Introduction to Call for FFU Proposals, 2016
Information meetings for applicants
March - May 2015
Copenhagen, Aarhus, Kathmandu, Dar es Salaam, and Accra
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Programme
1. Introduction to the Call
2. What is a good application? Strategic aspects and
criteria for selection
3. The application process
4. Questions/discussion
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Call 2016
The application process consists of two phases:
Phase 1
concept phase (prequalification).
Deadline 4 September 2015 12:00
hrs (DK time)
Phase 2
full application. Deadline March 2016
Project start
January 2017
Project period
5 years
Budget
max DKK 10 million
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Danida support to development research
– overall objective
• The main objective of the Danish support to development
research is to strengthen research capacity in priority
countries and to create new knowledge capable of
alleviating development problems.
(The International Development Cooperation Act, May 2012).
• Strategic Framework for Danish Support to Development
Research 2014-2018
http://um.dk/en/danida-en/partners/research/
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South- and North-driven projects
• The South-driven projects are applied for and managed
by the applying institution in Ghana, Tanzania or Nepal,
with partner(s) in Denmark. Three themes for each of the
three countries are given in the Call.
• The North-driven projects are applied for and managed
by a Danish institution with partner(s) in the priority
countries. Three themes are given in the Call.
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The 2016 Call: Three Themes for North-driven
projects
• Conflict & Fragility
• New Development Actors and Changing
Partnerships
• ICT for Development
http://dfcentre.com/research/calls-for-applications/
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The 2016 Call: Three Themes for South-driven
projects – Ghana.
• Natural Resource Management/Climate-Smart
Agriculture/Environmentally Sustainable Solutions
• Economic Development and Poverty Reduction/Role of the
Informal Sector
• Health: Right to Health/Health Care/Determinants of Health
http://dfcentre.com/research/calls-for-applications/
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The 2016 Call: Two Themes for South-driven
projects – Nepal.
• Economic Development and Poverty Reduction/Green
Growth
• Fragility, Stability and Rights
http://dfcentre.com/research/calls-for-applications/
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The 2016 Call: Three Themes for South-driven
projects – Tanzania.
• Good Governance
• Economic Development and Poverty Reduction/Green
Growth/Natural Resource Management
• Health: Right to Health/Health Care/Determinants of Health
http://dfcentre.com/research/calls-for-applications/
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What constitutes a good application?
Strategic aspects and criteria for selection
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Three criteria for assessment
1) Scientific quality
is evaluated on the basis of
• the application’s originality and innovativeness
• how it situates itself within, and contributes to
advance, the relevant research field
• the expected achievements from an
international standard.
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Three criteria for assessment:
2) Relevance
is assessed in respect of
• the extent to which the research topic is relevant to the
priorities of the Danida priority country
• the extent to which the research topic is relevant to the
key priorities of Danish development cooperation
(human rights and democracy; green growth; social
progress; and stability and protection)
• the relevance of the proposed research to the themes of
the Call
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Three criteria for assessment
3) Effect
is evaluated on the basis of
• the potential effect to the relevant public and
private users
• how the research is expected to be
communicated
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Feasibility of the proposed project
Is assed based on
• Management structure of the project
• The managerial competence and experience from
research in developing countries possessed by
the main applicant
• The feasibility of the activities
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Research capacity strengthening
• Research-based education, e.g. support to PhD students.
• Facilitation of access to and use of scientific literature.
• Training of senior researchers and teams to design and
manage research and produce, document and disseminate
research results.
• Participation in international research conferences and
networks.
• Support to establishing and managing research
laboratories and other facilities.
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Communication and Dissemination
• Application should outline a clear dissemination plan for
research results and how research may influence policy and
action.
• A policy brief of approx. 5 pages must provide
recommendations to decision makers in partner countries,
to Danida, and to other relevant stakeholders.
• Up to 10% of project budget for communication and
dissemination expenses.
• Quality of journals and publishing houses is monitored.
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Recommendations:
• Do select a subject within the themes described in the Call.
• Do identify a research question which is not only
intellectually challenging but also relevant and underresearched.
• Do formulate research questions and hypotheses that
describe the innovative nature of the proposed research,
how controversies in the literature may be addressed and
how ‘conventional wisdom’ may be revised.
• Do explain carefully how the project contributes to new
knowledge by positioning it in relation to existing research
(not enough to provide a list of literature read).
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Recommendations:
(continued)
• Be focused, realistic and feasible. It is not an advantage to
cover very broad research questions or extensive empirical
material. It is not an advantage to apply for comparative
studies unless the rationale is clearly explained.
• Make sure that the research is analytical rather than
descriptive.
• Consider that interdisciplinarity is an asset and make sure
that you have the right competences in the team.
• Do try to move from ‘grey’ to internationally refereed
publications.
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Recommendations:
(continued)
• Make sure that the main responsible research(ers) have
allocated sufficient time (not necessarily a good idea to
select a director or dean as main researcher).
• Do ensure a good balance between input from South-based
and Danish-based researchers.
• Do follow up on recommendations from FFU after phase 1.
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Warnings:
• Do not apply for ”product development” projects.
• Do not apply for data collection projects without thorough
explanation of how data will be used.
• Do not apply for ”development projects”, grants are for
research.
• Do not apply for consultancy type of activities.
• Do not apply for Ph.D. projects only without sufficient
involvement of senior researchers (allocate enough time for the
key applicant).
