Young People and Agri-Food: Small Grant Competition 2012-2013

Posted on April 27, 2012 by - Young People & Agrifood

young woman planting crops wb flickrCall for Applications
Deadline: 15 June 2012

The Future Agriculture Consortium, through its Young People and Agri-Food theme, seeks to address three constraints to more appropriate policy in relation to the “young people and agriculture” problem in Africa:

  • A lack of analysis that is theoretically and historically informed, conceptually sound and context sensitive;
  • A very weak base of empirical research relating to either the nature of the “problem” or the potential impacts of particular policy responses;
  • A limited cadre of researchers and policy advocates who are actively working on and informed about these issues.

Since its inception in 2010, the theme has worked to understand the framings and narratives that inform policy relating to young people and agriculture and to begin to reframe the “problem” in a way that will allow research to more effectively contribute to evidence-based policy processes.

A series of country-based research undertaken last year fed into a recent international conference Young People, Farming & Food: the Future of the Agri-food Sector in Africa held between 19-21 March, 2012 at the University of Ghana. A brief synthesis of the research agenda that emerged from the conference was also published.

In order to push this agenda forward the FAC Young People and Agri-Food Theme is launching a small grants programme. Grants of up to UK£2,000 will be made available on a competitive basis to applicants who are in a position to make a serious contribution to the post-conference research agenda.

Grants of this size are not sufficient to initiate and complete new work, so we are looking to identify and fund “value-added” activities such as: an additional field visit; additional data analysis; a specific writing project; attendance at a conference; or organising a conference panel.

This small grants programme is open to bona fide researchers at all levels. It is expected that most awards will be given to African researchers; however others are also encouraged to apply.

Short proposals (1000 words maximum) should be submitted by email to j.leavy@ids.ac.uk by 15 June 2012, together with a one-page CV that includes the name of one referee. Proposals should clearly identify the work that is being proposed, how it engages with the FAC post-conference agenda, the expected outputs and schedule, and how the funds will be used. We are very keen to see publishable work being generated through this programme. Ideally projects should be completed by 31 December 2012.

Successful applicants will be notified in July 2012.

For additional information you may contact one of the Young People and Agri-Food Convenors: