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NOTE: The deadline for proposals submissions has been extended to October 20, 2017. 

Specific requests for proposals submissions from researchers of the State of São Paulo 

1. Overview

The aim of the programme “Biodiversity – ecosystem services for sustainable development” is through collaborative multinational research and capacity building to provide trans-regional level understanding of the role of biodiversity and ecosystem functioning and the services they provide in managing environments for sustainable development, such that informed environmental management is balanced with economic and social development needs.

Regional Researcher Links Workshop grants are designed to provide financial support to bring together UK, partner country and regional researchers to form a multilateral cohort of researchers to meet the overarching objectives.

In total, the activity will consist of 4 workshops conducted in either of the Host Countries. For the workshop in São Paulo, Brazil, the attendees will be split into three equal quotas for:

1. UK researchers

2. Host Country researchers

3. Regional researchers

The quota reserved for Regional researchers must include participants from at least two of the following countries (additional to the State of São Paulo):

• Argentina

• Chile

• Colombia

• Mexico

• Peru

Workshops will be co-ordinated by two Leading Researchers¹ one from a UK institution and one formally associated with a higher education or research institution in the State of São Paulo, Brazil and will focus on either of the research areas described in Section 3 and Appendix 4 at https://www.britishcouncil.org/sites/default/files/latam_rlwk_application_guidelines_v0.13.pdf. 

2. Who can apply

The proposal must be a joint application, with one leading researcher based at UK institution and one based in a higher education or research institution from the State of São Paulo, Brazil. Both applicants will be referred to as “Workshop Coordinators” and must propose a theme for the workshop under the 4 thematic research areas described in section 9 of the call (link to the call)”

2.a Workshop Coordinators from the State of São Paulo must be or have been Principal or Co-Principal Investigators of research projects funded by FAPESP within at least one of the following FAPESP funding lines: Thematic Projects, Young Investigators Award (JP), Research, Innovation and Dissemination Centres (CEPIDs/RIDCs), and Research Partnership for Technological Innovation (PITE).

3. Location of the workshops

The workshops will take place in the State of São Paulo, Brazil.

4. Timing and duration of the workshops

Workshops must take place between 1 March 2018 to 31 August 2018.

The minimum duration of a workshop is three (3) days and the maximum duration is five (5) days.

5. Who will take part in the workshops?

Each workshop will be co‑ordinated by two Leading Researchers², one from the State of São Paulo and one from the UK, and will focus on either of the research areas described in Section 3 and Appendix 4 at https://www.britishcouncil.org/sites/default/files/latam_rlwk_application_guidelines_v0.13.pdf, 

5.1 Each of the 4 thematic workshops will be structured as follows:

Maximum of 36 participants (including coordinators, mentors and early career researchers), split into three equal quotas for the UK and researchers from the State of São Paulo and Regional Researchers although some flexibility may be agreed with the British Council on a case by case basis (as described at BC/NF guidelines – item 7).

• Paricipants : 8-12 per quota (all quotas are mandatory):

  • Quota 1 - researches from the State of São Paulo

  • Quota 2 - UK researchers

  • Quota 3 – Regional researchers (at least 2 from the countries mentioned above)

• Workshop leaders:

  • Quota 1 – 1 coordinator from the State of São Paulo

  • Quota 2 – 1 coordinator from the UK

  • Quota 3 – Leading or Established researchers from 2 to 4 countries, referred to as “mentor”

6. Role of the Workshop Coordinators

Workshop Coordinators will send in a joint application form according to instructions on section 16 at (https://www.britishcouncil.org/sites/default/files/latam_rlwk_application_guidelines_v0.13.pdf). They will determine the theme and the content of the workshop. They can propose up to four other leading/established researchers^[1], one per each country mentioned above, to be involved in the workshop as Mentors. If the proposal is successful, Workshop Coordinators will also be responsible for selecting early career researchers to participate in the workshop.

7. Role of the Mentors

Mentor researchers^[1] are expected to act as mentors to the early career researchers during the workshop by sharing their experience and knowledge. Ideally, they would also remain in contact with the early career researchers after the workshop has finished, in order to share networks and contacts.

8. Language

Workshops will be held in English.

9. Thematic focus of the workshop (see further details in the Appendix 4 in the BC guidelines)

9.1 Understanding habitats and species

The objective of this theme is to better understand the relationship between habitats and species and species composition across what is an increasingly anthropogenic region. There is a need specifically to understand the functional role of biodiversity in LATAM ecosystems across a range of ecosystem goods and services, environmental gradients and scales typical of real landscapes.

