Applications are open for SEARCA Travel Grant Program to reinforce the Center’s efforts and resources in the promotion of inclusive and sustainable agricultural and rural development (ISARD) toward food security and poverty alleviation in the
SEARCA
The Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA) was established by the Southeast Asian Ministers of Education Organization (SEAMEO) in 1966 “to provide to the participating countries high quality graduate study in agriculture; promote, undertake, and coordinate research programs related to the needs and problems of the Southeast Asian region; and disseminate the findings of agricultural research and experimentation.”
Vision
SEARCA seeks to be a leading enabler and champion of inclusive and sustainable agricultural and rural development (ISARD) in Southeast Asia.
Mission
SEARCA works to strengthen institutional capacities toward inclusive and sustainable agricultural and rural development (ISARD) in Southeast Asia through graduate education, research and development, and knowledge management.
Objectives
- To provide opportunities to qualified Southeast Asian nationals to participate and present papers in ISARD-relevant scientific conferences and fora, locally or internationally;
- To promote the dissemination of scientific knowledge/information vital to agriculture and rural development;
- To provide the Grantee a venue to discuss with other scientists, researchers, university faculty and scholars, developments in their respective disciplines;
- To facilitate linkaging, partnerships and active collaboration between SEARCA, or the applicant’s home institution, with other development organizations and donors;
- To produce articles or any publication out of the Grantee’s presented paper, whenever appropriate and feasible.
- Funding Information
- SEARCA will provide travel grants of up to a maximum of US$1,200 to each qualified agriculture and agriculture-related professionals and social scientists including graduate students in Southeast Asia.
Eligibility Criteria
Applicants who will present scientific papers in international or local scientific fora are qualified for the Travel Grants;
Priority shall be given to the following:
- Priority 1:
- SEARCA fellows (senior, adjunct and visiting fellows);
- SEARCA Graduate scholarship alumni;
- Researchers of SEARCA-implemented/coordinated projects;
- SFRT grantees;
- Proponents from the University Consortium (faculty, staff and graduate students);
- SEARCA ongoing scholars;
- Faculty and staff of universities under the SEARCA Institutional Development Assistance Program.
- Priority 2:
- Applicants who are citizens of Southeast Asian countries who are regular staff members of non-profit development-oriented institutions or graduate students of other agricultural universities in the Region may be considered;
- Priority will also be given to applicants who are based in, or originating from, the Southeast Asian region (Eligible Countries: Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, Indonesia, Lao PDR, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Timor-Leste and Vietnam).
Selection Criteria
The focus of the paper should be aligned with SEARCA’s priority thrusts under the Tenth Five-Year plan (FY 2014/2015 – 2018/2019), as follows:
- Social Inclusion in Agricultural and Rural Development
- Participation of poor and vulnerable sectors of rural societies in food and agricultural value chains and agribusiness commodity systems;
- Food and nutrition security for poor and vulnerable sectors of rural societies;
- Productivity-enhancing innovations and modern technologies.
- Sustainable Agriculture and Rural Development
- Natural resource management;
- Climate change mitigation and adaptation in agricultural and rural development;
- Resilience of agricultural systems to climate impacts.
- Regional and Sub-regional Cooperation
- Sub-regional cooperation in trade and investments;
- Regional market, trade and economic integration.
- Institutions and Governance
- Government policies, institutions and governance mechanisms and reforms for ISARD.