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Seek funding for development research

Published: 06 March 2019

Today, 6 March, the Swedish Research Council open their calls within development research. Apply for grants to get a chance to contribute to poverty reduction and sustainable development in low-income countries. To get some inspiration we give you an interview with a SLU researcher who received funding in 2018.

In 2018, SLU researcher Jonas Johansson Wensman was granted by the Swedish Research Council within development research for a networking project.  

What is  your background?

- I am a veterinarian with a PhD in virology, and an associate professor in infectious diseases. The last five years, I have performed research on infectious diseases in sheep and goats, mainly in sub-Saharan Africa (Tanzania, Zambia and Botswana).

Can you tell us what your project is about, and in what way it contributes to improve the situation for small-holder farmers in low-income countries?

- This networking project will investigate factors limiting sustainable small ruminant production in Tanzania and Zambia. Sheep and goats are important species for food and nutrition security, especially for resource-constrained smallholder farmers. Disease and death of even single animals can therefore have devastating effects on a family’s livelihood. We will create networks and fundamental knowledge needed to establish long-term research partnerships for a better understanding of infectious disease and health in sheep and goats.

What is going on right now in your project?

- This project has just been initiated. We are going to have stakeholder workshops in Tanzania and Zambia, to discuss how animal health actors influence decision-making processes of farmers in relation to animal health and animal health investments. We will interview smallholder farmers on these issues, and also investigate which drivers play a role when farmers decide to sell animals. In addition, we plan to perform case studies to investigate causes of on-farm mortality in sheep and goats. Finally, we are going to develop research project proposals based on results of this networking project.

Can you give some inspirational words to researchers who are thinking of applying for one these grants within development research?

- To perform research in low- and middle-income countries might be challenging, but it is very rewarding and you grow both professionally and personally.

Thank you Jonas!

The Swedish Research Council comes to SLU on 21 March

Listen to and discuss with Dan Wilhelmsson, Coordinator for Development Research, when he talks talks about this year's development research calls from the Swedish Research Council.

Register for the meeting 21 March and for SLU's new internal global network.

Facts:

Grants within development research from the Swedish Research Council

Research project grant within development research

The purpose of the project grant is to give researchers the freedom to formulate by themselves the research concept, method and implementation, and to solve a specific research task within a limited period. The research shall be relevant to the fight against poverty and for sustainable development in low income countries.

International postdoc grant within development research

The purpose of the grant is to give newly qualified researchers with a doctoral degree from a Swedish university the opportunity to expand their networks and their competences by working abroad under secure employment conditions. At least one third of the grant period should be spent in a low-income or lower middle-income country. 

Network grant - Swedish Research Links

The purpose of the network grant Swedish Research Links is to establish a network around a specific research idea, aimed at a joint research project. The grant shall support the development of long-term joint research between Swedish researchers and researchers from low-income countries and lower middle-income countries.

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