9.2 Biodiversity for sustainable livelihoods and bio-economy

The objective of this theme is better understand the biodiversity resource available within the region, using new technological and skills capacity, to monitor, model; and provide decision making tools directed towards ensuring the region´s bio-economy is biodiversity based and thus sustainable.

9.3 Global Climate Change, Biodiversity and ecosystems

The objective of this theme is to better understand presence and in-situ value of the biodiversity resource within the region, through the use of a range of natural capital approaches ( and beyond economic valuation only). In doing so, and in association with the other themes this will inform on the most suitable approaches for maintaining the biodiversity.

9.4 Maintaining and restoring natural capital

The objective of this theme is to place the better understanding of LATAM biodiversity, its range, functioning and management, within a global and climate impact context.

10. Content of the workshop

Workshop Coordinators will lead on the research content of the workshops under the four thematic areas outlined in this call. The content must reflect the goal of the programme to build links for future collaboration and enhancing the researchers’ career opportunities.

10.1 Brief workshop guidelines.

10.2 Sessions should be as interactive as possible with participants encouraged to share knowledge, experience and ideas.

10.3 Workshop coordinators and mentors should have the opportunity to share their expertise.

10.4 Suggested sessions:

a. Formal keynote lectures by the workshop coordinators and mentors. These must take up no more than a half-day in total (ideally spread over the workshop).

b. Research sessions, where the early career researchers are able to share their current research (could be in poster format or oral presentations).

c. Networking sessions, where researchers are able to interact and explore opportunities for collaboration (e.g. speed-networking sessions).

d. Overview of the research base and funding opportunities: a brief introduction to the research base in the UK and in the State of São Paulo/Brazil – how it is funded, size, strengths, international collaborative activity, links with industry.

e. Career development opportunities in the UK and in the State of São Paulo. This could be an informal discussion amongst the researchers or a more structures look at career development.

f. How to form international collaborations (intercultural skills, challenges, opportunities, best practice, etc).

g. Optional content within workshops (where appropriate these sessions would be welcome but applications will not be disadvantaged if they do not include them):

i. Depending on the research field or theme of the workshop, coordinators may wish to include a session which invites industry or other non-academic partners to talk about cross-sector collaboration.

ii. Public engagement activity/visit to a relevant research facility.

11. Organisation of the workshop

Workshop applicants are responsible for planning and organising the workshop.

11.1 FAPESP and the British Council can provide funds for:

a. International (economy return) airfares for up to 18 researchers, including Workshop Coordinators and Mentors, from the UK to travel to the partner country and back (to be covered by BC, Newton Fund).

b. Local travel costs for attendees from the State of São Paulo (to be covered by FAPESP).

c. Perdiems (allowances) to cover meals, personal costs for the participants and accommodation for all external attendees for up to 5 nights in the city where the workshop will take place.

d. Organisational support.

11.2 The workshop should take place in the facilities of the host institution in the State of São Paulo (counterpart).

11.3 More details on the funding for the workshops can be found in Annex I.

11.4 It is expected that UK funds are matched from partner countries. In the State of São Paulo, this matched funding comes from FAPESP. This can be in the form of a financial or in-kind contribution from the institution in the State of São Paulo, to cover the costs included in the grant application (and any further costs).

12. Recruitment of participants

12.1 After the selection process, successful Workshop Coordinators will be responsible for recruiting participants to the workshops. All participants must come from higher education and research institutions in UK, in the State of São Paulo and in the partner countries .

12.2 Early career researchers recruited to participate in the workshop must have a PhD obtained not more than 10 years prior to the workshop (or to have equivalent experience), with allowances made for career breaks. If a researcher does not hold a PhD but has research experience equivalent to a PhD holder and works in a field where a PhD is not a prerequisite for established research activity, they can still be considered eligible.

12.3 No more than half of the early career researchers from each country may be recruited from the institutions of the coordinators and mentors.

12.4 There must be an open call for participants, and this must be disseminated through various defined channels ³ (British Council and FAPESP will support the dissemination) and coordinators are encouraged to identify and employ additional avenues of communication so that the workshops are advertised as widely as possible.

