scientists and data use by decision makers. The capacity building activities around these calls are summarized below:

Awareness calls

As awareness raising is also an integral part of the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) and its Post-2020 Global Biodiversity Framework, CEBioS regularly launches calls for proposals in order to help partner countries implement activities to raise awareness on the importance of biodiversity and the services it provides. In this way, CEBioS aims to contribute to a better knowledge of biodiversity linked to sustainable development and a better implementation of international environmental conventions in developing countries.

Awareness activities may include the organization of a meeting with local communities, policy-makers and/or other stakeholders, the hosting of an academic event for students and professors, the dissemination of flyers, brochures or posters, the publication of articles in popular journals, participation in a radio or television program, etc.

The awareness calls are linked to CEBioS’ CHM, GTI and MRV activities:

General awareness calls (mainly CHM)

National CHM networks play a vital role in educating and informing the general public, policy makers and/or other interested stakeholders about the value of biodiversity and the opportunities provided by the Convention on Biological Diversity.

Therefore, as part of the public awareness component of its program, CEBioS aims to strengthen the awareness actions of CHM National Focal Points and competent authorities in partner countries by regularly launching calls for project proposals.

Four types of awareness projects (6 month duration) are distinguished:  

Type 1: Study on suitable indicators for a baseline study on public awareness if such indicators have not yet been defined in the revised National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan (NBSAP)

Type 2: Baseline study on the perception of biodiversity based on the indicators chosen in the NBSAP or via an earlier project on indicators (Type 1 project)

Type 3: Follow-up study to evaluate changes in the perception of biodiversity based on the indicators chosen with methodology used for baseline study (Type 2 project); results are to be included in the evaluation of the NBSAP

Type 4: Public awareness project on:

Type 1 to 3 projects are aimed at Ministries, while the goal of Type 4 projects is to raise awareness among the target audience chosen in the NBSAP or through an earlier indicator project (and for which a baseline study (Type 2 project) has been undertaken).

More information about these general awareness calls can be found here.

GTI awareness calls

The aim of the GTI Awareness Grants is to enable researchers from eligible developing countries to carry out local awareness-raising campaigns based on the scientific results obtained via their GTI internships that took place at a taxonomic research institute in Belgium. Therefore, applications may only be submitted by students or scientific staff members who have received one or more GTI Scholarship Grants in the three years preceding the GTI awareness call.

The overall objective of the GTI awareness activities is to educate the general public and interested stakeholders on how a better understanding and management of the components of biodiversity can contribute to the provision of ecosystem services and thus to improved livelihoods.

For more details on the eligibility criteria and application modalities, as well as the GTI Awareness Grants awarded in the past, please visit the dedicated website of the Belgian Focal Point to the GTI.

A call for proposals for GTI awareness projects is launched every four years with the next one expected in 2024.

MRV awareness calls

Call for projects to raise public awareness of MRV research results.

The specific agreement between the Belgian Development Cooperation (DGD) and the Royal Belgian Institute of Natural Sciences (RBINS) aims to contribute through its CEBioS program to a better knowledge of biodiversity and a better implementation of international environmental conventions in developing countries.

In order to measure, report and verify (MRV) on the state of biodiversity, especially in the framework of the implementation of the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), the development of indicators is a key tool to monitor the implementation of NBSAPs. This goes hand in hand with the collection of data to establish them. Such indicators can also be used to measure the progress of policies and projects, to support policy-making, etc.

Two calls for the development of such indicators have been launched in 2019. Eight projects in French-speaking partner countries were selected and implemented, as well as 5 projects in English-speaking partner countries. During the closing workshops of these two calls (Bujumbura, 2022) the leaders of these projects discussed and presented ideas for awareness raising projects as a continuation of their MRV projects.

This call for projects aims to support MRV project partners who wish to carry out this type of outreach.

Eligibility

Only MRV project partners who have received financial support from CEBioS, following MRV calls in 2019, are eligible for this call.

When should the projects be completed?

Projects must begin in February 2023 and must be completed by the end of October 2023.

What activities are covered by the outreach project funding?

The activities can be very diverse, but always related to the theme of your MRV project. We propose a list of activities that is not exhaustive:

  • Make and print posters and other awareness-raising materials;
  • Organize a meeting with the local population in the area where you have been working on your MRV project, to explain your research and/or to promote a better understanding of the issues and best practices for safeguarding their environment and its biodiversity, as well as to inform them about the relevant legislation;
  • Organize an information session with policy makers and other stakeholders in your research area;
  • Participate in a radio or television program to explain your research. Your CHM focal point can help you make contacts;

Can not be taken into account: participation in scientific conferences, data collection in the field.