• Do not apply for funding for your entire institute (number of
key researchers should be limited to approx. 5-6).
• Do not address only part of the call text.
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The application process
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Who can apply?
• Applications can only be submitted by an institution, e.g. a
governmental institution, private-sector enterprise or
private organization.
• The main applicant researcher must be attached to the
applicant institution which is responsible for the project, if
approved.
• The main applicant researcher must at the time of
submitting the application hold a PhD or equivalent
qualifications.
• The nationality of applicants is not an issue when
assessing the application.
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Who can participate?
• PhD and Postdoc projects cannot be supported individually
but can be included in a larger research project.
• It is important that the main applicant and the research
team document relevant scientific qualifications and
research background within the research topic applied for.
• International research institutions and research
institutions in countries outside Danida priority countries can
be included as secondary partners.
• Partners from the private sector can only receive support,
if it is documented how they will contribute with additional
resources to the research.
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Who can participate – continued…
• The application must list all partner institutions and, to
the extent possible, all participating researchers.
• The North-driven applications must list partners in Danida
priority countries and possible international partners.
• The South-driven applications must list partners in
Denmark and possibly, in addition, partners in other Danida
priority countries and international partners.
• At least one specific researcher from each partner
institutions must be named in the Phase 1 application.
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Recommendations:
• Carefully read the Call and the instructions in the eapplication form and the application guide.
• Comply with the formal requirements set in the Call and
fill in the e-application correctly.
• Remember CVs of all identified researchers including main
applicant (Appendix A) and Signatures (Appendix B).
• Review the application before submission and check if
text may be cut off (only rely on the word count function in
the e-application).
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Process from application to grant
September
Phase 1 – 2015
• Start in time;
October
Deadline for Phase 1 applications:
4 September 2015, 12:00 hrs. (Danish Time).
DFC administrative
getting signatures
andscreening.
CVs may take
time.
National Screening Mechanism in Nepal, Ghana, and Tanzania.
Embassy
review / Applicants
hearing.
the partner
applicants
in the
planning and
• Involve all
application, ensure ownership,
andof adjust
expectations.
Council’s assessment
Phase 1 applications.
e-
December
Reply (approval / rejection) to applicants.
• Remember that the e-application
system closes at
Invitation to a full Phase 2 application.
12:00 sharp (Danish time) on the day of the deadline!
March
Deadline for Phase 2 applications in March 2016.
Phase 2 – 2016
March-May
reviewing
and applicant hearing.
• Appendices
(A and B)Peer
must
be uploaded
to the eapplication.
It is notCouncil’s
possible
to submit
June
assessment
of Phaseappendices
2 applications. after the
deadline has passed.
July
Innovation Fund Denmark’s approval procedure.
Reply (preliminary approval / rejection) to applicants.
• Once you have submitted the e-application in the eOctober
Commitment to the approved projects.
application
system, Letter
yourof application
cannot be changed.
January 17
Start of activities of the granted projects.
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Useful links
• The e-application system is accessible from DFC’s website:
http://dfcentre.com/research/calls-for-applications/
• For questions concerning the practical application
procedure, please contact the Research Unit at DFC at:
research@dfcentre.dk
• See the ongoing projects at Danida Research Portal:
http://drp.dfcentre.com/
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For South partners: how to identify relevant
Danish research partners
South driven applicants must find and contact the relevant
Danish partners before applying:
• Partners can often be identified from earlier collaborations or
through professional networks.
• Otherwise, searching can be done in international scientific
databases (links are suggested in the Call) or at the websites
of the Danish Universities.
• Inspiration can also be found among ongoing and past projects
at the Danida Research Portal: http://drp.dfcentre.com/.
• If still not possible to find a Danish partner, you can submit
your project information to DFC and it will be posted at the DFC
website under a “Research Collaboration Market Place”.
Any Danish researchers interested may then contact the
applicant.
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The Consultative Research Committee on
Development Research (FFU)
• 9 members incl. 8 representing main academic fields (of
which 3 international) appointed by the Danish Minister for
Development Cooperation. One member from MFA.
• Contributes to the drafting of the call text, application
procedures and guidelines.
• Assesses and selects Phase 1 and Phase 2 applications and
prioritizes projects for the funding by MFA.
• Participates in the quality assurance of the projects based
on annual and final reports from the projects and is
consulted concerning approvals of major changes in
projects.
• Policy on conflict of interest: http://um.dk/en/danidaen/partners/research/
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Who are involved in the assessment of
applications and in decisions? (1/2)
• National Screening Mechanisms in Tanzania, Ghana
and Nepal make assessment and shortlist Southdriven applications (phase 1).
• Embassies assess relevance (phase 1).
• International peer reviewers assess scientific quality
(phase 2).
• The Consultative Research Committee for
Development Research (FFU) assesses applications
and makes recommendations (phase 1 and phase 2).
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Who are involved in the assessment of
applications and in decisions? (2/2)
• Danish Innovation Fund approves recommendations
(phase 2).
• MFA of Denmark grants the funds (phase 2).
• Danida Fellowship Centre handles the administration
and the communication with the applicants (phase 1
and 2).
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Expected success ratio for applications in the
Call 2016
• Approximately 130 applications expected to be
received in phase 1 (of these most South-driven)
• 25-30 selected for phase 2.
• 12-13 projects expected to be granted.
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Thank you
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