CALL FOR FINANCIAL SUPPORT FOR CAPACITY DEVELOPMENT EVENTS FEES
Photo credit: Gaby Barathieu / Ocean Image Bank
Objectives
The objective of the present Call is to provide financial support for early-career ocean professionals (ECOP) from Africa, Pacific SIDS, and Caribbean SIDS, to cover their expenses for participation fees in capacity development events that are directly relevant to the Ocean Decade vision, mission, and challenges. This will include but is not limited to online or in-person conferences, workshops, webinars, summer and winter schools, training, that concern ocean science, ocean governance, and ocean sustainability.
The Selection Committee reserves the right to reject an application if the topic of a capacity development event is deemed not relevant to the areas described above. Maximum support is set at 900 USD. Such financial support represents continuous commitment of the ECOP Programme to help ECOPs acquire knowledge and skills essential for their career development, and make this process accessible regardless of the financial situation of an ECOP. The definition of an ECOP can be found in the background information section above in this document. Applications can be made for covering participation fees for events taking place until June 30, 2022. Successful applicants shall commit to report back to the ECOP Programme on the outcomes of such event within a month after the event takes place. Successful applicants shall also agree that part of this feedback might be used for promotion of the ECOP Programme on relevant social media, such as the ECOP Programme’s Twitter account and/or the ECOP Programme website.
Who may participate?
For this round of funding, only early career ocean professionals from Africa, Pacific SIDS and Caribbean SIDS are invited to apply. Travel, accommodation, and living expenses are not covered by this grant to avoid uncertainty given COVID-related restrictions. One applicant can apply to one event only. Applications shall include a CV and a motivation letter. The motivation letter of one page shall explain why this event is relevant to their career, what they hope to gain from this event, as well as include a link to the website page of this event containing a clear indication of the participation fee. Applications shall be sent to ecop.oceandecade@gmail.com. Decision shall be taken by the Selection Committee (which shall include representatives of the IOC-UNESCO, ECOP Programme, and any external experts as deemed essential) on the basis of the benefit and value that such event can bring to their career and research.
Timeframe
The deadline for applications for this call is 23.59h CET November 15, 2021. Notifications regarding the outcome of the application will be sent to the applicants by November 26, 2021. Participation fees shall be paid directly by the IOC-UNESCO to the organization holding a capacity development event no later than by Friday, December 10, 2021.