(Update: Call Extended for Participation of Early-Career Scientists/Practitioners from Bhutan and India)

With the theme “Climate Smart Agriculture: Meeting the demands of a growing population“, APN’s Proposal Development Training Workshop (PDTW), covering the South Asia (SA) region, will be held from 6 to 8 April 2020 in Islamabad, Pakistan. The training workshop is designed to enhance the capacity of young scientists and practitioners in the SA region to develop competitive project proposals for funding.

Considering limited financial resources and the numbers that can be accommodated for an effective workshop, participants will be selected on a “first come, first served” basis. For this reason, we encourage those interested to submit their application before 16 February 2020, Sunday 23:59:59 JST.

A. Main Theme

The main topic of the present workshop will be: Climate Smart Agriculture: Meeting the demands of a growing population

The workshop will focus on the following sub-themes under the main theme of climate smart agriculture:

1. Mainstreaming climate-smart agriculture into National Policies and Programmes
2. Empowering farmer and consumer organizations, women and youth
3. Climate-smart resilient and low-emission practices and technologies
4. Landscape approaches to climate-smart agricultural systems

B. Structure of the Workshop

The training workshop will be for three days and will comprise of three main parts, which are as follows:

• Day 1: Introductory session and interactive lecture-based activities;
• Day 2: Group presentations and field visit; and
• Day 3: Hands-on group exercise on proposal review.

C. Participation

The PDTW is open to young scientists from the South Asia region and working in the area of climate smart agriculture in South Asia. For this reason, applicants requiring funding support will ONLY be accepted from those young scientists/practitioners who are living and working in the APN member countries of Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan or Sri Lanka.

Young scientists/practitioners who wish to submit applications on a self-funded basis may do so and should be working in an area related to the topic and the focus should be South Asia, although he/she may be from any APN member or approved country.

D. Application Process

To apply to participate in the PDTW, follow these steps:

1. Complete and submit the online application form for the PDTW through the APN website.
2. Submit a letter of recommendation from your affiliated institution.
3. Submit a short motivation essay.
4. Submit your resume/CV (maximum 2 pages).

E. Eligibility and Procedures

1. Young/early-career scientists/practitioners 40 years of age and under can apply for the PDTW (students/research assistants and post-docs are encouraged).
2. He/she should be working in areas of, or have academic experience related to, the main topic of the workshop.
3. He/she must be one of the following:
   1. An undergraduate degree holder with five years of related working experience;
   2. A postgraduate working towards a PhD or Master’s;
   3. A Master’s degree holder with two years of related working experience;
   4. A PhD degree holder;
   5. A postdoctoral student.
4. He/she must currently be affiliated to an academic or national/regional research institution.
5. He/she must have a good working knowledge of the English language.
6. A letter of recommendation from the applicant’s affiliated institution and a motivation essay are required to be attached to the Application Form.
7. Participants will be selected on a first come, first serve basis.
8. Those who intend to apply on a self-funded basis can be within or outside the sub-region, but their intended work must focus on the South Asia region and the applicant must be from one of APN’s member/approved countries.

F. Sponsorship

1. A maximum of 25 young/early-career scientists and practitioners will be selected for the training workshop. Based on the financial resources available, APN will financially support a minimum of 15 young/early-career scientists/practitioners.
2. From each sub-regional member country and approved country (Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka), a minimum of two young/early-career scientists/practitioners will be selected as recipients of APN financial support.
3. Sponsorship for successful applicants will cover the cost of economy class air tickets, accommodation and local transportation.
4. Five self-funded participants will be selected based on their expertise and motivation to join the workshop. Self-funded participants are expected to arrange and pay for their travel, meal costs and accommodation.
5. There is no registration fee to participate in this workshop.

G. Application Deadline

For applicants who request full or partial funding support, the deadline is 16 February 2020, 23:59:59 JST. However, as applications will be treated on a first-come, first-served basis, early application is recommended. APN reserves the right to close the call when its application quota has been reached.

Additional notes

1. During the workshop, breakfast and lunch will be served for all participants.
2. Those who have previously participated in earlier PDTWs are not eligible to apply.

For additional queries, please contact the APN secretariat via email to: Dr Linda Stevenson [email protected] with a carbon copy to Dr Nafesa Ismail [email protected].