Conflict and Cooperation over Natural Resources in Developing Countries (CoCooN) - Integrated Projects

The aim of the programme Conflict and Cooperation over Natural Resources in Developing Countries (CoCooN) is to contribute to sustainable development, poverty reduction and the realisation of the MDGs. The objective is to add to evidence-based policy development and practice in the field of conflict and cooperation over natural resources, and to manage adequately, resolve and learn from conflicts over natural resources, by:

1. Providing society with tools and perspectives for evidence-based policy development and practice in developing countries - the Development perspective;
2. Generating knowledge, high quality research and innovation in the field of conflict and cooperation over natural resources - the Knowledge, research and innovation perspective;
3. Capacity development of institutions, groups and individuals, including researchers, policy makers and other stakeholders at different levels - the Capacity development perspective.

Who can apply

An IP has to be has to be submitted by the consortium. A consortium consists of representatives of at least four different partner institutes:

1. a Southern-based research institute;
2. a Northern-based research institute;
3. a Southern-based non-research institute and
4. a Northern-based non-research institute.

A consortium needs to include at least one partner institute from a DGIS country (see Annex of the brochure). The consortium nominates a coordinator, who will act as the main applicant.

Researchers from abroad may apply

What can be applied for

An IP constitutes and operationalises activities and projects for three facilities:

• Knowledge sharing: making existing knowledge available and accessible for stakeholders; integrating and synthesising various sources of knowledge to create 'new' knowledge;
• Research: the research proposed should be trans-disciplinary, crossing disciplinary boundaries and involving scientific knowledge as well as knowledge from outside the scientific community. Research components may include fast-track, medium-term and long-term projects. Though the involvement of PhD researchers is not excluded, research components should preferably be conducted by post-doc and senior researchers;
• Capacity development and training. Activities directed at improving the capabilities of individuals and institutes to learn and innovate, based on partnerships and the ability to both generate and build on knowledge, and create a supportive institutional environment.

An IP has a maximum duration of five years and the initial budget may not exceed 620,000 euro whereas the budget for the first two years may not exceed 410,000 euro.

A later call will provide the opportunity to extend activities of ongoing IPS to a max. of 1 million euro.

When can be applied

• Closing date for submitting preliminary proposals was 3 November 2009 12:00 hrs noon CET.
• Closing date for submitting full proposals was 15 March 2010, 12:00 hrs noon CET.

The entire evaluation and selection procedure takes about 8 months and is split into two stages. It is compulsory to submit a preliminary application.

Extra Information

Please note that applying via Iris is obligatory. Foreign applicants should select NWO-CoCooN as the applying institute, after having selected "The Hague" in the listing of towns. See also: Instructions for foreign applicants under Documentation.

Criteria

Applications must fulfil the General Terms and Conditions of NWO Grants and all of the formal criteria mentioned in the brochure in order to be admitted to the competition.

The applications are assessed according to a fixed set of criteria for three perspectives: development relevance, the quality of the generation of knowledge, research and innovation, and capacity development.

All applications have to meet minimum standards for these three perspectives, which are equally weighed in the ranking process. The synergy between the three perspectives is critical and will be taken into account in the ranking procedure. For a detailed overview of the criteria, please see Section 4.2 of the brochure.

Procedure

The preliminary applications are assessed and ranked by an International Programme Advisory Committee (IPAC) composed of scientists and experts from development practice and policy. Consortia ranking the highest will be invited to submit a final application.

The final applications will be assessed by the International Programme Advisory Committee on the basis of review reports by scientists and experts from practice and policy, and the applicants' responses to these. The Steering Committee takes the final decision on funding.

Committees

The Steering Committee consists of representatives from the funding agencies.

The International Programme Advisory Committee (IPAC) consists of senior researchers with an interdisciplinary background and development practitioners with a scientific background.

The compositions of the SC and IPAC are published on the CoCooN website (www.nwo.nl/Cocoon). 

Budget

Under this call a budget of 3.6 million euro is available for approximately six projects.

Financiers

Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Netherlands Organisation for Scientific Research.

Contacts

• Mw. ir. J.F.W. van Dijk
  phone: +31 (0)70 344 09 45, e-mail: CoCoon@nwo.nl
• Ms. Y. Rondeltap
  phone: +31 (0)70 344 06 81, e-mail: y.rondeltap@nwo.nl