Norway - a global partner (NORGLOBAL)

The research programme Norway – A Global Partner (NORGLOBAL) is established to strengthen Norwegian research on and for development in low- and middle-income countries, and also strengthen research capacity in these countries. The programme has a special responsibility to generate new knowledge within the field of development in Norway. A greater level of efficiency, flexibility, visibility and coherence will be achieved by consolidating much of the work being done in the field of development under a single programme. The programme combines a number of existing programmes and activities and will be open to new initiatives, the lates activity included is Western Balkan Countries Development Studies The programme will place importance on accomplishing tasks in cooperation with other Research Council programmes and activities.

The programme encompasses a number of thematic priority areas, which will be administered in accordance with their own guiding documents (sub-programme research agendas). 

• Women’s rights and gender equality
• ECONPOP: Research on Economic Growth Poverty Reduction, Reproductive   Health and population Dynamics
• POVPEACE: Poverty and Peace research
• GLOBMEK: Globalisation of  the environment, energy and climate research
• CGIAR fellowship programme
• Wester Balkan Countries development studies
  
• Networks
  

Women’s rights and gender equality in Development:
The aim is to increase the basic for knowledge within women’s rights and gender equality. Some funds can also support female scientists from the South’s participation in any thematic areas by supporting their participation in international research conferences and seminars. An important objective of this call is to strengthen research groups in the South. Totally 14 millions per year are allocated to research within these thematic areas. The call targets research cooperation between Norwegian research institutions and corresponding institutions in the South on women’s rights and gender equality. PhDs and Post doc from the South can be included in the projects. 
 
ECONPOP, Research on Economic Growth Poverty Reduction, Reproductive Health and population Dynamics:
ECONPOP is launched in cooperation with the William and Flora Hewlett Foundation, which will provide half of the funding. The Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs through the Norwegian Agency for Development Cooperation (Norad) and the Research Council of Norway’s (RCN) matching funds will provide the other half of the funding.
PhD and Post doc can be included in the projects.
 
Poverty and Peace Research (POVPEACE):
Totally 140 millions has been granted to the POVPEACE activity for 2006-2013. The activity aims to strengthen Norwegian research within the areas of poverty reduction and peace building, reflecting the UN development goals. One part of the POVPEACE activity seeks to improve understanding of the politics, processes and mechanisms that lead to poverty, with particular focus on research that generates knowledge relevant for poverty reduction strategies, especially for those trapped in the worst forms of poverty in poor countries. The other part of the activity focuses on the relationship between violence, peace and development.

The focus areas can be framed on different levels: individuals and groups; state and economy; and global and world systems. Both areas are equally relevant, as is the interface between them. Both traditional development researchers are invited, as well as researchers in the fields of welfare and poverty, labour markets, research on institutional conditions and human rights, access and control over natural resources, environmental management, etc. The activity is open to both theoretical and applied research.

Globalisation of the environment, energy and climate research (Globmek):
Totally NOK 11 millions per year is granted to research on globalisation of the environment, energy and climate. The funds shall contribute to strengthen the knowledge base in the South and Norway, and contribute to tackle long-term environmental issues and the commitments in relation to the Norwegian Action plan for Environment in Development Cooperation. The funds shall also contribute to strengthen the Norwegian institutions role as good global partners within this area. PhD and Post doc can be included in the projects.Partners from the South can be included in the call. The NORGLOBAL/Globmek activity cooperates with relevant programmes by funding partners from South included in their projects.

CGIAR fellowships
CGIAR (Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research) is a strategic alliance comprising several countries, organisations and private research funds. The 15 CGIAR research institutions are conducting research within fisheries, forestry and agriculture-related activities in more than 100 countries. The primary objective of the CGIAR fellowship programme is to provide funding for young scientists that want to work at one of the 15 CGIAR institutions. Norad and the Research Council of Norway have entered into an agreement for the period 2007-2012 to provide grants to enable researchers to visit CGIAR institutes. NOK 12 million has been set aside for the period to fund visits of primarily younger researchers from Norwegian institutions.  
 

Western Balkan Countries Development Studies:

The aim of the Western Balkan Countries Development Studies is to provide insight into development challenges by supporting regional social science research in the Western Balkans that focus on sustainable economic development and institutional and democratic reforms important for the process in these countries’ Euro-Atlantic integration. Projects that study the effects of environmental changes in this region may be considered. PhDs and Post Docs from the Western Balkan Countries that cooperate closely with the Norwegian institutions can be included. The Western Balkan Countries Development Studies can support conferences and workshops that aim at networking between institutions from Norway and the Western Balkan Countries.

NOK 24 million over four years with a tentative annual distribution of NOK 6 million. The funds shall be utilized during the planned HERD/Development studies Programme period 2010 - 2013.