Call for Concept Notes: Economics of Climate Risks, Natural Resource Use & Environmental

SANDEE, a research capacity and academic leadership development network of ICIMOD, provides research support to researchers and institutions from South Asia and the Hindu Kush Himalaya (HKH) region interested in the interconnections among economic development, the environment, and the use of natural resources. During 2023–2026, ICIMOD will work in line with its new vision towards 2030: a greener, more inclusive, and climate-resilient HKH.

They also encourage research on issues of interest to national, provincial, and local policymakers in South Asia and the HKH region, including environmental issues faced by communities. This could be in the context of the Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs), National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan (NBSAP), Sendai Framework, and other such key policy frameworks.

Themes

• Reducing climate and environmental risks – e.g. understanding the economics of
  • cryosphere changes and associated risks,
  • multi-hazard disaster risk reduction,
  • sustainable river basin management (e.g., up- and downstream risks), and
  • impacts of air pollution, while also examining the potential solutions and policies from multiple angles.
• Resilient mountain economies and landscapes – e.g. understanding the economics of
  • sustainable and resilient mountain livelihoods and mountain settlements, particularly with regard to waste management
  • institutions and their responses to enhance green, circular and transformative livelihoods in the face of climate and environmental changes,
  • economic valuation and incentive-based mechanisms that help restore mountain ecosystems and biodiversity, and/or address issues such as human-wildlife conflict,
  • springshed and wetlands management as nature-based solutions.

Funding Information

• Grants are likely to be in the range of USD 20,000–30,000 over a two-year period.
• The upper limit grants are aimed for the multidisciplinary teams involving two or more countries in the region or focus on a transboundary issue that requires an interdisciplinary team.

Eligibility Criteria

• Researchers from and working in South Asia and the HKH region are eligible to submit concept notes.
• Women researchers from the South Asia and HKH region are encouraged to apply.
• Principal investigators (PIs) must be junior to mid-career professionals employed by a university, research institute, or other similar institutions in the region, including government agencies and non-profit organisations.
• Institutional affiliation of the PI is mandatory for receiving research support. While submitting a full proposal (not needed for concept notes), a support letter from the institution where the PI is affiliated is required for further consideration.

Ineligibility Criteria

• To avoid conflict of interest, researchers whose relatives are working at ICIMOD and current consultants are not eligible for receiving the research grant.
• Senior researchers (professors, directors, and other similar level/positions) are not eligible for the research support/grant.

For more information, visit ICIMOD.