Innovation Grant – Sustainable Forests and Livelihoods (SUFAL) Project

The Sustainable Forests and Livelihoods (SUFAL) project is currently executing the SIG (SUFAL Innovation Grant) Program with the aim of fostering innovative research for the conservation of forests, wildlife, and overall environmental development, particularly focused on communities dependent on forests. Within the framework of the Innovation Grant Program, priority is given to novel research proposals from individuals and organizations addressing topics such as ecosystems, climate change, conservation and restoration of wildlife habitats, processing technology for both wood and non-wood products, among others. This priority area is referred to as the Innovation Window.

The World Bank’s consent to the Project’s Innovation Grants Manual (IGM) was notified by the ERD on August 25, 2021.
Nine selected research programs are ongoing in the first round.
Fifteen selected research programs are ongoing in the second round.
Eleven selected research programs are ongoing in the third round.
As per the decision of the 7th PSC meeting, two subject-based research review committees have been formed to review the final reports of ongoing research activities.

In this new millennium, society is fast becoming knowledge based. Scientific and technological knowledge, experience and expertise on forestry have become the crucial element in the forest ecosystem production and services that leads to play a significant role to improve the forestry sector in general and livelihoods of forest dependent communities in particular. SUFAL Innovation Grant (SIG) program is a funding opportunity under the Sustainable Forests and Livelihoods (SUFAL) project with its unique nature of arrangement to provide funding opportunity for conducting scientific and technological research on forestry for individuals and institutions. SIG support is expected to contribute towards creating knowledge and achieving the project goal of strengthening institutions, information systems and training. Along with providing support and services to conduct research on climate change impact on forest and biodiversity conservation, it will contribute to develop qualified mass of professionals in the areas of forest science and technology. The research and academic institutions will be able to derive spin off benefits from these researches for the M.Sc., M Phils and PhDs program.

Objective

The overall goal of the SIG program is to provide resources to individuals and institutions covering researcher and academicians of public and private institutions, national and local organizations to strengthen institutions, private companies, information systems and training which will facilitate to improve collaborative forest and Protected Area (PA) co-management in Bangladesh. However, to achieve the main goal, following specific objectives are set to select research program for funding under SIG:

To build up knowledge base of forestry science and technology in gap areas of national interest, more particularly ecosystem based collaborative forest and PA management and biodiversity conservation;
To address unsolved forests management technical issues of forestry sector particularly on forest biodiversity through joint collaboration of forest dependent communities and Bangladesh Forest Department;
To develop human resource in critical areas of forestry giving impetus to fellowship program and further development of the programs for MS or equivalent degree/MPhil/PhD within the country;
To provide supplementary support for research and development related activities in forestry sector;
To promote international, regional scientific program for effective collaboration with scientific communities abroad in areas of forestry with national interest;
To improve forest biodiversity through joint collaboration of forest department, research institute/companies in the public and/or private and local communities; and
To improve institutional research capacities of public and private universities and Forestry research entities that will contribute to a greater understanding of climate change impact on forest and biodiversity conservation, natural resources management (NRM), forest and biodiversity conservation through collaborative forest management.
To improve researchers Capacity Building in Bangladesh.

Purpose of the SUFAL Innovation Grant/s

The main purpose of this grant is to provide partial or full fund for proposed and agreed research project under specific ‘call for research proposal’ under the Sustainable Forests and Livelihoods (SUFAL) Project, Bangladesh Forest Department (BFD). At least 30% of the recipients of a SIG should be female.

To support climate change related research on sustainable forest management and conservation, Sustainable Forests and Livelihoods (SUFAL) Project will also award individuals and organizations with SIG for applied research by following policies or guideline outlined in this innovation grant manual. Under SIG funding, SUFAL project will target national organizations, public and private universities, research organizations, national and international NGOs, including implementing partners, to develop their capacity so that they will be capable of managing direct funding from other sources. In order to evaluate and short list of qualified research proposals for funding a Research Proposal Evaluation Committee (RPEC) under SIG, will be formed by the Project Director, SUFAL Project. After evaluation of all research proposal by the RPEC, short-listed research proposals will be placed to the Innovation Grant Review Committee (GRC), who will recommend for awarding for SIG under SUFAL project. Detail composition and terms of reference of RPEC and GRC are presented in the following sections.