Approach

Germany has been committing substantial resources to development-oriented agricultural research for over 40 years. A yearly funding from the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) is channelled into research-centre gene-banks and into project-linked development (two supporting-instruments are implemented).

This means that BEAF is responsible for selecting the centres’ research projects to be funded in accordance with development and scientific criteria. BEAF also supports and finances the secondment of German experts to the international agricultural research centres. Furthermore it advises BMZ on exercising its tasks on different committees, and on affairs of the international agricultural research for development (ARD).

BEAF is active on several committees, both national and international. Comprehensive advisory services are also offered on public relations work in the area of research.

BEAF’s particular expertise lies in linking research with development cooperation, evaluating research projects and monitoring their results.

From an Idea to a Project: the Life Cycle of Project Funding

The research projects that are granted support are selected according to their degree of correspondence with the development policy principles of the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) and the Consortium Research Programs (CRPs):

www.cgiarfund.org/research_portfolio

Prior themes are as follows:

Promoting conservation and characterization of underutlized plant genetic resources to increase the income of the poor,
Tolerance to selected abiotic stresses,
Increasing income from fruit and vegetables,
Income increases from livestock,
Integrated land, water and forest management at landscape level,
Rural institutions and their governance,
Adaptation of agriculture to climate change.

The centres submit each year a proposal for research funding which corresponds to at least one CRP. In addition to the 15 CGIAR centers, AVRDC and ICIPE may submit a proposal.

The proposals for research funding are examined from both a scientific and development policy perspective by a team of experts versed in this area. The reviewers then suggest to BEAF which projects they feel should receive support. The final selection is made by BMZ. BEAF conveys this decision to the centers and draws up the contracts.

When selecting projects for Germany’s agricultural research for development, BEAF concentrates mainly on the needs of small and medium-scale farmers. In marginal locations, in particular, their crop yields are frequently vulnerable due to a lack of sufficient nutrients, drought or salinisation which inhibit plant growth, and diseases which destroy harvests. All research projects supported by BEAF have one factor in common – an emphasis on breeding high-yield food plants which are resistant to environmental conditions, whether this entails adapting species for soils containing aluminium in Latin America or developing drought-tolerant species for the Sahel region. Furthermore it is important to secure soil and water resources sustainably and avoid harvest and post-harvest losses.

In order to guarantee the quality and relevance of the research, BEAF provides advice to the centers concerned during the research process. The development policy results are evaluated on the basis of the annual and final reports submitted. In selected cases BEAF conducts evaluations.

Furthermore the International Agricultural Research Centers can apply for small grants for innovative projects. However, it is a precondition that the International Center cooperates with a German Institute and/or with the German Development Cooperation. More than 100 small grants have been approved to date. For 2016, proposals and all required documents may be submitted by the due date June, 30 (see guidelines below).

Guidelines - Project Funding for International Agricultural Research Centers. GIZ/BMZ, January 2016

giz2016-en-project-funding-guidelines.pdf (pdf, 0.42 MB, EN)

Zip-file includes 3 Templates for Application

giz2016-en-templates-project-funding.xls (zip, 0.14 MB, EN)

International Agricultural Research - List of BMZ Funded Projects. GIZ. August 2015

giz2015-08-en-list-of-bmz-funded-projects.pdf (pdf, 0.77 MB, EN)

Small Grant Guidelines. GIZ/BMZ. March 2016 (Proposals have to be submitted before June 30)

giz2016-en-small-grant-guidelines (pdf, 0.13 MB, EN)

Zip-file includes 3 Templates for Application

giz2016-en-templates-small-grants (zip, 0.13 MB, EN)

Personnel Placement

The Advisory Service on Agricultural Research for Development (BEAF) helps place international experts in agricultural research institutes throughout the world. These placements promote links between international institutes and German agricultural research centres and makes specialised know-how from these centres available at the international level. BEAF’s work covers agriculture and related areas such as forestry, fisheries, nutrition, ecology, veterinary medicine and fundamental disciplines that focus on development-oriented research.

Together with the Centre for International Migration and Development (CIM), BEAF supports the placement of skilled integrated experts from Germany and other countries in the European Union. The contracts run for two years, with the option to extend for another two to four years. Unlike other personnel placements, integrated experts are incorporated into local structures. This means that they are employed by the international agricultural research centres, which also work in a close network with GIZ-assisted projects and programmes in the partner countries. Currently, about 30 CIM integrated experts work at international agricultural research institutes, carrying out important tasks such as identifying and conducting relevant research projects and implementing research results at a practical level. If you are interested in a job placement, please check our current job offers, or send a speculative application to CIM at:

www.cimonline.de/integrated-experts

Prospective employers and international agricultural research institutes can also find out more information at the above address, along with details on how to request personnel.

Training of young professionals
CIM's personnel placement services also help train young professionals in the area of international agricultural research. CIM actively encourages young academics from the research areas specified above to find out more from CIM about vacancies advertised by international agricultural research centres, or alternatively to submit a speculative application.

www.cimonline.de

BEAF also places students from German universities at international agricultural research centres for between three and six months, to research a graduate or master's thesis. Applications for assistance can be submitted by interested university students, their tutors or by the research centres themselves. Funding will be provided through GIZ internship contracts.

Procedure of applications for BEAF support of master and bachelor thesis (pdf, 0.10 MB, EN)