Applications Invited for Research Planning Grants Program

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About the Organization

Tiny Beam Fund focuses on helping people understand things (i.e. letting a shaft of light into a dark space). Tiny Beam Fund also wants this understanding to form the base and basis on which solutions are built (i.e. using the understanding as supporting structure). “Beam” as a verb means “smile radiantly” which gives an image of hope and confidence even though the problem Tiny Beam Fund deals with is a grim one. Tiny Beam Fund is sensitive to the fact that it has only a tiny amount of resources. It is careful not to wear a hat that is too big for its head.

The founder of Tiny Beam Fund has long been troubled by all the negative impacts associated with rearing animals for human consumption on large, industrial scale that employs a distinctive system of production and value chain, especially when these adverse effects concern low- and middle-income countries. Tiny Beam Fund was formed to support a better understanding of and practical ways to address this multi-faceted problem which inflicts grievous harm on animals, people, and the environment. It aims particularly to highlight the fact that coming up with comprehensive, enduring solutions that work beyond developed economies is immensely challenging, and requires a deep, clear, firm understanding of the problem. Tiny Beam Fund is also inspired and encouraged by how the data, evidence, and insights provided by academic researchers have proven to be remarkably useful in shedding light on highly complex social issues.

About the Grant  

• These grants are offered by Tiny Beam Fund, a small US-based charitable foundation. Tiny Beam Fund’s flagship Burning Questions Initiative (BQI) was launched as a response to a specific need – the need for a much deeper understanding of the complex problems associated with large-scale, industrial animal agriculture, especially in low- and middle-income countries, and the need to translate the understanding into practical steps to address these problems.
• This need is especially urgent for civil society groups working to improve the situation and advocate for change. Tiny Beam Fund requests knowledgeable staff members in these groups as well as their funders to share their "burning questions". Funds are then offered to academic researchers to shed light on these questions and provide practical advice.
• Why academic researchers? Their training and skill set is well-suited to investigating these thorny questions. Academics are also increasingly interested in studying industrial animal agriculture’s impacts in developing countries for their own scholarly purposes.
• Here's the current list of 27 “burning questions”, organized into eight categories: Production & supply (4 questions). Consumption & demand (3 questions). Governments & policies (3 questions). Agribusiness & value chains (4 questions). Economic and financial aspects (4 questions). Social movements & NGOs (3 questions). Environmental issues (2 questions). Animal welfare issues (4 questions).
• These questions are written and compiled by Tiny Beam Fund in 2023 after requesting questions from and interviewing over 20 individuals at civil society groups or who are funders. For original questions submitted by these individuals and context of why they consider the questions to be important and worth researching, see here (PDF) or here (google doc with quick links to sections).

 Purpose of Research Planning Grants:

• The purpose of these grants is to support academics who would like to develop projects or who have recently launched projects that are highly relevant to these “burning questions”. The aim is to strengthen and speed up these projects, and to encourage researchers to explore new ideas.
• Recipients can use the grants to test concepts and approaches, figure out plans, lay strong foundations. Grants should not be used for projects that are already well on their way to completion.
• Applicants must be prepared to take steps to move their plans forward after the end of the award period if the exploratory work funded by the grants shows promise. (If the work supported by a grant reveals that it does not make sense to keep developing the original plan/project, then it is fine to abandon it.)

Examples of how Research Planning Grants can be used:

• Hire graduate students to assist with preliminary literature surveys.
• For teaching buy-outs to focus on planning a new project.
• Undertake pilot studies that produce a ‘proof of concept’ that leads to full studies.
• Pay travel expenses to another country to meet with collaborators there and do preliminary fieldwork.

Grant Amounts and Award Period:

• Each applicant can request a grant amount from US$5,000 (minimum) to $15,000 (maximum).
• Award period is six months. Grantees should choose a start date August 30 – November 30, 2024.
• Grants are paid in full at the beginning of award periods.

Eligibility

• Applicants (or the PI/lead member of a team) must be employed by universities /academic research institutions that can receive these grants. Grants are sent directly to successful applicants’ institutions.
• The institution that receives a grant need not be located in the U.S., but it should be equivalent to a US based not-for-profit tax-exempt organization. And it must be able to accept grants in U.S. dollars. (Tiny Beam Fund reserves the right to withdraw a grant offer if, upon further inquiry, the institution cannot be determined as an organization that Tiny Beam Fund can provide grants to as per U.S. Internal Revenue Service rules and regulations.)
• An applicant (or the PI/lead member of a team) must hold the PhD degree (or equivalent).
• A team should consist of 2 – 4 members. Apart from the principal applicant whose institution receives the grant, the other team members need not be PhD holders/students or have university connections.

How to Apply

Two-step application process:

• Concept Note submission open to everybody (March 18 – April 24).
• Full Application submission only for those that are invited (May 1 – June 7).

Send All Inquiries and Concept Note Submissions to: min@tinybeamfund.org

For more information please check the Link

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Tags Food, Agriculture and Nutrition Research Advocacy Others