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 directed by a consortium and thus the application for an IP has to be submitted by the consortium. A consortium consists of representatives of at least four different partner institutes. These partners include

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.

At least one of the institutes should be based in a DGIS-partner country (see Annex 2). The consortium nominates a coordinator, who will act as the main applicant (see section 3.5).

To enhance demand articulation, ownership and the effective use of results, other relevant stakeholders are expected to be engaged in all phases of the IP, from its inception to the sharing of results that emerge. Evidence of such active engagement will be an important element in the assessment of IP proposals. Such engagement can be demonstrated by references to involvement in IP preparation, letters of support and linkages of the IP to ongoing projects, private enterprises and/or policy implementation or stakeholder processes.

Researchers from abroad may apply

What can be applied for

An IP should make clear how it will constitute and operationalise 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.

These activities have to be well integrated, and output and outcome should contribute to clearly defined innovation and development objectives. As knowledge, research and innovation in policy-making and practice is basically a continuous and iterative process, a clear process design, including effective working procedures and communication strategies, should be developed.

For more information, please see the brochure.

When can be applied

Closing date for submitting applications was 3 November 2009 12.00 hrs noon CET.

Extra Information

The entire evaluation and selection procedure takes about 9 months and is in two stages. It is compulsory to submit a preliminary application. For an overview of the procedure, please see Section 4.1.

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 terms and conditions apply for the preliminary applications, unless reference is made specifically to the final applications.

Evaluation criteria for preliminary applications

1. Relevance for development:

• Extent to which the problem or opportunity analysis, knowledge and research questions and training and learning activities are rooted in Southern demands, priorities and framing;
• Potential for finding innovative and more effective, efficient, sustainable or just solutions to the problem or opportunity identified;
• Probability of a wider application of results beyond the context of the specific case.

2. Quality of knowledge generation and research and potential for innovation:

• Probability of generating new knowledge and insights;
• Originality and adequacy of research components;
• Quality of the trans-disciplinary and integrative approach.

3. Potential for capacity development:

• Relevance and complementarities of identified stakeholders at different scale and sector levels;
• Potential for improving the capabilities of individuals and institutes to learn and innovate, based on partnerships and the ability both to generate and build on knowledge and create a supportive institutional environment.

4. Coherence and synergy in project and process design

• Synergy in the perspectives, coherence of the overall objective and specific objectives, coherence and synergy in specific objectives, activities and expected results;
• Quality of the collaborative working procedures and arrangements in the proposal development process.

Procedure

The evaluation and selection procedure is in two stages: one for preliminary and one for final applications. It is compulsory to submit a preliminary application. The entire procedure for this first call will take about eight months.

First stage
The preliminary applications are assessed and ranked by an International Programme Advisory Committee (IPAC) composed of scientists and experts from development practice and policy. Based on the recommendations by the IPAC, the Steering Committee will invite a selected number of consortia to elaborate their preliminary applications into final applications. All applicants will be informed of the outcome of the preliminary selection procedure in writing. It is expected that at most 10 consortia will be invited to submit a final application for an IP.

To enhance the collaboration with and input of consortium partners and other stakeholders from developing countries in the elaboration of the final application, it is compulsory to involve relevant stakeholders and conduct a joint problem analysis. This can be done through a collaborative multi-stakeholder workshop or through other activities undertaken to this end. The preliminary application should include a detailed budget of the costs of this workshop or activities.

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

Unless otherwise stated explicitly in this brochure, the budget for the IP should meet the budget and administrative guidelines of NWO. A full IP proposal will provide for a detailed budget for the first two years and an estimate for the remaining three years. Proposals can only be specific about an initial set of activities and the budget required for the first two years, since other activities are to be developed in the course of time. The budget for a maximum period of five years may not exceed 620,000 euro, whereas the detailed budget for the first two years may not exceed 400,000 euro.

For more information, please check the brochure.

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