12.5 Participants will need to demonstrate a sufficient standard of English to participate in the workshops.

12.6 While recognising that some research fields are dominated by one particular gender, workshop coordinators are encouraged to work towards as equal a gender balance as is possible, promote diversity, and ensure that no applicants are excluded from participation on the basis of ethnicity, gender, religious belief, sexual orientation, or disability.

13. Sustainability

The aim of the workshops is to stimulate longer term links between the UK and the State of São Paulo, Brazil, as well as to contribute to the personal and professional development of the participants. Workshop Coordinators should indicate how they envisage this occurring, including any plans for long term mentoring of early career researchers (either within each country, or cross-nationally).

14. Outputs and longer term benefit

Coordinators should outline the specific outputs planned from the workshop. They should also explore any potential longer-term benefit that might arise, thinking about who might benefit and how they might benefit, describing the actions that will be taken to ensure that potential impact is realised.

15. Selection Process

15.1 There will be a three-step selection process by:

a. An independent UK selection panels giving recommendations to the British Council.

b. FAPESP will analyse the proposals based on the FAPESP’s peer reviewing system for “Auxílio Organização” scheme.

c. FAPESP and the British Council will be making a final decision together based on the recommendations from both panels (a and b above), and define how many proposals will be awarded the grant.

15.2 Applicants should indicate which selection panel their proposal should be assessed by; in the case of interdisciplinary research, more than one panel can be selected.

15.3 Successful applicants will be notified approximately six weeks after the call deadline.

16. How to submit

Applicants should submit a joint proposal before 20 October 2017 (16:00 UK time) to the British Council and to FAPESP as described below:

16.1. Fill in the British Council online application form available at: (https://britishcouncil-cxobw.formstack.com/forms/application_form_newton_latin_america_biodiversity_wg_july2017) and a Word version can be found on the opportunity webpage: www.britishcouncil.org/education/science/current-opportunities/regional-workshops-newton-latin-america

and

16.2. Send by post the documents described on item 3, Annex 1 below, to the address: Rua Pio XI, 1500, Alto da Lapa, CEP 05468-901 – São Paulo/SP, Brazil. Please identify the envelope with “Chamada FAPESP/Newton Fund – LATAM 2017” written on the envelope.

FAPESP/Newton Fund – Latin America Biodiversity Regional Researcher Links Workshops

Further instructions

Considering that the FAPESP Newton Fund – Latin America Biodiversity Regional Researcher Links Workshops follow the objectives agreed by both parties in the Memorandum of Understanding, applicants must present their proposals according to FAPESP’s guidelines of the “Auxílio Organização” funding scheme, as described below:

1) Applicants can present proposals in the thematic areas presented in the item 9 above.

2) Workshop Coordinators from the State of São Paulo must be or have been Principal or Co-Principal Investigators of research projects funded by FAPESP within at least one of the following FAPESP funding lines: Thematic Projects, Young Investigators Award (JP), Research, Innovation and Dissemination Centres (CEPIDs/RIDCs), and Research Partnership for Technological Innovation (PITE).

3) The resources necessary for the delivering of the workshop shall be equally distributed between FAPESP and the British Council.

a. In the Research Proposal form, please fill in item 6.1 with the consolidated budget requested to FAPESP, and item 6.2. with the budget requested to the British Council. This data have to match the total budget requested in the BC Application form.

b. The list of FAPESP’s eligible items are available at: www.fapesp.br/156#3824 , Item 8.

c. Non-eligible costs, as described in Item 9 at www.fapesp.br/156#3824 can be funded by the British Council according the Cooperation Agreement for Research and in Item 11 of these Workshop Guidelines.

4) Applicants from the State of São Paulo must also send to FAPESP the following documents to Rua Pio XI, 1500, Alto da Lapa, CEP 05468-901 – São Paulo/SP, Brazil:

a. FAPESP Application form and Researcher’s Registration form

b. FAPESP Budget Worksheets (FAPESP)

c. FAPESP Budget Worksheets (BNRL)

d. A copy of the application form for the Researcher Links Workshop (https://www.britishcouncil.org/sites/default/files/latam_rlwk_application_guidelines_v0.13.pdf). This application form must be filled in according to the instructions at https://www.britishcouncil.org/sites/default/files/latam_rlwk_application_guidelines_v0.13.pdf;

e. Description of the selection process of "Earlier carrier" participants, observing the recruitment rules described in item 12 of this Call for Proposals.

i. Please note that participants who do not satisfy the requirements of item 12 of this Call for Proposals will not be accepted .