Call for Proposals by National Natural Science Foundation of China (NSFC) and International Center for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD)
The National Natural Science Foundation of China (NSFC) and the International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD) is calling for proposals as announced by NSFC on 11 July 2016. For more details, please visit http://www.nsfc.gov.cn/publish/portal0/tab87/info52578.htm

Under the call for proposals, 12 projects will be supported with funds for each amounting to less than two million Yuan RMB. The topics supported include:

• Water and biogeochemical cycle of cross-border river basin
• Ecosystem evolution
• Geological hazards
• Integrated river basin management and adaptation strategies
  The funds can be used for scientific research, international exchange, capacity building activities and workshops. The duration of project implementation is three years (1 January 2017 to 31 December 2019). The deadline for submissions is 4 pm, 9 September 2016.

Applicants should be Chinese nationals with senior professional titles such as professor or associate professor with three years or more experience leading and implementing NSFC’s projects. Priority will be given to applicants who have experience in international cooperation with ICIMOD or other partners in the Hindu Kush Himalayan region. Proposals should be written in both Chinese and English languages. The application template can be downloaded from the ISIS website and submitted online as well (http://isis.nsfc.gov.cn).

Other criteria include:

Applicants who’ve previously received international cooperation NSFC projects last year are not eligible to apply.
Applicants may apply for one project only.
Applicants should develop joint proposals in close cooperation with ICIMOD’s scientists and the proposed topics should be aligned with the strategic thematic areas and regional programmatic planning of ICIMOD.
According to the research fields and disciplines required, scientists from other partner institutions of ICIMOD in regional member countries may also be involved. These countries are Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, China, India, Nepal and Pakistan.
The hard copy should be signed by the applicant, endorsed by the host institution and mailed to NSFC before the deadline 4 pm, 9 September 2016. Shuangqing Road 83, Room 101, Beijing; Postcode: 100085; Tel: 010-6232859.
Applicant should sign an agreement with ICIMOD on the proposal as well as intellectual property rights which should be submitted as an attached documents.
For more information, please contact:

Mr. Rong Nianhe and Mr. Zhang Yongtao
Tel: 010-62326998；010-62325449
Email: rongnh@nsfc.gov.cn；zhangyt@nsfc.gov.cn

Background
A memorandum of understanding (MOU) between the International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD) and the National Natural Science Foundation of China (NSFC) was signed in November 2015. The partnership aimed at strengthening supporting and promoting the scientific collaboration between Chinese and ICIMOD scientists or scientists from its regional member countries in carrying out basic research on the relevant topics to the Hindu Kush Himalayan region. In early 2016, a bilateral workshop titled ‘NSFC-ICIMOD Strategic Cooperation’ was held in Chengdu, China where it was decided to call for joint proposals.

About

NSFC is the governmental science funding agency in China for supporting basic research programmes including those on mountain ecosystem and biodiversity, agriculture and environment, climate change and sustainable mountain development, engaging all the research institutes and universities in China which register with the NSFC. NSFC is dedicated to supporting Chinese scientists wishing to participate in international cooperation and exchange activities, to implement international collaboration working with intergovernmental organisations, and accomplish its international cooperation strategy by reaching bilateral and/or multi-lateral agreements (http://www.nsfc.gov.cn)

ICIMOD is a regional intergovernmental learning and knowledge sharing centre serving the eight regional member countries of the Hindu Kush Himalayas – Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, China, India, Myanmar, Nepal, and Pakistan – and based in Kathmandu, Nepal. Globalisation and climate change have an increasing influence on the stability of fragile mountain ecosystems and the livelihoods of mountain people. ICIMOD aims to assist mountain people to understand these changes, adapt to them, and make the most of new opportunities, while addressing upstream-downstream issues. ICIMOD supports regional transboundary programmes through partnership with regional partner institutions, facilitate the exchange of experience, and serve as a regional knowledge hub. We strengthen networking among regional and global centres of excellence. Overall, ICIMOD is working to develop an economically and environmentally sound mountain ecosystem to improve the living standards of mountain populations and to sustain vital ecosystem services for the billions of people living downstream now, and for the future (www.icimod.org).

Links
For more details, please visit following link
National Natural Science Foundation of China and the International Center for Integrated Mountain Development Cooperation project guide

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