Promoters and partners of the project

Two contact persons must be designated, one of whom will be designated as responsible for the budget, coordination, implementation, and reporting aspects of the project (sponsor). Preferably, both institutions involved in the MRV project should be involved in the awareness project.

Available funds

The budgets allocated to the projects are of 2300 € maximum.

Financial support

A maximum budget of 2300 € will be granted per project. The number of projects supported will depend on the type, size and quality of the projects submitted.

Possible costs will include: communication (internet, units...), creation of awareness raising materials, costs related to the organization of meetings with local populations, policy makers or other stakeholders, possible costs related to local transportation, local accommodation, and if necessary small equipment (e.g. USB stick, hard drive... contact us if in doubt). Consultancy fees and salaries, or data collection costs will not be eligible under this call.

A project contract will be established between the RBINS and the promotor's institute. Payment procedure: 80% of the budget allocated to the contractor will be paid at the beginning of the project, then the remaining 20% at the end of the project. The final payment will be made only after receipt of all original supporting documents and narrative and financial reports.

Indicative dates for proposal review and project implementation

27/10/2022: The call for MRV awareness projects is launched

27/11/2022: Deadline for submission

Dec 2022 : Project beneficiaries are contacted

Dec 2022-Jan 2023: Drawing up and signing contracts

Feb-March 2023: Payment of the first instalment (80%)

01/02/2023-30/06/2023: Project implementation, with informal exchanges with contact persons in Belgium

31/07/2023: Submission of financial and narrative reports

August-September 2023: Feedback on the reports

September-October 2023: Payment of balances

Model for the submission of the project

First page (summary)

  • Call: awareness related to MRV projects
  • Project Title
  • Country
  • Project location
  • Target audience(s)
  • Key message(s)
  • Duration of the project
  • Promoting institution (full contact details)
  • Contact person(s)/promoter and his/her contact information
  • Amount requested

Mandatory structure of the document (total maximum 5 pages)

  1. Overall objective
  2. Specific objective(s)
  3. Geographic location
  4. Main theme
  5. Expected results, indicators and activities
  6. Required infrastructure and human resources
  7. Sustainability and impacts of the project
  8. Potential risks associated with the project
  9. Sustainability of initiated activities
  10. Strategy for valorization of results through the national CHM website
  11. Indicative budget in Euros
  12. In-kind and/or financial contribution of the local partner (human resources, infrastructure, equipment, etc.)
  13. Duration and schedule of activities (in table form)
  14. Project monitoring and evaluation, including objectively verifiable indicators (see annex for CEBioS indicators)
  15. Optional (but encouraged): For those whose MRV project was the subject of the stakeholder analysis/problem tree at the Bujumbura workshop: situate your target audience, objectives, and context in these tools.

Reporting
An activity report and a financial report must be submitted at the end of the project (will be stipulated in the contract).

Projects, tools and their results should be posted on the national CHM in your country. A list of national CBD and CHM focal points is available here.

 

Where to submit your proposal or find additional information?

Hilde Keunen ou Anne-Julie Rochette
Royal Belgian Institute of Natural Sciences
CEBioS Programme
Rue Vautier, 29
B-1000 Brussels
Belgium

Tel. Whatsapp: +32 495252267 (Hilde)  hkeunen@naturalsciences.be
Tel. : +32 474626639 (Anne-Julie) ajrochette@naturalsciences.be

Appendix 1: CEBioS indicators to be included in the project

For the monitoring of your project, among the indicators you propose, please include at least the following indicators, which are global indicators of the CEBioS program, common to all awareness projects:

  • Number of staff of implementing authorities reached through awareness raising projects (number of persons, including number of men/women)
  • Number of staff members of authorities, decision makers and policymakers reached through awareness raising activities (number of persons, including number of men/women)
  • Number of synergies and complementarities (collaborations, joint activities) with another country or an international/national NGO to implement the project
  • Number of people (ultimate beneficiaries) reached through the supported awareness projects (including number of men/women)
  • Number of awareness raising meetings with different target groups
  • Number of vulgarizing documents effectively published (videos; posters; flyers; or articles in popular media) by partners, with support of CEBioS