Description
The United States Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS) announces the availability of funding through cost reimbursable agreements for the Scientific Cooperation Research Program (SCRP) for fiscal year (FY) 2020. SCRP supports FAS’ Borlaug Fellowship Program and other strategic goals and utilizes the scientific communities’ accumulated knowledge and technologies to help aid in developing practical solutions to address issues including agricultural trade and market access, animal and plant health, biotechnology, food safety and security, and sustainable natural resource management. All applications must include foreign collaborations, and projects should not exceed two years. Funding may be allocated to foreign collaborators through sub-awards. Background The Scientific Cooperation Research Program (SCRP) is a Foreign Agricultural Service Office,(FAS) administered program that has been in existence for several decades. Historically, SCRP has funded hundreds of collaborative research programs between U.S. and foreign scientists.This program supports up to 10 collaborative research programs annually, up to $50,000. Objectives SCRP will support applied research, extension, and education projects — lasting up to two years between U.S. researchers and researchers from selected emerging market economies - that create practical solutions to challenges faced by small farmers and build regional or global trade capacities in FAS countries. In general, applications should support one or more of the following strategies of the Global Food Security Act (Public Law No: 114-195): 1.Accelerate inclusive, agricultural-led economic growth that reduces global poverty,hunger, and malnutrition, particularly among women and children. 2.Increase the productivity, incomes, and livelihoods of small-scale producers, especially women, by working across agricultural value chains, enhancing local capacity to manage agricultural resources effectively, and expanding producer access to local and international markets. 3.Build resilience to food shocks among vulnerable populations and households while reducing reliance upon emergency food assistance. 4.Create an enabling environment for agricultural growth and investment, including through the promotion of secure and transparent property rights. 5.Improve the nutritional status of women and children, with a focus on reducing child stunting, including through the promotion of highly nutritious foods, diet diversification,and nutritional behaviors that improve maternal and child health; 6.Align with and leverage broader United States strategies and investments in trade,economic growth, science and technology, agricultural research and extension, maternal and child health, nutrition, and water, sanitation, and hygiene. Issued