Sud expert plants sustainable development (SEP2D) is a development support and international cooperation program in 22 countries in the intertropical zone. It aims to promote scientific research on plant biodiversity in southern countries, in particular by developing a culture of partnership with economic operators, civil society and political authorities. The SEP2D program thus aims to participate in the development of this scientific research, inclusive of public policy issues of national, sub-regional, regional and international dimensions.

The SEP2D program, implemented by IRD, is supported by a multi-donor partnership composed of the French Development Agency (AFD), the French Global Environment Facility (FFEM), the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Development, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Development, the Institute of Research for Development (IRD) and the National Museum of Natural History (MNHN).

Purpose and target

The objective of this call for projects is to identify, select and co-finance projects that contribute to the capacity building of research teams while participating in the development of economic, political and social innovation. The purpose of these projects will therefore be to meet operational research needs, while supporting the valorization of research conducted by scientists. The projects must be carried out by an academic institution from one of the 22 countries covered by the program, i.e. a research or higher education institution.

To be eligible, projects must also necessarily rely on the establishment of a partnership or consortium (e.g. according to the innovation platform approach, document available from stephanie.chauvet@ird.fr), where each of the actors must be independent of the other, with specific governance bodies. This partnership, consortium or innovation platform must consist of at least:

• of the academic institution carrying the project (from one of the 22 countries covered),
• and a non-academic operational player: private or public company, technical and financial partner of the country, NGO, professional organization, farmers' association, etc. This operational actor may or may not be from one of the 22 countries covered by the program.

Since multi-actor projects are strongly encouraged, this consortium may also integrate (in addition to the two partners mentioned above) other operational actors and/or research institutions, from the North or the South, participating in research, in the transfer of skills or technologies, in the value chain in which the project is part, etc.

The mandatory and minimum co-financing, of 20% of the total cash budget, must come from one of the non-academic partner (s) of the consortium, or come from a third party.

Provisional calendar

• 28/10/2016 - Broadcast Call for Projects
• 31/12/2016 - Deadline for receiving projects
• 29/01/2017 - End of the evaluation of projects by the CSP
• 19/02/2017 - Deadline for sending additional documents
• 13/03/2017 - Announcement of the laureates by the COPIL

To apply: download the required documentation HERE